Born and bred in West Cumbria, Debbie Wright jetted off to see the world before returning here and opening a café and interior design shop in Maryport.

She was born in Whitehaven, but spent some time as a nanny to the children of some well-known celebrities but protects their privacy and never comments. This job was based in London but took her all over the world.

Her ambition was to do interior design, however, so when a property became vacant in Maryport she leapt at the chance to come back to West Cumbria.

Her decision to call the shop Her Citi was the first indication of her intention to become part of the community.

The building had previously been Ritchie’s grocery store. She took the alphabet plates that had been left behind and rearranged them so that Her Citi was and anagram of Ritchie’s.

It was her late mother, Olive, who suggested that, as well as interiors, Debbie should serve tea and coffee.

That became lunch and high teas and parties, Christmas lunches and more.

In the early days Olive Wright supported her daughter with home baking that went down a storm.

Debbie’s partner, David Gilhespy is a trained chef and master of the Her Citi kitchen.

The greatest draw to Her Citi is not the ambience or even the food. It is the hostess herself.

Debbie becomes involved. If a customer does not arrive for her usual brew, Debbie will make sure that she is happy and well.

She has adopted and been adopted by so many that there were customers who had their own chairs, those for whom she ran messages, provided a taxi for or just helped and helps whenever she could.

She was one of the founders of the Love Maryport Group and, later, the Maryporters which, under her leadership have done their best to promote the town and make sure it is a place people want to visit.

Her café was nominated, by Allerdale council, as a local hub where events take place and meetings are held.

Since arriving she has supported everything including the Blues Festival and, this year, the Taste of the Sea.

And on top of that, she has dragged other members of Maryporters, along with friends and family, to keep the Maryport Railway Station clean and tidy after adopting it.

She even became one of the first cafes in Cumbria to host a newspaper office.

When the Times & Star office was forced to close, Debbie straight away offered accommodation, took advertisements, sold the paper, kept and ear out for stories and even offered tea and coffee to newspaper customers.

“I love West Cumbria. I lived in London for a time and enjoyed what was on offer there but I was glad to come back here and glad to find this place in Maryport.

“This is a beautiful town with so much history, so many remaining Georgian buildings – and its future, with the regeneration planned – can only improve it for all of us.”