Last updated 19:40, Thursday, 08 May 2008

COCKERMOUTH Civic Trust’s April lecture was given by Paul Myerscough, managing director of James Walker & Co, a main employer in the town.

He described the history of the company, which was founded in 1882 and sited in London Docks, producing a new type of seal for high pressure steam engines.

The company has expanded to a worldwide organisation with a turnover of £36m and employs almost 500 people, the majority of them at its Cockermouth headquarters.

The firm produces seals for the specialist market – from wind turbines to ship propulsion pods and oil wells to nuclear flasks with more than 50 per cent of production exported.

The lecture was the last of the current series and the trust is at present organising next winter’s programme to start in September.

The trust held its annual dinner in the Tithe Barn where the speaker was local architect Darren Ward. His theme was that good design, in whatever form, enhances our lives and makes the world a better place.

A group of ladies from St Michael’s RC Church, Workington was given a conducted tour around the Town Trail by the trust and enjoyed seeing the sites beyond the usual Main Street.

Anyone interested in joining the trust, contact Barbara Barker on 01900 827093 or visit the website at www.cockermouthcivictrust.co.uk