The Art of The Village

Ambleside is proud of a mural painted in a church during World War Two which still draws crowds

- Mike Glover

Life-long Ambleside resident Glenise Brood has never forgotten the gift of a juicy orange she was given after posing for an artist painting a mural during World War Two.

She was one of 62 local people depicted taking part in the annual rush-bearing ceremony in the village. Glenise, then aged six, is at the front of the central of three panels, wearing a pink dress, a white hat and with a finger in her mouth. In normal times, the mural attracts thousands of visitors to St Mary’s Parish church in the centre of the village.

‘The mural has proved a priceless gift to Ambleside. The documentation will be another’

‘I remember it as if it was yesterday. We were taken by our parents and up the stairs to the attics of The Queen’s Hotel, where the artist took sketches of us. I was given an orange, which was a real treat in the war,’ says Glenise, now 81, who has remained in the pretty market town at the heart of the Lake District, working as a school caretaker and housekeeper, while bringing up six children.

She now has 14 grandchildren and nine great grandchildren. ‘The eldest great-grandchild, Declan aged 10, thinks I am famous,’ she laughs.

She attends the rush-bearing every year and two years ago 13 of her descendants were involved in the ceremony, which is always held on the first Saturday in July, but for obvious reasons may not go ahead this year.

And this year she, like the nine other survivors of the modelling session, was excited that two of the sons of the mural painter were due to make a pilgrimage to see the artwork for the first time. Due to the coronavirus crisis, this trip has now been postponed until 2021.