08/01/2026
Gwenda Matthews, 8.5.51 to 4.1.26
It is with deep sadness I share the news that my Mum Gwenda Matthews, the founder and owner of Bookcase and Bookends in Carlisle and Keswick died in
hospital on Sunday 4th January.
I was immensely proud of my Mum; she started selling second-hand books at Whitehaven market nearly 50 years ago when my brothers Alun and Kevin were very little. She went on to open Bookcase in 1979 and Bookends in Carlisle (1988) and Keswick (1991) with my Dad Steve and the two of them created and expanded a successful business whilst raising a family.
Mum was a hard-working, strong and enterprising businesswoman who did so much to support reading in Cumbria. As well as the shops she was an early adopter of e-commerce and founded bookscumbria.com in 1998. She was instrumental in the development of Borderlines book festival from 2014 onwards and she was responsible for the Bookends stall at the Words by the Water Festival from its inception and was a key partner in the festival's relaunch from 2024 onwards.
Mum was always direct and honest. She had a wonderful sense of humour, a warm heart and a kind and caring spirit. She will be dearly missed by husband Steve, sons Alun and Kevin, her 4 grandchildren Alex, Amelia, James and Rosa, and myself.
Lucy xx
Gwenda's family invite all her friends to join them to celebrate a good life well-lived at Carlisle Crematorium on Monday, 26th January at 11am followed by lunch at the Tithe Barn.
Donations may be made to the BookTrust or Free Schools India via Hills Funeral Parlour, Wigton.
