Last updated at 13:15, Wednesday, 11 July 2012

The top prize at yesterday’s Cumbria and Lakeland Book of the Year Award was shared.

This year, 55 books had been entered, and the judges were best-selling author Hunter Davies, broadcaster and writer Eric Robson and BBC News broadcaster Fiona Armstrong.

The only regional event of its kind the contest, now in its 28th year, attracts entries from both new and established authors, each writing about an aspect of Cumbrian life.

Celebrity author Hunter Davies announced the front-runners in a hotly-contested event at the Castle Green Hotel in Kendal.

It was revealed that two books from north Cumbrian authors had vied for the top award.

Dear Mary, Love Percy Kelly by David Cross and Mary Burkett, OBE, of Isel Hall, near Cockermouth, was one. Jack’s Yak by Keith Richardson, the Keswick journalist and former editor of Cumbria Life magazine was the other.

The judges could not decide between the two and declared the contest a tie.

Dear Mary, Love Percy reveals yet more about the Workington-born artist Percy Kelly’s life and work via his illustrated letters.

The many he wrote to Mary Burkett from 1968 to 1993 have been edited by Carlisle historian David Cross.

He wrote a series of letters to Mary Burkett from soon after she became director of Abbot Hall in 1966, continuing until shortly before his death in 1993.

Although Miss Burkett did not attend the event, David Cross collected the honour in her absence.

Jack’s Yak or Jack’s oak is to be found in St Michael’s churchyard, near Lowther, where it has stood for 600 years.

This and other legendary trees are brought to life by Mr Richardson’s writing and Val Corbett’s photographs.

Chris Wadsworth, of Cockermouth’s Castlegate art gallery, was runner-up in the Bookends Award with her book, yet another volume on the life of Percy Kelly.

First published at 11:25, Wednesday, 11 July 2012
Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk