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From
Cumbria to California they voted and they all said the Greatest
Cumbrian is...
Francis Dunnery!
Singer
and guitarist with top 80s tunesters 'It Bites' and now a successful
solo artist.
I think its fantastic. It's a shame you don't get paid for it,
ha ha  |
| Francis
Dunnery |
We
asked Francis how he felt at being voted the Greatest Cumbrian.
"I think its fantastic. It's a shame you don't get paid for
it, ha ha. Given the competiton, I think its quite remarkable and
it made my day."
Any
plans for more concerts in Cumbria?
"Maybe
in January / February of 2003. I've done an awful lot of touring
over the past year and I need to chill out for a bit."
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Francis Dunnery |
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2
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Troy
Donockley |
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3
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Stan
Laurel |
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4
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Beatrix
Potter |
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5
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William
Wordsworth |
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6
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John
Peel |
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=
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Chris
Bonington |
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8
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Postman
Pat |
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9
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Donald
Campbell |
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10
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Eddie
Stobart |
Living
in America what do you miss about Cumbria?
"I live in NYC so obviously I miss the mountains and the fields
and the smells and the violence on Saturday nights."
Who
is your greatest Cumbrian?
"Its either Stan laurel or my mam, they were both hilarious."
Here's
a couple of the comments people made when they sent in their vote:
"He is the greatest Singer/Songwriter of his generation, recognised
by the whole of the music industry for his massive talent. He has
no interest in fawning to record companies and has created his own
label to promote quality singer/songwriters (aquariannation)that
do not fall within the record company's trendy demands."
Craig Miles - Los Angeles
"His
music has inspired me in life more than any other person in my life."
Colin Hesketh - Lancashire
Number
two in our list is another talented Cumbrian musician - Troy
Donockley.
He's played with some of the biggest names in modern music - Status
Quo, Midge Ure, Roy Harper to name but three. He's also a producer
and master of the Uilleann
pipes.
We
caught up with Troy and asked how he felt about been voted one of
the top three greatest Cumbrians...
" Well, I feel both splendid and ridiculous; for the most
part like an Oyster in the presence of Leviathans."
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I am at the moment working on a large orchestral/choral symphony,
Cumbria, which I feel would have to be premiered in the
county. |
| Troy
Donockley |
Whats
the best thing about Cumbria for you?
" Peerless inspirational scenery and a splendid dialect which
thankfully is not (yet) dead."
And
on being Cumbrian?
"It is the sense that you are from somewhere secret."
Any plans for some Cumbrian concerts?
"Not in the near future, but I am at the moment working on
a large orchestral/choral symphony, Cumbria, which I feel
would have to be premiered in the county."
Similar
to Francis Troy seems to have inspired a lot of people. Here's a
couple of the comments that we've recieved-
(Troy's) A musician and composer of depth and sensitivity who brings
a sense of the sublime to a jaded music scene.
Dave Bainbridge
He's
a superb musician, and an amazing Magician.
Denis Blackham - Isle of Skye
Postman
Pat
Since we couldn't get hold of Postman Pat we asked his creator John
Cunliffe how he felt at Pat been voted number eight in the Great
Cumbrians list.
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What can I say ? This is just wonderful ! I love Cumbria, and
Cumbrians love Pat ! |
| John
Cunliffe |
"What
can I say ? This is just wonderful ! I love Cumbria, and Cumbrians
love Pat ! Fabulous ! and thanks very much.....!!!!! Me and Pat
- we're greatly honoured."
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| Postman
Pat |
"I
owe a great deal to Cumbria. There would have been no Pat if I had
not lived in Kendal... and taught in Castle Park School...and all
the rest of it began to happen. I wish I were in Kendal at this
very minute. It's lovely and sunny in Yorkshire, and it's a bonny
place, but nothing can equal Cumbria. It's the country of my heart;
my top place of all places. If not in Kendal, I'd like to be on
top of Hellvellyn."
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