Looking back through the archives of The Keswick Reminder from around this week 20, 30, 40 and 50 years ago.
20 years ago
Commendations for police officers
Two Keswick police officers have received Commendations in recognition of their actions on 13 July 2002 when they rescued a young man from Derwentwater.
Sergeant Alan Weightman and Constable Richard Bowman attended an incident on the lake shore when Sergeant Weightman swam into the lake and dived under the water – 4 degrees Celsius at the time – several times in the area where the man was last seen whilst Constable Bowman made a search by wading out into the water. They eventually found the man on the bottom of the lake and Constable Bowman kept the man illuminated whilst Sergeant Weightman brought the man to the surface.
The man was resuscitated by an ambulance crew at the lake shore before being transported to hospital — he miraculously survived and continues to make a recovery.
New police sergeant
Sergeant David Roberts is the latest addition to the ranks of Keswick police. He was born and bred in Keswick, and was educated at Keswick School before going to Loughborough University to study sports science. He then went to Oxford for a year to do social studies, and during his time at Oxford he played for the victorious Oxford University rugby union team in the 1990 varsity match at Twickenham in front of a crowd of 65,000,
David’s father, Gareth, was sports master at Keswick School before retiring, and his mother, Margaret, is a member of the local Martin family.
David has been in the police for nine years, for the last two and a half years as custody sergeant in Workington. His wife, Kate, is also a serving police officer in the Cumbria force.
30 years ago
Post office changes
Changes have been made to Keswick Post Office, including the restoring of the entrance onto Main Street from Bank Street, where it has been for over twenty years.
Following alterations to the property, the new postmaster, Roger Purkiss, has unveiled a new hi-tech look to the business. Facilities now include access for the disabled, and a special writing table, workstations in a special computer bureau which people can hire at an hourly rate, state of the art machines running the latest design, production and commerce software, and in the near future a cash machine will be installed.
Mr. Purkiss commented: “We think we have got away from the traditional image of the Post Office and made it more interesting.”
Mrs. Elizabeth (Betty) Slee
Betty Slee will be well remembered by all who knew her in her adopted town of Keswick, the village of Portinscale, and the Methodist community at Southey Street.
Born in Thornaby-on-Tees on 26th March 1906, she spent her childhood and youth in Durham City. There, she joined wholeheartedly with her family in the life of Elvet Methodist Church. It was there, too, that she met and married John William Slee who was then a student at Bede College, Durham.
It was shortly after they were married in 1931 that Bill and Betty Slee moved to Keswick. Bill Slee was, first, assistant master, and then headmaster, at Crosthwaite Old School from 1933 until his retirement in 1966.
During that time Betty was a tower of strength in supporting Bill’s many activities in helping, guiding and teaching successive generations of young people in Keswick and District.
Although Betty was content to stay in the background, she was always ready to give her kindness and encouragement to everyone. Very many are the people, over many years, who have reason to thank her for her understanding and wise counsel.
She was a member of Portinscale Women’s Institute for over sixty years together with her good friend Winnie Watson. For a similar period she was a member of the choir at Southey Street Methodist Church, as well as helping with many other church activities. Always ready to give a helping hand, she continued to deliver meals-on-wheels into her 80s.
Betty died on Monday; she will be deeply mourned, with great affection, by her family both in England and Australia, and especially by her two sons, Keith and David and their families.
40 years ago
Keswick by-election
The Conservatives held the seat vacated by the resignation of Mr. Martin Brannan for the Keswick and St. John’s Division in the County Council by-election last Thursday.
The count was held in the Moot Hall, and at about 10 p.m. — only one hour after the closing of the polls — the Deputy Returning Officer, Mr. Andrew Wallbank, announced that the winner was Mr. John Edwin Thompson with one thousand votes. Mr. Thompson, former headmaster of Keswick School who was awarded the Military Cross in 1944 while serving with the paratroop regiment, defeated Mr. Neil Blackshaw, an employee of Allerdale District Council] and vice chairman of Cumbrians for Peace, who polled 799 votes.
Mr. Thompson and Mr. Blackshaw were the only contestants as the Labour Party did not field a candidate. Mr. Blackshaw, who is also the Alliance choice for the next General Election contested the County Council seat three years ago when Mr. Brannan was the successful candidate.
Mrs. M. Plant
Keswick has suffered the loss of one of its well-known characters by the death of Mrs, Mabel Plant on March 19th.
A “Geordie,” she had a great love of the Lake District, visiting frequently during the years, and came here to live on her retirement from teaching about thirty years ago.
A founder member of the Keswick Rambling Club, and a popular member of the Holiday Fellowship she was an intrepid fell walker. She knew every wayside flower by name, and where the earliest primroses and violets grew. Her gaiety and sense of humour made her a happy companion on the fells, but only those privileged to be in her confidence knew of the heartache and courage behind her apparent light-heartedness.
Widowed young, she brought up her only son, to lose him by death in the prime of his life. Soldiering on, she found consolation in the devotion of her three grandsons.
Increasing deafness and frailty came with the years, isolating her, and the final blow came with a fall before last Christmas. Death came mercifully in her sleep.
50 years ago
Letters to the Editor – Keswick & District Swimming Pool
Dear Sir, – At a meeting on Friday, 16th March, 1973, the Steering Committee of the above Association agreed to call a meeting of the General Committee and the Public on Tuesday, 3rd April, 1973 (as advertised elsewhere in your columns).
A Public Meeting held in November 1968 was unanimously in favour of building a town swimming pool. This was to be a large, heated, covered pool built in the Fitz Park, with a view to attracting visitors as well as meeting local needs. Through lack of local support and the failure of a Land Sales Scheme, this project had to be abandoned.
The Cumberland Education Authority was then approached, and the Authority agreed to consider a joint effort at Lairthwaite School. Plans were drawn, planning permission obtained, and every source for grants and help was pursued. After prolonged and frustrating negotiations it would appear that even this project does not qualify for the grants which would be necessary to produce a swimming pool.
At the meeting on April 3rd a more detailed report will be given and the future and finances of the Keswick and District Swimming Pool Association will be decided.
Yours faithfully,
John Branthwaite,
Riverdale, Chairman,
Crosthwaite Road, Keswick
