Keith Richardson captures Lakelands' disappearing lives

By Stephen Graham

Former newspaper and magazine editor Keith Richardson, 58, is now a full time-author who also runs his own publishing house, River Greta Writer, in his home town of Keswick.

“I feel great satisfaction when I close the lid on my laptop computer knowing that — in my view — I have written a few thousand words and am proud of what I have created. It makes me feel good. Everything which follows — having a meal, watching TV, walking by the River Greta or going down the pub for a few pints — seems to be more enjoyable in the wake of writing.”


Keith developed an interest in art and writing while working in such jobs as “golf course divot replacement officer” and factory worker at Cumberland Pencils — “where I quite literally did put lead in pencils” — before successfully applying to be a junior reporter on The Whitehaven News at the age of 21.

From there he went on to work as a sub editor for the Cumberland News and Evening News & Star in Carlisle. A stint as features editor for the Cumberland News preceded editorial positions at the Cumbrian Gazette and, in 1989, Cumbria Life magazine. “To cut a long story short, that is where I worked until I decided, in summer 2007, to set up the River Greta Writer publishing house and go it alone.”

Ivver Sen, — ‘ever since’ in Cumbrian dialect — is the first book to come out of River Greta Writer. In it, Keith captures the essence of some of the Lake District’s finest characters.

“They are increasingly like aliens in their own land,” he writes of these people rich in traditional cultural heritage, but who are struggling to maintain their identity in today’s change-laden society; an identity which is in danger of being lost forever.

The book encapsulates the spirit of “one of the most beautiful places on the planet” by capturing, in detailed prose, the lives of those who live in Cumbria and work the fells. Flipping through the glossy pages, you delve into the lives of hill shepherds and hound trailers, drinkers and wrestlers; tough, hard-working people in a land from which their way of life is fast disappearing. “I wrote Ivver Sen because there were stories to tell that had not been told,” explains Keith.

Each chapter tells the story of a different Lakeland character, and explores the realism, humanity and inherent humour found in Cumbria’s hill farmers both past and present in a way which is as informative as it is entertaining. Beautifully illustrated by Keith Bowen, the pastel drawings — accumulated during five years of visits to Cumbria — help bring the book’s characters to life. This fantastic artwork is currently on display at the Theatre by the Lake Friends and Circle Galleries.

Keith the author first met Keith the artist while judging an open art exhibition, and then again at Eskdale Show. “I was looking for characters to write about and — although I was not at the show with the following specifically in mind — someone to illustrate written pieces. Keith [Bowen] happened to be there, looking for subjects to draw. The rest is history and ‘Ivver Sen’ is the result.”

In his years writing for magazines and newspapers, Keith found that, although you learn a great deal about people, and have access to all manner of life situations, you are invariably only able to scratch the surface of a particular topic before moving on.

“The medium of the book gives you so much more scope, and more time for research and writing. I increasingly wanted to become a full-time writer, running my own publishing house, writing books and having complete autonomy. Freedom is a word that is used too lightly in many situations, but the freedom to do your own thing counts for a lot in this world.”

Following his instinct and trusting his judgement, Keith used his journalistic and publishing experience to turn this desire into a reality. “It was amazing to produce the Ivver Sen; the research, the writing, being involved in the design and print, not forgetting the marketing and the sales. To be solely responsible for important publishing decisions can be immensely rewarding, especially if you get it right.”

And, as Keith is currently working on his next book — a biography of legendary Cumbrian shepherd and fell runner Joss Naylor — it looks like he did get it right. He has high hopes for the book which he says is progressing well, and is due to be published by River Greta Writer in September.

What is it that motivates Keith to write? “It’s good to be informative and entertaining for other people, and to tell a story that should be told. In the final analysis I think it comes down to satisfying your own needs; it gives meaning and purpose to your life. If it’s what you do — and hopefully do well — you’ve got to do it.”

Even after a career spent crafting words onto paper, of “creating something out of nothing,” Keith’s love of the art of writing shows no sign of fading. “I do intend to write a lot more books and already have ideas nudging gently away at my thoughts for future reference. It’s intriguing how ideas are evaluated in your mind over a period of time until they become that wonderful expression of humankind . . . the book.”