1,191 years of political experience gathered in one room today, when past and present Chairmen of Cumbria County Council met for the first time in five years.
That was the combined age of the assembled group, which last held such a gathering in 2001. The informal meeting allowed old acquaintances to catch up on old times as well as compare notes on their time in the Chair of the county council.
The event was hosted in the Grand Jury Room in The Courts in Carlisle by current Chair Allan Caine and Vice Chair Alan Toole.
Councillor Caine said: "It's fantastic to get all these people who have done their bit for Cumbria together in one room and see how they're getting on. It's also good to hear their views on being the Chair, and how they did things differently. In politics, your opponents can still be your friends and we're all united in one common cause - pushing Cumbria forward."
Carlisle MP Eric Martlew, who chaired the council from 1983-1985, also attended the event. He said: "It brings back happy memories of my time in the council. Hundreds of years of public service are represented in this group. Even though I was Chair in the early 1980s, it's good to see I'm still the youngest person in the room!"
Notes for Editors
Pictured in the attached jpeg are (Back Row, L-R):
Jim Oswald (Chair 1992-93); Robert Edgar (2001-02); Eric Martlew MP (1983-85); Cllr Reg Watson (1999-00); Vice Chair Cllr Alan Toole; James Webster (2004-05); Ralph Aldersey (2002-03); Cllr Ron Calvin (1998-99); Cllr Bill Cameron (1994-95).
(Front Row, L-R):
Geoff Whalley (1990-91); Nonie Wrightson (1991-92); Hugh Little OBE (1988-89); Chairman Allan Caine (2006-); Peter Naylor (1976-80); Muriel Dinning (1997-98); Clive Liversedge (1995-96).