Accidents and emergencies

My blog usually consists of the weekly sketches for my newspaper cartoon plus occasional sketchbook entries and the odd rumination on life, the universe and stuff. Last week's was a little different due to World Events intervening, so I didn't get round to the newspaper sketches.

As I know from my Twitter follower, this has caused great disappointment for yards around, so here is the delayed blog.

The stories which fell across The Westmorland Gazette cartoon desk were many and varies. However the two which attracted me were one about a proposed Mayor of Cumbria (why?) and increasing waiting times at local hospital A&E.

You can see my sketches below and the final, color cartoon which made it onto the front page.

Je Suis Charlie

So long, 2014 …

This week's Westmorland Gazette front page featured a campaign to reduce the speed limit in Kendal to 20 mph. I can imagine Jeremy Clarkson's blood pressure as I type. One of my twitter followers suggested it was quite hard to drive at that speed and might be dangerous. Possibly he might need further driving lessons (or some).

The other thrilling story to land on the cartoon desk is that Cumbria is to become BOWLS CAPITAL OF THE WORLD! A National group called the Bowls Development Alliance is set to increase nationwide participation in the sport, through a rigorous regime of military conscription and enforced deportation of anyone who refuses to play. (I may have got some of the details wrong as I fell asleep whilst reading the story.)

And it is the end of the year. I thought I could sum that up in a cartoon. Sadly, as you can see from the final color version, it wasn't the one chosen. Do you think the editor chose the right cartoon for the front page? Feel free to comment below.

Meanwhile, have a good rest of 2014. See you next year.

A Christmas Custom

Last week's super, soaraway Westmorland Gazette had two prime candidates for the cartoon desk. The first was a new story, the other was 2000 years old.

Immigration officers pounced to stop a sham marriage at Lancaster Registry Office. The groom was attempting to stay in the UK illegally and, ironically, achieved his aim by being sentenced to 10 months in prison.

In other news, it was Christmas.

Clearly there was the opportunity to combine these two stories in a tasteful fashion unlikely to offend anyone. Equally clearly, I didn't take that route. Below are the ideas I submitted with the one chosen shown in colour. I'm not convinced by that gag and would have gone for the angels (with or without the cigarette). What do you think?

The less than super highway

Two stories of national importance landed on the Westmorland Gazette cartoon desk last week.

Local hotels are up in arms and down in the dumps because BT broadband failed, losing them millions of pounds of business (hyperbole added for optional excitement).

And after months of campaigning, the much-loathed on-street parking plan from Cumbria County Council has been buried due to a legal problem.

Here are the six ideas I submitted to my steamed editor. The winning entry is at the end, complete with crop marks (which the sub-editor always ignores). Which would you have chosen? Place your carefully-considered vote in the comments box below.

Pie in the Sky

One of the joys of being a newspaper cartoonist in a National Park is knowing that the National Park Authority is going to provide me with material at regular intervals.

The Lake District is currently on its third bid for World Heritage status. It’s been turned down twice before. But that hasn’t prevented some blue sky thinking on what we’re going to do if we DO get it. Literally blue sky. Cable cars, for instance. A cable car spanning the lake and Claife between Bowness and Hawkshead will effortlessly whisk visitors to Beatrix Potter Land. Another to connecting Bowness and Windermere villages will sweep hordes of wheely-suitcases between the railway station and the lake front.

As you can imagine, the suggestion did not meet with universal approval. “Pie in the sky,” said a Tory councillor, leading to a rumour that the cable car is going to have catering. The National Park consultant claims the idea has “wow” factor.

What do you think?

Below are my cartoon sketches submitted to The Westmorland Gazette. The color version is the editor’s choice but which would you have gone for? Are cable cars in the Lake District a fun idea or or just blowing in the wind? Add your comments below.

Banks bunking off

Banks are disappearing from rural communities. Like post offices, the village bobby, pubs, telephone kiosks and flashers, what was once part of the fabric of rural life is now going the way of the dodo. (They're disappearing, not being hunted and eaten by sailors.)

The assumption is that these days everyone can do internet banking. Country residents still struggling on internet dial-up, slow broadband speed or frequent breaks in service may care to disagree. And many of them won't relish the prospect of a long bus journey to their nearest high street bank.

The closure of more branches in South Lakes is one of the main stories in this week's Westmorland Gazette. It seemed a good target for the front page cartoon. 

Below are four ideas I submitted to my steamed editor. His choice is shown at the end. But which one would you have chosen? Make your vote in the comments below.