Alan Cleaver

@thelonningsguy

UK author of The Postal Paths telling the stories behind Britain's rural postal routes. https://linktr.ee/postalpaths

Whitehaven, Cumbria

Joined March 2015

4KFollowing

18KFollowers

Pinned

Alan Cleaver@thelonningsguy · Apr 27, 2024

I tweet about Britain's postal paths (walked by rural postmen and women in the past) and other ancient paths, folklore, and the joy of handwritten letters. Follow me if you're of a like mind. Picture: Scottish postie Silver Beedie on her Highland route.

thelonningsguy's tweet image. I tweet about Britain's postal paths (walked by rural postmen and women in the past) and other ancient paths, folklore, and the joy of handwritten letters. Follow me if you're of a like mind. Picture: Scottish postie Silver Beedie on her Highland route.

266

2.0K

153

96.0K

Pinned

Alan Cleaver@thelonningsguy · 8 h

A film showing a tame deer helping a rural postman on his rounds? What's not to like? #postboxsaturday cutt.ly/LrAgnT8k

201

3.0K

Pinned

Alan Cleaver@thelonningsguy · Jul 19

Can you believe that @ShippingBrow Gallery in Maryport wasted money framing one of my letters?! Fortunately once you get past that you can view the work of real artists such as #paintedletter patron saint, Percy Kelly, William Mitchell, Alan Roper and @nightingalesang #Cumbria

thelonningsguy's tweet image. Can you believe that @ShippingBrow Gallery in Maryport wasted money framing one of my letters?! Fortunately once you get past that you can view the work of real artists such as #paintedletter patron saint, Percy Kelly, William Mitchell, Alan Roper and @nightingalesang #Cumbria

2.0K

Alan Cleaver@thelonningsguy · 9 h

The new 'tradition' of taking The Postal Paths out for a walk!

HHandwritten Letter@letterappsoc · 10 h

Happy #PostboxSaturday, postbox friends! Had the loveliest few days away in beautiful Cornwall with postboxes galore! Thought I’d start here with some postal paradise at the @EdenProject including a little expedition for @thelonningsguy’s wonderful exploratory book… ☺️📮📗🌴🌿

2.0K

Alan Cleaver@thelonningsguy · Jul 25

Guardian article on Slow Ways @SlowWaysUK theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2…

222

6.0K

Alan Cleaver@thelonningsguy · Jul 24

Sometimes, the best option is to leave our angry world and opt instead to be swallowed up by a country lane where the only noise is a gentle stream and the wren is your only other visitor.

thelonningsguy's tweet image. Sometimes, the best option is to leave our angry world and opt instead to be swallowed up by a country lane where the only noise is a gentle stream and the wren is your only other visitor.

937

10.0K

Alan Cleaver@thelonningsguy · Jul 24

This is one of the sweetest stories you are ever going to read...❤️ Grantham couple get back 1962 love letters found in canal.#letters #handwrittenLetters bbc.co.uk/news/articles/…

thelonningsguy's tweet card. Appeals to return them to their owner were issued, after they were found by a woman magnet fishing.

956

Alan Cleaver@thelonningsguy · Jul 23

I joked with @fellranger1 that he could save a lot of time by asking AI to draw the fells in a pen and ink style. So I asked Grok to draw Scafell Pike a la Wainwright. Here's the result. I don't think @fellranger1 should be too worried!

thelonningsguy's tweet image. I joked with @fellranger1 that he could save a lot of time by asking AI to draw the fells in a pen and ink style. So I asked Grok to draw Scafell Pike a la Wainwright. Here's the result. I don't think @fellranger1 should be too worried!

1.0K

Alan Cleaver Retweeted

Chris Malone@CMoiraM · Jul 22

@thelonningsguy absolutely loved your book The Postal Paths; chrismaloneauthor.com/chris-malone-b…

612

Alan Cleaver@thelonningsguy · Jul 22

"We want to imbue the landscape with a lot of personality" - pen and ink artist Mark Richards (@fellranger1). My thanks to him and the @ArmittMuseum for sharing memories and artistic tips today.

thelonningsguy's tweet image. "We want to imbue the landscape with a lot of personality" - pen and ink artist Mark Richards (@fellranger1). My thanks to him and the @ArmittMuseum for sharing memories and artistic tips today.

2.0K

Alan Cleaver@thelonningsguy · Jul 22

Ambleside's iconic postbox (hideously blocked by signposts 😡) - and how it looked in the 1920s complete with the optimistic planting of a tree on the roundabout. #Cumbria

thelonningsguy's tweet image. Ambleside's iconic postbox (hideously blocked by signposts 😡) - and how it looked in the 1920s complete with the optimistic planting of a tree on the roundabout. #Cumbria

2.0K

Alan Cleaver@thelonningsguy · Jul 21

I'm looking forward to spending tomorrow morning with Mark Richards (@fellranger1) at @ArmittMuseum. Mark drew the wonderful pen and ink illustrations for The Postal Paths.

thelonningsguy's tweet image. I'm looking forward to spending tomorrow morning with Mark Richards (@fellranger1) at @ArmittMuseum. Mark drew the wonderful pen and ink illustrations for The Postal Paths.

133

2.0K

Alan Cleaver@thelonningsguy · Jul 21

Happy Birthday to Yusuf, the artist formerly known as Yusuf Islam, formerly known as Cat Stevens, formerly known as Steve Adams, formerly known as Steven Demetre Georgiou #Yusuf #catstevens

thelonningsguy's tweet image. Happy Birthday to Yusuf, the artist formerly known as Yusuf Islam, formerly known as Cat Stevens, formerly known as Steve Adams, formerly known as Steven Demetre Georgiou #Yusuf #catstevens

819

Alan Cleaver Retweeted

Ruthanne Baxter@ruthannebaxter · Jul 20

I was so pleased to see @thelonningsguy #PostalPaths in the window of @SReadBooks in #Grasmere 😊. I had my copy out at a cafe in Keswick later that day & another customer asked if I would recommend it - err, YES! @CumbriaLifeMag @booksaremybag

2.0K

Alan Cleaver@thelonningsguy · Jul 19

Me and my little book (The Postal Paths) featured on local TV this week. It was filmed at Ambleside, Cumbria - the postal path of Jean Brennand, which climbs up to the Kirkstone Inn. You can watch it here. itv.com/watch/news/dis…

thelonningsguy's tweet image. Me and my little book (The Postal Paths) featured on local TV this week. It was filmed at Ambleside, Cumbria - the postal path of Jean Brennand, which climbs up to the Kirkstone Inn. You can watch it here. itv.com/watch/news/dis…

198

3.0K

Alan Cleaver Retweeted

Mark Richards@fellranger1 · Jul 18

This coming Tuesday morning I will be giving a talk on my linescape art and the influence of Wainwright - coinciding with the exhibition on the famous Lakeland artist and guidebook writer @ArmittMuseum

3.0K

Alan Cleaver@thelonningsguy · Jul 18

P.S. to those who kindly came to my talks (and for those who didn't!)... I have a micro-website where I am adding additional material on postal paths including more detailed maps of some of the routes mentioned in my book. It is at sites.google.com/view/postal-pa…

thelonningsguy's tweet image. P.S. to those who kindly came to my talks (and for those who didn't!)... I have a micro-website where I am adding additional material on postal paths including more detailed maps of some of the routes mentioned in my book. It is at sites.google.com/view/postal-pa…

133

3.0K

Alan Cleaver@thelonningsguy · Jul 17

I can't deny Snoopy special issue stamps will be fun to use but it would have been nice to celebrate a British illustrator. Malky McCormick would be nice? shop.royalmail.com/special-stamp-…

thelonningsguy's tweet image. I can't deny Snoopy special issue stamps will be fun to use but it would have been nice to celebrate a British illustrator. Malky McCormick would be nice?
shop.royalmail.com/special-stamp-…

946

Alan Cleaver@thelonningsguy · Jul 17

I am glad to say a few people at last night's talk seemed to be inspired to handwrite more letters and were excited to hear about the Handwritten Letter Appreciation Society - @letterappsoc. Here's the link to Dinah's website... …dwrittenletterappreciationsociety.org

thelonningsguy's tweet image. I am glad to say a few people at last night's talk seemed to be inspired to handwrite more letters and were excited to hear about the Handwritten Letter Appreciation Society - @letterappsoc. Here's the link to Dinah's website... …dwrittenletterappreciationsociety.org

188

3.0K

Alan Cleaver@thelonningsguy · Jul 17

A couple of people at my talk last night said they had bought my book, The Postal Paths, after hearing @HelenMark01 on Radio 4's Open Country speak about the Shap postal path. Here's the show if you want a listen.. bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m0…

thelonningsguy's tweet image. A couple of people at my talk last night said they had bought my book, The Postal Paths, after hearing @HelenMark01 on Radio 4's Open Country speak about the Shap postal path. Here's the show if you want a listen..
bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m0…

111

2.0K

Alan Cleaver@thelonningsguy · Jul 16

It was great to meet everyone tonight at @VereyBooks in Pooley Bridge. Thanks to Al Verey (centre), Sam and the rest of the team for filling the shop with an enthusiastic audience. And lovely to see The Postal Paths illustrator Mark Richards (@fellranger1) there too (left). 😁

thelonningsguy's tweet image. It was great to meet everyone tonight at @VereyBooks in Pooley Bridge. Thanks to Al Verey (centre), Sam and the rest of the team for filling the shop with an enthusiastic audience. And lovely to see The Postal Paths illustrator Mark Richards (@fellranger1) there too (left). 😁

2.0K