Welcome to the first Barrow Voice issue of 2024.

We’re hoping it’s not going to be the last.

Our village continues to be home to some amazing and interesting people. We feature Coral Kelham who has been awarded a British Empire Medal; Ben Spencer, who is running the London marathon raising money for asthma; and Alex Sault who broadcasts to the world from his boat at Pillings Lock. We say thank you to John Nurse for all he has contributed to Barrow Voice and the village and to Bobbie Cornish as she retired from her many years at Hall Orchard School. Members of the Women’s Institute have been busily bagging and bundling their bras for charity. We have reviews of Barrow Arts’ Sound of Music and Charnwood Orchestra’s New Year’s concert… and so much more. We hope you enjoy reading it.

But before we go, the editorial team has its own good news to announce. Once again, Barrow Voice has been placed in the top 5% of over 450 parish magazines around the country.

Do you want to join a winning team and get involved in Barrow Voice?

We desperately need someone who can help manage our advertising. Without advertising income, Barrow Voice will cease to exist… but we want to be here next year to be able to celebrate our 50th anniversary. Without someone in the village coming forward to help, we may never get there. Please get in touch.

Karisa Krcmar (editor)
Front cover: Children from the cast of Sound of Music (Barrow Arts) (from left to right) 
Joshua Marshall, Evelyn Crossley, Hallie Mackness, Belles Griffin, Alexie Mackness, Austin Griffin.
Photo: Emma Griffin

Dogs in Barrow	Rocking the Boat	Floods, floods and yet more floods	It’s All a Bit of a Fuss Really