6:10pm Tuesday 13th April 2010
By Emma Lidiard
A MOVE to bring back the dying tradition of sending postcards has been started by Cumbria Tourism.
With increasing numbers of the Lake District’s 15 million annual visitors turning to texting and tweeting to record their holiday happenings, the organisation has launched its Wish You Were Here campaign.
“Social media is a great way to keep in touch but it is eroding the tradition of the postcard,” said Ian Stephens, chief executive at Cumbria Tourism.
“The Lake District landscape has inspired literary greats over the years and we want people to follow their lead and take the time to stop and think about their surroundings instead of abbreviating their experiences into 140 characters.”
Research commissioned by YouGov online revealed that only 27 per cent of UK adults have sent a postcard in the last 12 months.
Fourteeen per cent said that they had not sent a postcard in over a decade which means postcards could eventually die out as younger generations rely on social networking and texting.
Mr Stephens said: “Postcards are much more personal to the recipient and can often become a cherished keepsake so let us embrace this institution and make 2010 the year of the Great British postcard.”
To help the campaign, Cumbria Tourism is asking the country’s most famous stars of stage, screen, music and sport to send their own postcards with personal recollections, drawings and messages of support, to Cumbria in the wake of last November’s unprecedented flooding.
The area is a popular destination for those in the public eye with celebrities like Dame Judi Dench and Sting among its regular visitors.
Cumbria Tourism is calling for local people to be a part of the campaign by contributing their own postcards to the growing collection.
Specially-produced postcards will be left at venues in areas affected by the November floods for people to complete with their personal stories of Cumbrian community spirit.
It is hoped the celebrity replies will be exhibited and auctioned to raise funds for the Cumbria Flood Recovery Fund and the Lake District Search and Mountain Rescue.
Alex McCoskrie, marketing director for Cumbria Tourism, said: “The postcard collection will be a positive record of Cumbria during the floods as well as a reminder of the things people love most about our county.”
Postcards will go on display at Ambleside and Windermere Tourist Information Centres and Ulverston’s Coronation Hall.
Ellie Beatlestone, 56, Birmingham said: “I wouldn’t send a postcard because I’m just visiting family. If I was going to send one it would be to someone that doesn’t live in England.”
Tim Fyones, 38, London said: “Yeah I always send a postcard. I send them to the kids, granny and grandpa. Nana, especially, always likes to receive one when we go away.”
Beverly Duckworley, 39, London said: “If I do send one it’s normally of a beautiful picture of the lakes or mountains, something like that. I do often send one to the relatives.”
Claire Waddinlon, 41 Kent said: “No I’m not sending a postcard. We are only visiting for a few days, in fact we are leaving today. But I never send them home.”
Dave Waddinlon, 44, Kent said: “I don’t send them back. When I go away I like to forget about home. At the most I’d send a text message.”
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