Alfred Wainwright remains synonymous with the Lake District, but why is the connection so enduring?
Alfred Wainwright combined much of his writing with his day job as the borough treasurer of Kendal, Cumbria
But having been raised in poverty amid the claustrophobia of Blackburn's cotton mills in the early 20th Century, the lakes and their wide-open vistas provided solace and a sense of wonder that captured his heart. "It was almost a crackpot idea because what he did, in effect, was chronicle every square foot of upland Lakeland.
Wainwright began compiling the first volume in November 1952 with publication following three years later. Dividing the fells into seven areas, the series' final title arrived in 1966. For Else, who will be discussing Wainwright at the Keswick Mountain Festival on 11 September, the chances of getting him on screen had appeared remote.But as shooting was about to begin word reached him the writer had reconsidered as he thought that without his contribution the show would appear like an obituary.
Often described as curmudgeonly or difficult, Wainwright himself told Desert Island Discs he was "anti-social and getting worse" with age. Very occasionally, Wainwright, in hushed Lancastrian tones, would unexpectedly talk for half an hour without interruption. "There was no point asking him what he wanted. It was always fish and chips, a gooseberry pancake and cup of tea. I think he had a genuine fear of things he couldn't control."
"After reading his guides, you view the Lake District in a completely different way. I think that's what captivates everyone. He had a gift very few people have. "I used to visit the [publisher's] factory every day going through the attics, the cellars, the warehouse, finding all this stuff and original Westmorland Gazette printing materials.
"What's nice about the summits is the huge variety. Some are very easy to bag. For example Binsey, you can drive most of the way up on the road and just have a short walk to the top. Then there are more challenging tops like Catstye Cam, which involves a technical rocky ridge."Sabrina Verjee says she is driven on by the breath-taking scenery charted by Wainwright
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