A Quick Reminder: Looking back through the archives of The Keswick Reminder from around this week 20, 30, 40 and 50 years ago.
20 years ago
It’s lights out on the lakeshore
National Park planners have decreed it must be ‘lights out’ at Keswick boat landings, despite a security plea from the Keswick Launch Company which runs launch and boat trips on Derwentwater.
Powerful floodlights overlooking the lake at one of Cumbria’s best known tourist spots were erected because the company had suffered thousands of pounds worth of damage through vandalism.
Company spokesman Douglas Hodgson said that boats moored at the lakeside had been damaged and launches put off the lake, costing the firm vital cash. Incidents of vandalism have fallen since the lights linked to security cameras were installed.
Senior planning officer Peter Winter told a meeting of the National Park Authority’s Development Control Committee on Monday that the lights did not have planning permission and the way they lit up the foreshore, lake and jetties was out of keeping with effort to reduce light pollution.
Mr Winter said the launch company was co-operating in trying to find an alternative solution, but that would take some time.
The committee agreed to take enforcement action to have the lights removed, although it could be up to two years before it is implemented.
Letter to the Editor: Welcome to Keswick 2010?
Dear Editor, Keswick is a small market town in the heart of the Lake District — is this what visitors will find in the year 2010?
The area is famous for its well worn paths but lack of parking makes it almost impossible to enjoy?
The town now boasts 99 per cent of its shops are dedicated to selling outdoor clothing, tents and climbing equipment?
Houses to let abound as over 80 per cent of houses in Keswick are now Holiday Homes. Is this due to all Cumbrian locals now being deceased and off-comers having long since reaped the benefit of extortionate house prices and moved elsewhere?
If you wish to purchase affordable non-climbing shoes, gents’ clothing, children’s clothing etc. then a short journey of about 30 miles is necessary.
Children won’t bother you as there are no young families in Keswick; they can no longer afford house prices in their own town.
All shop assistants come from elsewhere, too, because you have to admit you can’t live on the minimum wage and pay over the odds for everything.
Never mind — you are still welcome to Keswick, a town for Tourists not Locals.
A local family
(name and address given to the Editor)
30 years ago
New theatre meeting
Although some people may have lost faith that Keswick will ever get a new theatre, there was an overwhelming show of hands of supporters who attended Monday night’s meeting in the Blue Box theatre. These supporters — some 80 in all — are convinced the project to build a new theatre to replace the ageing Blue Box will go ahead.
Keswickian Archie Evans, President of the Amateur Operatic Society, told the meeting that there are people who no longer believe a theatre will be built. “They are disillusioned and we have to convince those who have supported the campaign for a very long time. My worry is how to convince them and get them on our side.”
Another member of the audience, Paul Fisher, compared the half empty meeting on Monday with the packed attendance for the public meeting in November last year. He said: “People have lost faith it will happen.”
The joint chairmen, Vicky Robinson and Graham Lamont, said that whereas last November there had been confrontation and controversy, they were now starting the process of fuller consultation.
Representatives of the firm of consultants, Theatre Futures, who are investigating the new theatre project, were at the meeting on Monday evening. Their final report is expected early in the New Year and their independent verification of the project is seen as a key element for the fund raising when it begins in earnest.
The Deputy Mayor, Mrs Maysie McCambridge, said no mention had been made of whether the controversial exterior of the proposed new theatre, which offended so many people, would be kept. Christopher Richardson, one of the consultants, said: “It would be a mistake to build a building here that apologised for itself.”
‘Shadow’ in town
A well-built famous TV personality was seen in Keswick this week, much to the delight of his local fans.
The iron man ‘Shadow’ from ITV’s programme “Gladiators” could be seen calmly strolling in the Main Street despite being followed by a large number of young fans.
Shadow seemed only too happy to talk to his young admirers and give them his autograph, which he also gave to an elderly lady who requested it for her grandson.
40 years ago
Local driver in R.A.C. rally
Local driver Geoff Davidson will achieve one of his major ambitions next week when he lines up alongside some of the world’s top rally stars to take part in the famous R.A.C. international event.
Geoff, who is service manager at High Hill Garage, is driving the Ford Escort R.S. 2000 car which he has been painstakingly building and modifying since he bought the original body shell about three years ago.
Most of the entrants have the backing of the big motor companies, but Geoff’s entry is very much a private enterprise affair and he is hoping first and foremost to complete the gruelling five day rally and also to do well in his class.
He is not an entire stranger to the event, for a few years ago he assisted his former boss at High Hill, Stuart Anderson, when he competed. However Geoff said that to drive his own car in the rally had been a longstanding ambition and he regarded it as a great challenge and test of skill and fitness.
In fact rally drivers have to be physically fit to maintain concentration on the arduous special stages, some of which fall in Geoff’s home territory in the Lake District. As a prominent local sportsman, who enjoys running on the fells and playing squash, Geoff should not be lacking in that quarter.
Geoff’s friends in the Keswick area have been helping to raise money to back his entry. A disco was held last weekend at the Tower Hotel in his home village of Portinscale and another is planned at the Keswick Restaurant while there have also been raffles and other pub events.
Said Geoff: “I would not have been able to enter without the tremendous backing of my friends. Unless you have the support of big companies it’s virtually impossible for the private entrant to find the cash to take part.”
Geoff is sponsored by a West Cumbrian coin machine company and he will be taking with him an all-local back up team including two Keswick men, Trevor Dowson, who works at High Hill Garage, and David Armstrong. His co-driver will be Andy Barnard from Cockermouth.
Johnnie – 65 not out!
One of Lakeland’s best-known personalities, Blencathra Foxhounds huntsman Johnnie Richardson, celebrated his 65th birthday last Tuesday. He has been huntsman for thirty-five years, and is probably the Blencathra’s longest ever serving huntsman or whip.
However, Johnnies has no immediate thoughts of retiring. He marked his birthday, as he does every year by tradition, in the Newlands Valley where members of the farming community and hunt followers got together to give him a special “do” and presentation.
Johnnie has been with the pack since 1946. For the first three years he was whipper in, and he became huntsman in 1949 in succession to George Bell, who had held the post from 1931.
Johnnie has had five whips since he took over as huntsman – Ronnie Cape from 1949-51, Anthony Chapman from 1951-56, Bill Porter from 1956-60, Stan Mattinson from 1960-73, and from 1973 until the present day, Barry Todhunter.
Johnnie, who had some amazing wartime experiences in Italy, where he escaped as a prisoner of war several times, and lived rough in the Dolomites for months, has brought much of that strength of purpose and resoluteness to his role with the Blencathra.
Hunt secretary Michael Thompson says: “He ranks with the greats of hunting. Johnnie is well respected both inside and outside the hunting field. He is a tremendous character with a wealth of knowledge about foxhounds and their breeding.”
50 years ago
Letter to the Editor
Dear Sir, – One seems to have heard the word “heritage” quite a lot recently and I cannot help reflecting upon it.
My heritage was a mellow Keswick of interesting cobbled yards and courts, full of historic interest and a lively market where, as now, good value for money was obtained.
As youngsters we were out almost every evening at Guides, Brownies, G.F.C etc., not to mention practices for concerts.
But what are we passing on? A practically traffic free Keswick with a market tucked away from its rightful place, no courts or yards and with only Crosthwaite Church and the Moot Hall to recall days gone by, which were always of interest to the visitors.
I think on November 11th we should pause, to think, not only of the men who died in two wars to preserve our heritage, but of what we will be passing on to future Keswickians.
Yours sincerely,
Olwen M. Scott.
22 Greta Hamlet
Keswick
