The awards ceremony for the 2015 Lakeland Book of the Year was held at the Inn on the Lake on Tuesday 14 July, where a delicious luncheon was served, whilst enjoying views across Lake Ullswater and the surrounding fells.
This year 50 books were entered and the Judges, author and columnist Hunter Davies, broadcaster and writer Eric Robson and BBC News broadcaster Fiona Armstrong, spent the spring months pouring over them.
Founder of the Awards, Hunter Davies, said: “The 2015 awards included the best short list of entries in 31 years. There were four books in particular which filled me with awe, admiration and wonder… and envy, for I wish I had thought of them myself. I would like to congratulate the winners and also applaud the efforts of all who entered as they should all be congratulated for their sterling contribution to Cumbria’s rich literary landscape.’’
New for 2015 was a much appreciated partnership with James Cropper plc based at Burneside Mills, Kendal. The association with James Cropper is particularly appropriate, as virtually all hard-backed books published in the UK are bound using paper produced by James Cropper here in Cumbria. In addition to financial assistance and sponsorship of the awards, James Cropper has provided professional advice and, of course, all printed material required for the event was produced on James Cropper paper.
This year there were six prizes on offer and the winners were:
HUNTER DAVIES LAKELAND BOOK OF THE YEAR 2015
Winner: The Shepherd’s Life by James Rebanks.
Other winning categories:
The Zeffirellis Prize for People and Business
Winner: The Shepherd’s Life by James Rebanks
The Striding Edge Prize for Guides and Places
Winner: The Parish of Satterthwaite by Suzanne Tiplady and Kevin Baverstock
The Bill Rollinson Prize for Landscape and Tradition
Winner: Fish and Fishers of the Lake District by Keith Harwood
The David Winkworth Prize for Illustration and Presentation
Winner: Jessy’s Journal by Maurice Dybeck
The Bookends Prize for Arts and Literature
Winner: Arts and Crafts Houses in the Lake District by Matthew Hyde and Esme Whittaker with photographs by Val Corbett
Eric Robson, Cumbria Tourism’s Chairman said: “This magical County with The Lake District and other stunning landscapes, continues to inspire and influence writers and poets to produce exceptional pieces of literature. The Lakeland Book of the Year contest continues to celebrate the talent Cumbria has to offer and the awards put the county on the UK’s cultural map and the range of factual and fictional writing they highlight never ceases to amaze me. Congratulations to all the winners”
