This year we've given away £378,347 to your charities and good causes. Congratulations walkers and thanks to everyone who volunteered and all our sponsors too!

The full list of awards is available at https://keswick2barrow.co.uk/charity-awards

 

Results of our 2023 photo competition are now available at https://keswick2barrow.co.uk/2023-photo-competition-results. Congratulations to our 4 winners.

 

 

What a fab evening at 2023's awards night, thanks to everyone who attended and all the charities and good causes that shared how the money given away this year will be used to help our communities.

 

The walk committee

The first Keswick to Barrow Walk took place in 1967 as a one-off event. Due to its succcess, it was repeated in 1968. After that, the organisers decided that the walk should be continued annually to raise money for local charities. A formal Management Committee was set up by Vickers personnel, all working in their own time, to ensure proper control of the event and distribution of donations.

The company, now BAE Systems Maritime, has continued to support the walk throughout its existence. The logistics of organising the event are demanding and varied, with Committee members engaged in meetings and activities throughout the year. The current Committee members and their primary roles are as follows:

 

 

Craig Bland ~ K2B Chair

Craig is a Director at BAE Systems Submarines, and also Chair of Governors at Dowdales School. He and his family have taken part in and supported the walk for many years. Craig took on the role of K2B Chair in 2016.

Roy Barnes ~ IT & Awards Ceremony

Senior Technologist, BAE Systems. Joined the Committee in 2007 but had been supporting since 2005. Responsible for the K2B IT systems, data management and arranging the awards ceremony.

Rachael Hales ~ Social Media, Gift Aid & Walk Cleanup

Project Manager, BAE Systems. Responsible for K2B social media (Facebook, Twitter, Flickr), email newsletters, website updates and Gift Aid.

Neil Fleming ~ C2B Walk

IT Manager, BAE Systems. Walked the K2B in the 1980s. Supported timekeeping, marshaling and the website since 2007. Joined the Committee in 2011. Responsible for the C2B.

Gary Jones ~ K2B Registration, Marshal Plan & Medical Arrangements

Senior Planning Manager - BAE Systems Submarines. Helped the walk as a motorcycle marshal for many years. Joined the Committee in 2014. Supports K2B team registration, responsible for the walk marshal plan, and medical arrangements for the walk.

Julie Kirkham ~ Secretary

Compliance Engineer, BAE Systems. Completed walk on second attempt in 1977 - finished 8 times to date. Fastest time is 10 hours 30 mins - this is a walk remember!! Marshaled in 2009 and 2010 and supported for many years. Joined the Committee in July 2010 and now the K2B Secretary.

Julie Knowles ~ Happy Bus Co-ordinator

Senior Secretarial Administrator, BAE Systems. Responsible for co-ordinating the Happy Buses to Keswick & Coniston. Volunteered to support the Happy Buses and helped with registration in 2016, joining the committee later that year.

Ian Littlehales ~ Equipment & Logistics

Site Services Project Engineer BAE Systems. Completed the walk four times in the 1980's. Team runner and support. Joined the Committee in 2005. Responsibilities include liaison between BAE Systems and the Sports Club, signage erection and removal, and checkpoint support.

John McIntosh ~ Highways, Police & Community Liason

John has a history of working in public services. Joined the Committee in 2015. Now managing the relationship with Highways, Police, and other partnerships.

Dave Thompson ~ Chief Marshal

Senior Project Engineer, BAE Systems. Joined the Committee in 2000 as Chief Marshal. Dave is responsible for co-ordinating all the walk marshals on the day. What Dave says, goes and if you need anything Dave's the man.

Ian Walmsley ~ Media Liasion

Lecturer at Furness College. Completed the walk ten times since the first time in 2002. Now retired after finally beating seven hours in 2012. Joined the Committee in 2011. Duties are K2B team registration and walk route cleanup.

 

 

Tony Mayor ~ Treasurer

Project Manager, BAE Systems. Been involved with the walk since 1997 and started on the committee in 2016 looking after tags and merchandise; with the introduction of completion T shirts for 2018 walk. During 2019 I will be handing over these duties as I am taking over the Treasurer role along with the update of the records and statistics.

Completed the walk every year since 1997 and intend to continue until the body says no. My fastest time was just under 7½ hrs when I was persuaded to join the one of the running teams, but never again; it was the hardest to date and I can safely say will not be repeated………….

 

Rob Lindsay ~ Merchandise

Project Manager, BAE Systems. Joined the committee in 2016.

Mark Curwen ~ Merchandise

Mark has completed the K2B seven times and been a team coordinator on 8 occasions. Always wanted to give back to the walk when he stopped participating so after a health scare joined the committee in 2019.
Rob Jukes ~ Safety
 

Jennifer Lysons ~ Charity Co-ordinator
  Laura Royle ~ Charity Co-ordinator

Mark Russell ~ Corporate Sponsorship