VILLAGE life continues to cause concern. Post offices are under threat and last week came the sad news of the demise of Melmerby May Day after 80 years.

This colourful little festival was one of those easy-going affairs, which always followed the same pattern — parade, crowning, Maypole dancing and sports.

Slee’s ice-cream cart did brisk business and the village bobby, PC Syd Hetherington, played a vital role, keeping the road clear of intrusive traffic as the teenage May Queen headed for the coronation dais, seated on a pony.

A royal proclamation was read, calling for kindness to wildlife, cats and dogs.

This columnist felt a sense of personal regret on hearing the news, for the May Day was the first major out-of-town assignment he covered as a 16-year-old cub reporter, in the company of Penrith photographer Mr. Tunley.

Melmerby’s loss of its big day coincides with a threat to another popular, old-established event, Armathwaite sports.

“Survive or die? You decide,” says a headline in the parish news, adding that the sports meeting is on the brink of winding up. There is a “desperate need” for a co-ordinator to focus the efforts of an enthusiastic committee.

The hope is that as many village events as possible can be sustained. They are simple pleasures of rural life, although they mean a lot of work for a few people.

EDEN SUPERSTARS IN SPOTLIGHT

Remember epic stories like The Magnificent Seven and Seven Brides for Seven Brothers?

Now, with bated breath, we await the debut performance of Seven Star Councillors, soon to take centre stage in Penrith Town Hall and overshadow their colleagues on Eden Council as first members of a new cabinet, with prime responsibility for running the show.

The dictionary definition of cabinet is: “A deliberative committee of the principal members of government” — or local government in Eden’s case.

Oneupmanship looms, for the Super Seven will be decision-takers on every issue before the authority, from housing to human resources, tourism to toilets.

And the rest of the 30 plus members? They will scrutinise, examine, peruse, approve or, possibly, amend and alter the cabinet proposals.

To some observers of the Eden scene, this is an uncanny, back-to-front version of local democracy, whereby much sound knowledge and opinion are only unlocked when decisions have been made and policies formed by a few.

The cabinet system deprives many hard-working councillors of the fuller role they played previously.

There was a simple, understandable progression of debate under the former council set-up, with members divided out on a number of committees — housing, health, finance, road safety, parks and open spaces and others.

Committees thrashed out contentious issues and made recommendations to meetings of the full council, where they were either approved or defeated.

Thus there was an airing of major matters before final decisions were taken.

In one memorable case, the road safety committee pressed for removal of Penrith’s town centre landmark, the Musgrave Monument, to improve traffic flow.

There was an angry public reaction and full council quashed the idea.

Men and women seek election in the hope of serving the community. On Eden Council, alas, it seems most members will spend a lot of time finding fault and picking holes in the views of seven colleagues.

The introduction of a cabinet is being hailed as a brave new world.

For a few, perhaps, but bright young people, considering serving in local government, might not be encouraged by the prospect of a negative or, at best, rubber-stamping role.

APPETISING EDEN

Relishing meals in Eden eating houses over the May holiday prompted a thought: Not enough is made by publicists of traditional foodstuffs, cooking skills and tasty dishes.

The profile of Eden is one of subtle beauty of the countryside, dotted with small towns and villages. Rarely a mention of sumptuous tastiness of meals served in out-of-the-way places like Armathwaite and Culgaith.

Michael Winner writes ecstatically in the Sunday Times of rich dishes in big city hotels and restaurants, but there is little written recognition of truly marvellous meals available in garden centre tea-rooms, pubs and farmhouse eating rooms within the local area.

Perhaps the tastiness of Eden should be the theme of a new publicity brochure, which could also promote local products like Cumberland sausage, Penrith toffee and Kennedy’s fine chocolates, made in the old school at Orton?

The call should go out: “Savour the full flavour of Eden … Tasty food as well as spectacular scenery …”.