Landlord of Woolpack Inn, Boot

The good news is that he's alive, but the bad news is that he was injured in yesterday's orgy of shooting in West Cumbria. The Yorkshire Post reports that Harry Berger was shot in the arm and is recovering in hospital.

Harry is the landlord of the Woolpack at the top end of Eskdale. Many readers of this ng will know him, his wife and the pub as it's at the end of the Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway and, until recently, home to a small brewery, Hardknott (named after the nearby mountain pass). (I believe the brewing plant moved to Millom very recently.)

From what I can make out, the shooting didn't take place anywhere near the pub, though the gunman did end his killing spree in the nearby village of Boot. I think Harry was in Seascale, a village on the coast, when he encountered the gunman.

I feel a bit of a personal link to all this as I spent a few days up there earlier this year, touring round several of West Cumbria's villages and their licensed premises, which were universally welcoming. (I won a bottle of claret in the raffle at a village ceilidh!)

I hope Harry is soon on the mend. In the meantime, if anyone here is likely to see either him or his wife soon, please pass on my sympathy.

I don't suppose the pub wil be open for the next few days.

-- Pat Ricroft, City of Salford, UK ===============================

Hi (from West Cumbria!!!)

Although I rarely visit the Woolpack, being a West Cumbrian, I know the area well.

According to our local paper up here, Harry Berger has lost the fingers on one hand.

Having said that, the paper is notorious for getting reports incorrect and this is the only specific detail of his injuries that I have read. However, the Daily Telegraph did say this morning that:- "{Harry Berger} was seriously injured but survived", so I suspect it could be correct.

As I say, it is uncorroborated and - naturally - stories and rumours are rife around these parts at present. If I hear anything definite (and I may well do so this afternoon in my local pub), I will post details.

On a lighter note (if lightness is possible in the situation) the police phoned the local pubs around Boot and asked the landlords to keep customers locked inside. That must be a first in this area - usually customers lock themselves in after licensing hours and hope the police don't find out!! 8^)

Regards

KGB