Last updated at 12:39, Friday, 14 September 2012

One of Cockermouth’s best known historians will be remembered in an event held later this month.

REMEMBERED: Bernard Bradbury with one of his history books

Bernard Bradbury, who died in 2002 aged 89, will be remembered at a memorial lecture on September 28 in the town’s Kirkgate Centre.

A memorial lecture for Mr Bradbury has been held every two years since 2006, when the first one was given by Angus Winchester, one of Mr Bradbury’s former pupils when he taught at Cockermouth Grammar School.

Mr Bradbury moved to Bassenthwaite in 1947 when he got a job at the grammar school, where he taught a variety of subjects before becoming head of maths.

His first wife Helena died in 1955 from septicaemia and he later moved to Portinscale, near Keswick, where he met his second wife Mary.

They married in 1957 and had two daughters, Catherine and Margaret, and the family moved to Cockermouth in 1962.

His interest in local history was sparked by his wife, who constantly asked him questions about the town and its buildings.

He undertook many hours of research talking to townsfolk, taking photographs and collecting information about the various mills and factories.

During the 1960s he wrote two books – A Walk Around The Town and Walks From Cockermouth – and when he retired in 1975 he devoted his full attention to writing the History of Cockermouth and also put together 11 Cockermouth In Pictures books.

Mr Bradbury also played a major role in the town’s civic trust both as its treasurer for many years and then as chairman, and was always vocal in trying to enhance the town.

He was involved in a campaign to save the south side of Market Place and encouraged many other projects such as the building of the Kirkgate Centre.

This year’s lecture, organised by Lorton and Derwent Fells Local History Society and Cockermouth’s museum group and civic trust, will be given by Dr Alan Crosby, editor of the Local Historian and main contributor to the BBC Who Do You Think You Are? magazine.

As well as honouring the life of Mr Bradbury, he will talk about Family Life in Victorian Cumberland.

The lecture starts at 8pm and tickets, at £2.50, can be ordered by calling 01900 826448.

First published at 11:53, Friday, 14 September 2012
Published by http://www.timesandstar.co.uk