As graduation week is underway, three now-graduates enjoyed a double celebration yesterday (July 16).
Former Film and TV students Ben Finlayson, Skyler McCutcheon-Bell and Cameron Park saw for the first time in an exhibition setting the fruits of their recent labour.
At Tullie this weekend, a new exhibition celebrating 120 years of Carlisle United will open, the trio being vital parts of the creative team from the university that realised the idea.
They’ve worked with lecturer and lifelong Blues fan Ed Cooper to make video content for the exhibition, titled Backing The Blues: 120 Years of Carlisle United.
Former first team manager Mick Wadsworth and recently retired club photographer Barbara Abbott are among those to feature, sharing their personal stories and memories.
Mr Park said: “I’ve been filming fans at Brunton Park and also helped record the interview with Mick Wadsworth, editing that too.
“I’ve been very excited about being part of it and enjoyed the experience.
“This project has been important to me; it’s allowed me to work on my skills while also being able to be part of a major project for the community about something that means so much to everyone.”
Mr McCutcheon-Bell said: “I was born in Canada originally, but I came to Cumbria when I was four years old and my dad's a big Carlisle fan.
“He was there when Jimmy Glass scored the 96-minute winner to get Carlisle to survive relegation, and I've been going to Carlisle games for as long as I remember.
“To have the opportunity to work with the club through the university and to be pitch-side was an opportunity I had to take.”
Mr Finlayson, 22, a former student of Carlisle’s Trinity School, helped edit footage.
He said: “I’m not a sports person at all, but for me, it has been interesting working on the interviews to pick between the footage from different cameras that were set up to film the same interviews and bring the conversation together in a way that they make sense, flow, and tell a story.
“It has boosted my confidence, particularly working in a professional setting.”
Mr Cooper, with an alumnus of the university, recreated a commentary box for a tribute to BBC Radio Cumbria commentator and ‘voice of Carlisle’ Derek Lacey, who covered more than 500 Carlisle United matches before his death 15 years ago in 2009.
He said: “It’s been a privilege and pleasure to have different access to a place that I call home, working alongside colleagues on this phenomenal project from a collective that has been so passionate to do this for the community.”
The exhibition runs from July 20 till November 10.
For more information, visit https://tullie.org.uk/events/backing-the-blues-120-years-of-carlisle-united/.
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