PRINCE Charles sent his apologies.

Now, that would have been a coup for local food entrepreneur Peter Gott, to bag the heir to the throne for the launch of the North West Convivium of the Slow Food movement.

For those of us who did make it to the Westmorland County Show Society headquarters, at Lane Farm, Crooklands, it was nice to know that Charles hoped the convivium would herald "a new beginning" for Cumbria in the wake of foot-and-mouth.

The local launch of Slow Food - an international organisation dedicated to taste and culture - couldn't have come at a more appropriate time.

When foot-and-mouth is banished once and for all there will be much to do to restore public confidence in our food.

By rights, Lakeland's gastronomes should have been riding on the crest of a wave thanks to a hugely successful campaign over the past couple of years to promote the region's rich culinary heritage as well as food produced locally.

Foot-and-mouth has rather blighted those efforts, although it is good to see some farmers' markets up and running again.

"Hopefully there is a future and they do say that out of bad things, some good things come," a philosophical Peter Gott told those gathered for Slow Food's first North West Convivium (as in conviviality!).

"When foot-and-mouth is over, it will be back to the small ways of doing things, I'm sure."

Slow Food was founded in 1989 and is now active in 45 countries worldwide with more than 65,000 members and 550 Convivia, or Slow Food branches (the UK has 12).

The Convivium acts as the historical, cultural and gastronomic voice of its region, while the convivia combine to provide a lively international network dedicated to knowledge, taste and enjoyment.

Their aim is to counter the "degrading" effects of industrial and fast food culture that are standardising taste.

Slow Food promotes the beneficial effect of the deliberate consumption of nutritious, locally-grown and indigenous foods.

It encourages "taste education" for adults and children and works towards safeguarding and promoting public awareness of culinary traditions and customs.

Slow Food also supports the artisans of food production; encourages tourism that respects and cares for the environment; and is dedicated to helping those food producers who need help to continue their traditions.

Last, but not least, Slow Food promotes a philosophy of pleasure.

And what a pleasure it was to gorge our way through the magnificent spread laid on by Peter, wild boar farmer and champion of the local food cause; and Simon Thomas of Kendal's Staff of Life bakery.

Succulent Serrano and Parma hams, Peter's own wild board salami and prosciuttos, creamy locally-smoked cheese, Simon's parmesan and garlic bread, a delicious apple sourdough, olives, salad and piles of fruit - it wasn't a feast for the feint-hearted.

"The Parma ham has been two-and-a-half to three years in the making, the Serrano three years," explained Peter.

"The wild boar salami, about two years."

Even the apple in Simon's apple sourdough was 'started' two years ago.

Slow maybe, but well worth the wait.

Wendy Fogarty, of the Slow Food organisation in the UK, travelled especially to the Lake District for the launch of the North West Convivium.

"The movement is as much about community as anything," she explained, "rural and town.

It's just that everything to do with food today has become subject to politics and control.

We are concerned about all food, even that in our schools and homes for the elderly.

Food should be something to be enjoyed, every day."

Wendy said Slow Food aimed to be a catalyst, to encourage people to work together and overcome obstacles.

"It is not a trendy food idea.

It has rejuvenated a lot of rural communities."

l The North West Convivium will probably meet again in September.

In the meantime, if you would like to register your interest in the organisation, contact Judith Toland on 01539-567890 or fax: 01539-567047 or e-mail: SlowFoodNW@aol.com

l For information on Slow Food worldwide check out the web on www.slowfood.com