Published at 19:40, Thursday, 15 May 2008

A TEAM from Keswick’s Cumberland Pencil Museum triumphed when they were named Team of the Year in this year’s Cumbria Tourism Awards, on Wednesday.

The team, led by museum manager Alex Spencer, attended a presentation ceremony at the Castle Green Hotel, Kendal.

Although the pencil factory has just moved into new premises at Lillyhall, near Workington, the museum remains in Keswick where it receives about 85,000 visitors each year.

The team includes deputy manager Kath Thompson, Dot Bell, Fiona Hodgson, Zoe Ginty, Lesley Shaw, Bernie Graham, Fiona Alder, Steven Lawson, Megan Ginty, Tessa Brown and Sarah Brotherton.

It has doubled in size over the last two years, during which time visitor numbers have increased by 18 per cent.

The team’s initiatives include hands-on trails for children, demonstration workshops for adults and a new coffee shop.

The team was short-listed after three members were interviewed by Cumbria Tourism, and the museum was visited by a mystery shopper.

The Cottage in the Wood on Whinlatter Pass, near Keswick, which is run by Liam and Kath Berney, was runner-up in the small hotels category.

Emma Mounsey, restaurant supervisor at McMenamin’s in Maryport, was runner-up for the award for best new entrant to the industry.

Lyn Baker, duty manager and volunteer co-ordinator at Rosehill Theatre, Whitehaven, was second in the class for most valuable volunteer.

Whitehaven’s Beacon Museum was the runner-up small visitor attraction, and the Crosthwaite Conference Centre at Keswick was second in the business tourism awards.

The Haig Colliery Mining Museum at Whitehaven was second in the class for innovative people management.

Published by http://www.timesandstar.co.uk