Looking back through the archives of The Keswick Reminder from around this week 20, 30, 40 and 50 years ago.
20 years ago
Visit of the Duke of York
The Duke of York was told by Cumbrian business people during a half hour meeting at the Theatre by the Lake in Keswick that “financial red tape” and restrictive planning policies are holding up business progress.
And Prince Andrew aimed his own sideswipe at the plethora of organisations set up to dispense cash in the wake of the foot and mouth outbreak when he suggested that one answer to the problems of the businesses may be to “get rid of a few of these bodies”.
Former Keswick farmer Richard Allan, of Goosewell Farm, who diversified into tourism some five years ago accused the Lake District National Park Authority of being “a serious leash around the neck of enterprise and forward thinking.” He said Cumbria had produced a number of ambitious and intelligent people, but even if they came up with schemes that hit every nail on the head they would not be able to get past the National Park.
Structures would never get anywhere because of the National Park system, added Mr Allen. And he added: “It is sadly weighted down by people who don’t want change and progress. We should be funded by the DHSS because the Lake District has become a waiting room for God.”
The Duke of York was told that there were some thirty members of the National Park Authority, and he said he thought an organisation could be run properly with 30 people.
The new arrivals!
There was double cause for celebration this week in Cumbria with the news that the ospreys nesting on the fellside above Bassenthwaite Lake had hatched not one but two eggs by Wednesday.
On Tuesday, Lake District Osprey Project watchers announced that at least one chick had hatched, to the delight of the team and the tens of thousands of people who have been following the progress of the birds, many of whom are expected to visit the viewing sites in the next few weeks.
However, as members of the Osprey Project team – a partnership of the Forestry Commission, Lake District National Park Authority and the RSPB – studied the latest pictures sent from a camera overlooking the nest, they were astonished to see the head of a second osprey chick pop into view.
“It was a complete surprise and we could hardly believe our eyes when we spotted a second chick,” said Nathan Fox of The Lake District Osprey Project. “We were looking at the footage recorded late on Tuesday and watching one chick being fed, when suddenly a second chick popped out from underneath the female osprey and started begging for food from its Mum.”
30 years ago
Local honours
Two local men received honours in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List.
Mike Nixon, leader of Keswick Mountain Rescue Team, received the MBE for his outstanding service. Last year the Keswick team, one of the busiest in the country, answered a record 83 callouts.
For many years Mr. Nixon was Quartermaster for the Team, and he was elected leader on the retirement of George Fisher. Under Mike’s leadership the Keswick Mountain Rescue Team is hoping to raise the funds for a new headquarters which is urgently needed to replace the cramped quarters in use at present.
Peter Lingard, who has retired after ten years as Warden at the Calvert Trust Adventure Centre for the Disabled, has also been awarded the MBE.
Now living in Underskiddaw, Mr Lingard is still helping at the Calvert Trust Centre and he says he regards the award as being in recognition of the entire staff at the centre.
Castlerigg Stone Circle
Parking restrictions in the area surrounding the Castlerigg Stone Circle are part of the preparations being made by the Police to deal with expected visitors for celebrations of the summer solstice this weekend.
The Police contingency plan will be implemented should “new age” travellers make the Stone Circle a focal point.
A police spokesman said the number of visitors to the Stone Circle is expected to increase over the weekend, and entry to the site will be supervised by National Trust wardens. “To assist with the free flow of traffic for residents of the area and visitors to the site, the police will patrol the vicinity which will be subject to temporary ‘no parking’ restrictions,” he said.
Parking restrictions will cover Castle Lane and from Eleventrees to the site and beyond to the old A66.
40 years ago
Stowaway
The 9-30 a.m. bus on Tuesday from Keswick to Penrith had a “stowaway” passenger on board – a three month old kitten.
When driver Alan Wood pulled up at Beckses Bridge near Penruddock, the jet black kitten nipped on board and was only spotted when the bus reached Penrith. Alan took the kitten to the bus station where fortunately another driver, Stan Harper, was able to solve the mystery of the extra non-fare paying passenger.
The kitten belongs to 19 year old Michelle Little, who is a receptionist at Penrith Town Hall and travels in by bus each day from her home at Beckses Farm. Usually the pet kitten follows her but she manages to send it home. But on this occasion she was late for the bus and the cat followed her to the stop and tried to get on board.
Not deterred by being put off at the roadside, it waited an hour for the next bus to come along and then made the sole journey to Penrith.
Stan Harper realised who the cat belonged to when his colleague told the story and he delivered the kitten to Michelle at the Town Hall.
“The expression on her face when I walked in with the kitten said more than words,” exclaimed Stan later.
Michelle said: “I was amazed. The kitten must have waited for an hour to catch the next bus. I half expected to get a bill for its fare.”
Now Michelle is going to have to find a better way of dissuading her cat from trying to hop a free ride and follow her to work. “I think we will have to lock the kitten away until the bus has left,” she said.
Honours for two Keswickians
Two Keswick men, who have given unstintingly of their free time to the benefit of others, have received awards in the Queen’s birthday Honours List.
Mr. George W. Hodgson has been awarded the O.B.E. for his work with the R.A.F. Association, while Mr. George B. Fisher receives the M.B.E. for his services with Keswick Mountain Rescue.
George Hodgson is well-known in Keswick and District in several different capacities. He is Managing Director of the Keswick-on-Derwentwater Launch Company, he is a District Councillor, representing Keswick at Allerdale, and he is a member of Keswick Town Council, and a former mayor.
He is also the driving force of the Keswick Branch of the R.A.F.A., taking over some twenty years ago when the club premises were in deep financial difficulty and seeing the Branch develop over the years until now the premises provide excellent facilities for its members and for community use. The Branch is now recognised as one of the most successful and efficient in the country, frequently winning trophies for fund raising and for administration.
In addition to his work for the Keswick Branch, George is vice-president and treasurer of the North West Area R.A.F.A. Council.
George Fisher is one of the Lake District’s best-known mountain rescue personalities, and has been leader of the Keswick team for thirty-five years until he retired from the position last year, remaining as a member of the team.
George, who has a mountaineering shop in Borrowdale Road, Keswick, was also a founder member of the Lake District Search Panel. His deep interest in mountain rescue work stems from a boyhood keenness on climbing which he put to good use to help those who get into difficulties on the fells.
Typically, he sees his award as one for the whole team, particularly those who have also given long service to mountain rescue work, like his twin brother, Dick.
The Keswick Reminder congratulates these two local men on their honour which are hard-earned and richly deserved.
50 years ago
Unusual Invitation
An unusual invitation to a party has been received by a number of people in the Keswick area of late — to the summit of Skiddaw to celebrate the 80th birthday of Dr. A. E. Clark Kennedy of Cambridge.
Dr. Clark Kennedy is well known to many people in the area for he hunts regularly with the Blencathra Foxhounds and spends a lot of time on the fells. The invitations have been sent out by Mr. and Mrs. John Gerrish, Low High Snab, Newlands, who have informed guests — mainly hunting folk — that “champagne in moderation will be provided.”
Dr. Clark Kennedy, who is Senior Fellow of Corpus Christi College, Cambridge, recently completed the exacting Pennine Walk and he also competed in the 1920s in the Olympic decathlon for Great Britain. He has been visiting the area on a fell-walking expedition this week.
Elections
A number of Keswickians waited outside the Moot Hall last Thursday evening to hear the result of the elections for Keswick’s representatives on the new Allerdale authority. More keenly contested than past Urban Council elections, with eight candidates for only three seats and a definite political implication, the election brought out 54.6 per cent of the voting populace — which compared well with other areas.
Mr. Claude F. Metcalf, Independent, and Mr. Stephen T. Hogarth, Conservative, both members of well-known Keswick families, gained first and third places with 1,091 and 751 votes respectively. The other successful candidate was Mrs, Barbara M. Robinson, Conservative, with 827 votes.
Results:
CLAUDE F. METCALF 1,091 (Independent)
BARBARA M. ROBINSON 827 (Conservative)
STEPHEN T. HOGARTH 751 (Conservative)
Catherine Braithwaite (Conservative) 538
W. Slinger (Labour) 534
Eva Graham (Labour) 512
Paul John Buttle (Labour) 501
Thomas Dixon (Independent) 493
In the Above Derwent, Borrowdale and St. John’s, Castlerigg and Wythburn ward there was a straight fight between Mr. John Todhunter, Thornthwaite, and Mr. Robert A. Askew (Labour), Grange, and the seat went to Mr. Todhunter by 602 votes to 173.
