Reminder: City Mayor to host reunion evening

(Date of issue: Monday, 25 January 2010)

The Mayor of Carlisle, Cllr William Graham, is hosting a Reunion Evening for former employees of Cowans Sheldon Engineering Company, together with their families and friends, in aid of the Mayor’s Charity Fund 2009/10.

The event will be held at Carlisle Rugby Club, Warwick Road, Carlisle, on Wednesday, 27 January 2010, starting at 7.30 pm, including a talk and slide show about the history of the company and a hot pot buffet. All monies raised will be donated to the Mayor’s Charity Fund, the main beneficiary of which is Eden House Children’s Hospice, Carlisle. A talk and slide show about the history of the company and a Hot Pot Buffet are included in the ticket price.

Cowans Sheldon was founded in 1846 with Works at Woodbank (about 2 miles south of Carlisle near Upperby) by John Cowans (1816-1873), Edward Pattison Sheldon (1815-1881) and brothers William and Thomas Bouch at a site adjacent to the River Petteril. The company was renowned as one of the world leaders in the manufacture of heavy lifting equipment and was based at the St Nicholas Engine & Iron Works, London Road, Carlisle, until it closed in 1987.

The Mayor of Carlisle, Cllr Graham, served his time as an electrician at Cowans Sheldon and continued to work there until the Works eventually closed in 1987. He said,

“The evening will be a chance for people to meet and catch up with former working colleagues and their families, many of whom haven’t seen each other for years, and at the same time help a worthy cause to continue their good work”.