A Quick Reminder: Looking back through the archives of The Keswick Reminder from around this week 30, 40 and 50 years ago.
30 years ago
A66 – no hidden agenda
The department of Transport has reassured the Lake District Planning Board that they have no “hidden agenda” of improvement plans for the A66 in the Lake District. They say that any proposals brought forward would be minor and prompted only by operational and safety considerations.
One such problem is the poor alignment of the west bound carriageway at Bassenthwaite Lake and this, and other areas of concern along the A66, are likely to be discussed at a meeting with the Board and County Joint Committee this month.
David Ward,the Director of Network Management and Construction, said he hoped the Board would be reassured that there was no hidden agenda and that the Department was following closely government policy.
The Planning Board had expressed concern about proposals for a crawler lane on the section of road between the Glenderamackin and Troutbeck. Mr. Ward expressed regret that members of the Board felt they had not been properly consulted. There was, he said, no requirement to publish draft Orders to authorise the construction of works as they were within the existing highway.
Mr. Ward described the proposals as being “entirely within the Government’s policy on improvements to roads in national parks.”
Boxing Day hunts successful
Despite the bluff and bluster before Christmas about major disruption of traditional Boxing Day Hunt Meets, the Cumbria hunts reported success and support.
Commenting, local British Field Sports Society public relations officer Tony Brunskill said it would appear that the ‘antis’ may have simply wasted police time as no disruption was caused.
“Boxing Day, as usual, was a great success and enjoyed by thousands throughout the country,” said Mr. Brunskill. “The Cumbria hunts were no exception despite the much vaunted threats of those opposed. Hunting has never been so popular as research has proved and we are glad that this perfectly legal sport, which plays such an important part in countryside management and rural employment, goes from strength to strength.”
40 years ago
Miss Young keeps her garden
The Planning Board and the Highway Authority have agreed an amended scheme for the Tithebarn Street development which avoids making a Compulsory Purchase Order on the garden of 78-year-old Miss Ethel Young.
After a site visit the Highway Authority agreed to drop their insistence that parking spaces for all eight shops/flats as well as turning spaces be provided behind the development. Now, they say turning space alone is sufficient, together with some parking; and this can be provided by cutting out one of the shop/flat units.
The scheme has yet to be put to the developers, Twinames, but this is the solution which the Board and the Highway Authority are prepared to authorise, and the Compulsory Purchase Order is to be rescinded.
Editorial
The good sense shown by the Lake District Special Planning Board in withdrawing their Compulsory Purchase Order on the garden belonging to Miss Young is welcomed by everyone in Keswick. It makes an excellent start to the New Year, and shows that, in the end, right will prevail – especially when everyone speaks out against injustice.
Christmas in Keswick
Local organisations helped to make it a happy Christmas for patients in the Mary Hewetson Hospital.
Keswick School Sixth Formers visited the hospital to sing carols and give out presents and there was a similar visit from Round Tablers, the Crusaders and Bethesda Church.
On Christmas Day Dr. Joe Mitchell carved the turkey and, after lunch, patients received several visitors, including the Mayor, Martin Jordan and his wife Ann, a former nurse.
The generous gifts from the Friends of the hospital, Keswick Town Council and numerous individuals helped to make it one of the happiest Christmases for patients and staff for many years.
The Mayor and Mayoress also visited Ravensfield Old People’s Home during the afternoon where they chatted to staff and residents including the town’s oldest resident, 101 year old Mrs. Mary Johnston.
Mr. Jordan said: “The marvellous thing about the hospital and Ravensfield was the wonderfully happy atmosphere for patients and residents.”
Chairman of magistrates
After eleven years as Deputy Chairman, Mr. Wilfrid Relph has been elected chairman of Keswick Magistrates.
Mr. Relph was appointed to the Bench in 1966 and became Deputy Chairman on the retirement of the then chairman Major Phil Davidson. In fact he has served with three chairmen during his term as a magistrate, Major Davidson, Mr. Leslie Eynon and, for the past two years, Mr. Sam Hicks.
Under the latest change round, Mr. Hicks will revert to the role of Deputy Chairman.
Mr. Relph’s election means that he becomes chairman of both adult and juvenile courts at Keswick. He became chairman of the juvenile panel ten years ago on the retirement of Lady Rochdale.
Mr. Relph has always viewed his work on the Bench as one of trying to help as well as punish where necessary. “I think in this respect my work with the juvenile panel has given me the greatest satisfaction and it is always pleasing to think that you might have deliberated long and hard to make a decision which stopped a young person offending again.”
50 years ago
The weather
One truly remarkable feat stands out: 1973 was the driest year in Keswick since before the Crimean War! Recording began on Derwent Island in 1852 and went on till after the 1914-18 war’ another sequence covered the years 1927-1950; and yet another the years 1956-1964. In addition there was Tom Wilson’s High Hill record from 1920 to 1960, and in Halls Mead and Rogerfield a further overlap with Derwent Island for its last nine years. It appears that the average rainfalls correspond almost precisely except for High Hill which recorded about 2 inches less. Up to 1973 the lowest total anywhere was 41.48 inches at High Hill in 1933, when Derwent Island had 44.65 inches. Now in 1973 the Rogerfield total was 41.16 inches, which suggests something under 40 inches in the town itself. For the record, the other years with under 45 inches were 1887 (42.05), 1889 (42.74), 1902 (42.94) and 1915 (44.86) on Derwent Island, and 1937 (42.95) and 1955 (43.15) at High Hill.
The new record is largely due to a most unusual lack of really heavy rains, December 15th with its 1.59 inches was the only “inch” of the year, whereas the previous lowest in recent times was 5 in 1958.
Bomb scare
Keswick police closed off the area around Messrs J. B. Dixon’s newsagents shop on New Year’s Eve when a simulated parcel bomb was found in the shop doorway, about midnight.
The “bomb” was ticking and staff and residents from the George Hotel next door evacuated while the parcel was examined. Eventually, about 1.20 am it was taken away by the police, when it was certain that it was a hoax, and the streets were opened up again.
Miss M. E. Williams
The death occurred at Ravensfield, Keswick, on 21st December, 1973, of Miss Mary E. Williams, of 7 St Herbert Street, in her 96th year.
Miss Williams was the last surviving member of a well-known Keswick family, her parents being the late Mr. and Mrs. John H. Williams.
Miss Williams, like her father before her, had been a lay preacher, tireless is her work and with a deep interest in the Keswick Convention.
The funeral service held at Bethesda High Street Chapel on Christmas Eve was conducted by Mr. Snook, the last rites in St. John’s Churchyard being conducted by Mr. D. Metcalf.
