I can vividly remember Canon Rawnsley in those early days. . . . He always had a rugged look with a beard & hair not too closely cut and happy twinkling eyes. He spoke to everyone. When talking to the Dalemen he spoke in dialect . . . .

He was much loved in the County. He was Chairman of the Girls High School in Carlisle. I was a pupil of the school & he was often there. I have a vivid picture of him on the platform (1909-1912). He always sat with his eyes shut at the beginning of the speeches. Then he would take out an old envelope or the programme and write down a poem which he would recite when it came his turn to make a speech. As girls we did not think much of his verse. . . .

When Canon Rawnsley died in 1920 I was staying at the cottage with my Father & Mother. It was a brilliant sunny day and we set out to walk along the top road under Catbells to Crosthwaite & his funeral at 2.30. Although it was a bright day, there was a white helmet of cloud on Skiddaw which began to disperse at 2 and it did not completely disperse till he was laid in his grave. We all agreed that the Falls were paying him a last homage.

(Source - RR/9/2) 

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