Growing Old (Dis)Gracefully in Keswick

The month of June will see Keswick Senior Citizens' Club, Keswick Library and the Keswick Alhambra Cinema joining forces to showcase the joys of Growing Old (Dis)Gracefully in Keswick.

"It comes to us all," says Carol Rennie, co-owner of the Alhambra Cinema, "and yet a lot of us avoid thinking about how we're going to face old age. I've always been tickled by the Jenny Joseph poem, Warning: When I am Old I Shall Wear Purple, and have been inspired by the way one of our most loyal cinema patrons, Mary-Gay, who lives her life in eccentric Jenny Joseph style, has managed to thrive in Keswick. Some of us want to grow old gracefully, I'm more of a mind to grow old disgracefully, and in many respects Mary-Gay is a model for that!"

The cinema will put on a series of films that celebrate growing old eccentrically and living life to the full, as well as addressing head on the difficulties and vulnerabilities of ageing: the popular 2015 film Lady in the Van, featuring Maggie Smith as the eccentric Miss Shepherd who parked herself on Alan Bennett's drive for fifteen years, and new darkly comedic, heartwarming road trip, Driving with Mum, in which middle-aged Jon honours his mothers last wishes by taking her and his dog on a journey across Iceland, dealing with his grief, his late mother's relentless nagging, and finding acceptance along the way. British documentary Much Ado About Dying portrays the difficulties of caring for someone fiercely independent yet deeply vulnerable: film-maker Simon gets sucked into helping his uncle David, eccentric thespian and Shakespeare afficionado, through his final years. Everything that could go wrong does go wrong, but the film is also a delightful celebration of and testament to David's indomitable, joyful spirit. Finally, Waterloo Sunset gives us a glimpse into the lives of the elderly residents who live in a remarkable sheltered almshouse complex hidden beside London's River Thames, towered over by luxury apartments and skyscrapers. Poignant, heartwarming and incredibly uplifting, it reflects on regeneration, changing society and growing old in Britain today, centred on 74 year old crooner Shamus, who still dreams of pop stardom.

A poster display at the Senior Citizen's Club will feature an age profile of Keswick demonstrating how much older than the average our town's population is, and showcase some of the many social groups and activities run by people who are retired and thus have the time to create a buzzing calendar of community activities for all to enjoy: just one of the many reasons why Keswick is such a popular place for people to retire to. A photo montage will feature the many residences there are for older people in Keswick, and a display of 'old Keswick' pictures and books from the Senior Citizen's Centre collection.

According to the late great Alan Hankinson "the lovely thing about Keswick is that it's full of bleedin' eccentrics." Keswick Library will showcase Keswick Characters: the three volumes of short biographies put together by the Keswick History Group and Friends of Keswick Museum between 2006 and 2012, and a poster display featuring some of those featured in the collections, plus a biography and exhibition of current Keswick Character Mary-Gay Hersee Pearson.

Mary-Gay spends a lot of her time chronicling the comings-and-goings at the cinema and Chinty's cafe, and she has worked with Carol to create a display of her wonderfully complex illuminated diaries documenting the events and people she encounters at the cinema.

Visitors to the exhibition will be encouraged to bring along or jot down the names and memories they have of other 'Keswick Characters' - if anyone would like to have someone featured as part of the formal 'Keswick Characters' display at the Library, they are welcome to drop off material for the attention of Carol at the cinema, Keswick Library or the Senior Citizen's Drop-in centre by 27th May (no more than 150 words and a photo).

Dates and further details of events will be advertised nearer the time: individuals or groups with suggestions or ideas, or who would like to host any meet-and-greet sessions at the drop-in centre or library during the month of June, or participate in any post-film screening discussions about how to age well, are likewise invited to pop into the cinema to have a chat with Carol (or leave a note, email carolrennie@ymail.com or call 07941571064).