Looking back through the archives of The Keswick Reminder from around this week 20, 30, 40 and 50 years ago.
20 years ago
Remembering Amy
Crosthwaite Church was full to capacity on Tuesday for the Service of Celebration for the life of 22 year old Amy Fernandez, younger daughter of Alfredo and Dorothy Fernandez of Lyzzick Hall Hotel.
This was a service in which young people played a leading role. Amy’s sister Lucy read the sincere words she had written in remembrance of her sister and close friend throughout their childhood and early adult years, while Rachel Tyson, who had been a member of Crosthwaite Junior Choir with Lucy and Amy, read a poem which she and another friend had written.
Tanya Cubey, a former school friend, sang the metric version of Psalm 121 “I lift my eyes to the quiet hills”, and another former school colleague, Philip Cooke, had composed a musical tribute. Members of Keswick School Choir sang the hymn “Be still, for the presence of the Lord is moving in this place”, and John Rutter’s setting of “The Lord Bless You and Keep You”.
Keeping a promise
A best-selling author kept a promise to hundreds of her fans in Cumbria on Wednesday in spite of having to break that promise on Tuesday because she was voting in Parliament on the debate and vote on Britain’s involvement in a war with Iraq.
Ann Widdecombe rescheduled her talk about her new novel An Act of Treachery for the following evening after having to call it off on Tuesday night because of the House of Commons vote.
Despite the late night in the House, she caught a train from London and arrived a few minutes late in Penrith and was then driven to Keswick’s Theatre by the Lake.
She said she was keen to keep the promise she had made to the organisers of the festival to come and speak in Keswick. “Wild horses would not have dragged me away,” said Ann.
An Act of Treachery is about a young Catholic girl who falls in love with a married German officer.
Kay Dunbar, one of the literature festival organisers, said Ann Widdecombe had been most supportive. “She came here straight after a late night in the House, which must have been hectic and very emotional. She was devastated when she realised she might have to let us down. It was very good of her to re-arrange her talk.” And she added: “I am only thankful that Kate Adie, who is one of our most popular speakers, is no longer working with the BBC otherwise we may have had her called away to report on the war.”
30 years ago
Retiring with pride
At the end of the ‘Talking Newspaper’ tape which forty partially sighted people in Keswick received last week the Chairman and founder of the scheme, Fred Myatt, announced his retirement.
On Thursday this week Fred celebrated his 88th birthday and he says he feels the time has come to step down, although the Talking Newspaper team have made him promise not to desert them altogether and no doubt he will keep an eye on them in the future!
Keswick’s “Talking Newspaper” began in 1986 in a very small way, only one tape being required for a blind person. Fred Myatt came along to the Reminder and asked if he might read extracts from each issue so that partially sighted and blind people could hear from a tape the local news which they could not read for themselves. The Editor gladly gave permission, and the Talking Newspaper came into being.
Another Fred — Fred Aston — has been Fred Myatt’s assistant and now he will take over as Number One in the production team.
Cool theft
A “cool thief” has been helping themself to food from a hotel freezer in the town.
Police said there had been a trio of reports of freezer packs going missing from the same hotel over a short period of time. The freezer is at the back of the premises in an outhouse, and a police spokesman said: “It appears that the thief has just been helping himself. It is important that people with this sort of store keep a close check on their security.”
40 years ago
Chris Bonington, C.B.E.
Chris Bonington will be in Keswick on Easter Saturday to give a lecture on ‘Everest — The Unclimbed Ridge.’ This will undoubtedly prove an enthralling evening, even though clouded with the tragedy of the loss of two members of the team.
Chris, a Trustee of The Calvert Trust, is giving his services to help the Trust with its fund-raising.
Threlkeld Shoppers
Threlkeld people should enjoy the same concessionary parking rates in Keswick as their neighbours in Threlkeld Quarry, say town councillors.
Because Threlkeld is in Eden district, the villagers are not allowed to buy cheap season tickets for parking in Keswick, which are available to Allerdale ratepayers.
Now, the Town Council wants to see Threlkeld made a special case and is to ask Allerdale District Council to consider allowing residents there to buy the cheap tickets.
“Threlkeld is only four miles from Keswick: and we regard 1t as being part of our area. Why should they be driven elsewhere to do their shopping?” asked Mr. George Hodgson at Thursday’s meeting of the Town Council.
50 years ago
Harrison – Lister
The marriage of Miss Shirley Ann Lister, elder daughter of P.C, and Mrs. W. D. Lister of 5, Briar Rigg, and Mr. John Michael Harrison, son of Mr. and Mrs. J. F. Harrison, Laurel Bank, Penrith
Road, took place at Grange Methodist Church, Borrowdale, on Saturday, the Rev. C. M. Steel, officiating. The organist, Mr. K. Robinson, played the wedding marches and accompanied the hymns “O, Perfect Love” and “Lead us, Heavenly Father.”
Given in marriage by her father, the bride wore a full length Victorian-style gown of wild silk trimmed with lace and pearls. Her short veil was held by a headdress of organza flowers and seed pearls and she carried a bouquet of mixed freesia and yellow tulips.
She was attended by her sister, Miss Shona Lister, who wore a full length gown in lemon wild silk trimmed with white. The small bridesmaids were Nancy and Diane Rumney, twin daughters of the late P.C. Rumney of Bassenthwaite and Mrs. Rumney, friends of the bride, wore dresses of green wild silk with white trimming. The bridesmaids carried posies of mixed freesia and yellow tulips.
The best man was the groom’s cousin, Mr. Raymond Harrison and the groomsmen were Messrs D. Newton and H. Spedding.
Mr and Mrs Harrison make their home at Newton Rigg, near Penrith, where Mr. Harrison is employed at the Newton Rigg College of Forestry and Agriculture.
