Cumbrian Women Writers: A Charity Event in Memory of Kay Dunbar and Gwenda Matthews

Words by the Water founder Kay Dunbar OBE sadly passed away last year following years of living with Progressive Supranuclear Palsy, a debilitating illness which robbed her of her enjoyment and participation in literary festivals in the final years of her life. Alongside her husband Stephen Bristow, Kay started the Words by the Water festival at Theatre by the Lake, Keswick 25 years ago and was incredibly supportive of all writers and especially the Cumbrian writing community.

Gwenda Matthews started selling books at Whitehaven Market over 50 years ago and went on to found Bookcase and Bookends bookshops in Carlisle and Keswick, with her husband Steve. She was the bookseller for Words by the Water since its inception and in 2024 became a festival partner and was absolutely pivotal to the resurgence of the festival. Gwenda did so much to support local writing and publishing and her impact shaped the literary landscape of Cumbria. Gwenda passed away on 4 January 2026. She was extremely proud of the 2026 festival programme that she helped to create. To recognise Gwenda’s enormous contribution to Cumbria this event is now dedicated to both Gwenda and Kay; two formidable women who helped put the county firmly on to the literary map.

This panel event will look at the range and legacy of female Cumbrian writers and discuss who has been particularly influential to them personally. Marie-Elsa Bragg, Kelly Davies, Sarah Hall and Kathleen Jones will take part in the discussion.

Authors have agreed to waive their fees, and all ticket proceeds from this event will be split between BookTrust, the children’s reading charity, and the Progressive Supranuclear Palsy Association, a charity which supports those living with PSPA, as Kay did for many years.