Members and friends of Sustainable Keswick and the wider community are mourning the loss of Elizabeth Barraclough, who has died aged 88.
Since moving to Keswick in 1993 on retirement, with her partner Dorothy Hind, Elizabeth was one of Keswick’s great doers. Over the 29 years she had lived in the town she played a key role in so many activities and projects.
Before retirement Elizabeth had headed Newcastle University’s computer department in which she had started work in 1957.
In recognition of her distinguished career as a computing pioneer there, she was awarded an Honorary Fellowship and a building was named after her.
“Retirement” to Keswick for Elizabeth meant being just as active as she had been in work.
From its inception in 2007, Elizabeth was a leading activist, and for a while chairperson of Sustainable Keswick, which over the years has become a significant force in and around the town, many of whose initiatives owe their origins to Elizabeth’s ideas and energies.
She headed up the work on tree planting, wildflower meadows, food and agriculture and was active in the lobby group. She was responsible for the establishment of the new wood in the hospital field, the extension of which the campaign has resolved to continue.
And she was just about to start a campaign educating local people on simple plant-based cooking and reducing food miles and the impact diet has on the climate.
From 1995 to 2011, Elizabeth was on Keswick Town Council and was mayor in 1998-99 and again in 2004-05 when amongst many things she successfully steered the council to support Keswick’s Fairtrade Town status, one of the earliest in the country. She was also chairperson of the Keswick Parks Charitable Trusts 2007-2008 and a Cumbria County councillor.
On the political front Elizabeth was active in the West Cumbria Liberal Democrats for many years and was one of the key people keeping the local party in existence through her tenacity and by inspiring others to get involved.
She was honorary president of the West Cumbria Liberal Democrats for two years to the autumn of 2020 and in November 2020 was awarded the regional President’s Honour for service to the party in the north west.
Patricia Howell writes of her: “One of the community projects closest to Elizabeth’s heart in recent years was the creation of the sensory garden behind the Keswick War Memorial.
“Together with a small team of volunteers she designed and developed a stunning garden which in some way reflects the trauma of the 2015 floods, and also the landscape and flora of the fells.
“Her inspiration and dedication meant that the team spent many happy hours planning, planting, weeding, and pruning, followed by coffee of course. She was tireless.’’
She also had a very long involvement over many years with Keswick in Bloom, as a founder member, secretary, and chair. She was successful in obtaining funding for a number of projects, identifying areas of the town which needed saving from dereliction with new planting, a splash of seasonal colour or all round interest.
Keswick in Bloom was successful in winning a number of awards locally and nationally, thanks to her dedication and vision over a long period.
Sally Lansbury said: “Elizabeth Barraclough has been an inspiration to many people, including myself, to get involved in politics and to get involved in horticulture and nature as a means of building strong communities.
“I looked upon her as a mentor — a pragmatic community leader who got on with getting projects delivered — even if that took time and patience.
“Elizabeth was a great person to work with — she had a strong personality and she certainly didn’t hesitate to let you know if she didn’t agree with you.”
Latterly, Elizabeth continued to work on a long list of projects for the Theatre by the Lake, for the parks, for Cumbria in Bloom and for Keswick U3A. Every endeavour that she tackled was with the objective of improving nature and improving lives and she was still absolutely mentally agile as well as physically able and took part in meetings with Sustainable Keswick and the National Trust just last week, until the stroke that took her life.
Jocelyn Pye, of Sustainable Keswick, said: “I knew Elizabeth as someone who led by example and was endlessly encouraging to anyone wanting to get involved in politics or community action.
“She was never pushy or prescriptive, just so very inspiring through her own determination and energy. Also, fiercely independent while willing to listen to others.
“An amazing woman who I am sure will continue to inspire me through the example she has set of how to live a worthwhile life and continuously fight to change things for the better.”
Jo Alberti, also of Sustainable Keswick, said: “Elizabeth took part in a Zoom session of Unravelling Economics on Friday morning with her usual thoughtful
and deliberate contributions.
“I was always struck by the fact that she was always given the space to say what she wanted to say in her careful and reflective way.
“The fact that she joined the group is witness to her determination to keep learning: her sharp mind was open to new ways of looking at the world until the last.’’
Chris Knowles, who worked alongside Elizabeth as secretary for both Keswick in Bloom and Sustainable Keswick, said: “Her drive, energy and clear thinking has been remarkable and Keswick has benefited from the many projects she has overseen.
“The walled garden at Tithebarn Corner and the sensory garden next to the war memorial are two outstanding features of the town which would
not exist without Elizabeth’s vision and persistence.
“A plaque in memory of her at either location would be entirely appropriate in my view.”
Tony Marsh, of Skiddaw U3A, said: “Elizabeth convened both the gardening and golf croquet groups but her interests and enthusiasms extended much further.
“There are many who know her achievements much better than myself but I will say how from my very first acquaintance with her I have been deeply impressed by her intelligence, wit, compassion, and energy.
“She will be sorely missed by the whole of the Keswick community.”