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The Cumbrian Melting Pot
Of course were not all driving around on tractors and discussing milk quotas. There are lots of people in Cumbria who have nothing to do with farming.
There are lots of people who move into the county either for work or because they enjoy the outdoor lifestyle that Cumbria can offer.
 | | Kendal Climbing Wall |
If you visit Kendal Climbing Wall, youll find that many of the people hanging precariously (but safely!) from bits of rope werent born and bred here.
Theyve moved here from all over the country to live in a place where they feel at home and meet like-minded folks who also like climbing, mountain-biking and being generally healthy in the great outdoors.
(Who are these people? Where is my chocolate? Ed)
So what kind of an impact are all these new people having on the Cumbrian personality? Well probably not much. Cumbria has always had a healthy influx of so called off-comers.
Even if we ignore the Romans, there were the Vikings who gave us so many of our local place names; fell, beck, tarn, dale
they all have Scandinavian origins.
Then therere the miners from Germany who came to Keswick in the 1500s, the miners from the North East came to our West coast in the late 17th century, and later still, skilled men from Cornwall and Devon who came to mine for iron ore in Furness.
In the last century weve seen hundreds move to work at Sellafield, in the countys schools and colleges and in many other local industries. The truth is, Cumbria has always been a bit of a melting pot. You might argue that Cumbria is losing its essential Cumbrian qualities because of the growth of chain stores and fast food joints that are the same the world over.
Globally popular TV programmes mean our kids speak the same language as their peers in the U.S., Australia and much of Europe.
 | | Sixthformers at Victoria High School in Ulverston |
But this lot from the 6th form at Victoria High School in Ulverston say they still feel Cumbrian and are pleased they do.
Which has to be good news for the future of the Cumbrian personality ... whatever it might be!
More - A bit of a lad | 
