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
Letter to the Editor
Dear Editor, I am sorry that Ray Trickey is getting his underwear in a twist regarding the proliferation of outdoor clothing shops in the town. However, it is a popular misconception that the local planning authority are to blame.
At the risk of boring your readers, there are three relevant Use Classes – A1 (shops, post
offices, travel agents, etc.), A2 (banks, building societies, etc.) and A3 (pubs, cafes, etc.) Any shop operating under Class A1 can sell virtually any product not included in the other Use Classes. In view of this, the consent of the planning authority is not required when a shop changes from, for example, a hardware shop to an outdoor clothing shop. Similarly, if a new shop is granted A1 Use, there is (in broad terms) no restriction on the goods sold.
A change in the legislation would therefore be required to give planners the ability to control the apparent imbalance in towns such as ours.
Neil Stuart
Keswick
“I wandered lonely as a… goat”
According to a recent survey of British adults, when asked to complete the famous opening line “I wandered lonely as a…” from Wordsworth’s Daffodils, incorrect answers included ‘sheep’, ‘bear’, ‘desert breeze’, ‘daffodil’, ‘pigeon’, ‘tree’ and ‘goat’.
The research, commissioned by Yellow Pages, compares the country’s recall of classic lines of literature with today’s pop lyrics and film and TV scripts – and it seems that great literary classics are under threat from pop idols, movie villains and TV characters, with new research showing that the average adult is more familiar the words of Will Smith than William Wordsworth. It found that while more than seven out of ten 25 to 44 year olds can correctly identify the line “If you only knew the power of the dark side” as belonging to Star Wars’ Darth Vader, a staggering nine out of ten of the same age group do not even know that the Shakespearean quote “Now is the winter of our discontent” comes from Richard III, one of the greatest English literary villain ever.
30 years ago
Car park proposal
An additional deck on Keswick’s Central Car Park would be a viable proposition, say the Chamber of Trade, as the original design allowed for further development.
This suggestion was made at a Business Rates consultation meeting attended by the Chamber of Trade and representatives of Cockermouth Chamber of Trade and Allerdale Borough Council.
Allerdale Council agreed to explore the possibility of private investment and European grants towards such a scheme. However the Keswick Chamber of Trade is to write to the Chief Executive of Allerdale, setting out its ideas.
The joint meeting also stressed the need for a coach park and toilets on part of the former bus station site, and it was agreed that Allerdale’s Chief Executive should discuss the matter with Cumbria County Council and that he would explore funding that may be available, for example European funding.
40 years ago
Keswick Road race revival
Keswick’s “round the houses” race is being revived next month.
Some years ago Keswick used to stage a road running event in the town centre, and now Keswick Athletic Club’s fixture secretary David Wilkinson has decided it’s time to revive a race on similar lines.
He said: “The police have approved the route, but as it is an evening race they have requested that all competitors wear light coloured of reflective clothing for safety reasons.”
The five mile race will take place on Wednesday March 21st, starting in Station Road alongside Fitz Park at 7.30pm.
Runners will go behind the station along Crosthwaite Road and High Hill, up through the Market Place, climb Manor Brow, then return to the square via Penrith Road before going back to High Hill, Briar Rigg and the finish.
David said: “The race is open to all and there will be a nominal entry fee of 10p simply to cover administration. Everyone will be timed and with the interest in running at such a high level these days, I felt it would be a good time to revive this evening town centre event as an extra activity for people.”
Letter to the Editor
Dear Editor, – as another long, quiet, boring winter comes to a close and spring approaches, I am led to wonder whether the residents of Keswick really appreciate having a cinema as an amenity of the town.
The cinema is extremely well patronised by visitors to Keswick but the people who live here seem to have very little interest. It is a delightful little cinema and the staff friendly. The prices are lower than you will find almost anywhere else in the country. In fact, there are probably no other towns of Keswick’s size which still have a cinema fifty-two weeks each year.
If the cinema was to close for the winter – as so many of the hotels do – no doubt there would be an outcry about the lack of amenities in the town. The owners of the cinema would certainly be financially better off through winter closure. It is up to “locals” to persuade them otherwise. I have made every effort to prevent this happening over the past two years. The Century Theatre closes out of season; do Keswick people care if the cinema does likewise? If they do, they must give it their support!
My message to Keswick is “use it or lose it.”
Yours faithfully,
Barbara Graves
(Manageress)
Alhambra Cinema
St. John’s Street
Keswick
50 years ago
Conservative candidate
Following several days of hectic preparation after the announcement of the General Election, the Conservative Candidate, Richard Page, was adopted at the Workington Conservative Club on Wednesday evening.
Following his adoption Richard Page’s campaign in the Workington constituency swings into action with factory visits, evening meetings and, of course, canvassing. He hopes to be visiting Keswick with his wife, Madeleine, for a full day’s canvassing on Tuesday next.
Death of Mr. Reg Folder
A retired local farmer, Mr. Reginald Folder, Towngate, Threlkeld, died in Keswick Hospital on Saturday at the age of 82, having been taken there some days previously as the result of a fall at his home.
Mr. Folder farmed Stoneycroft, Newlands for 28 years and later farmed at Wescoe. He was the oldest serving life member of Blencathra Foxhounds with which he had hunted for 71 years and he was a former chairman of the Parish Council, member of the Rural Council and of the Governors of Lairthwaite School. He was secretary of Threlkeld Sheepdog Trials for a number of years.
Mr. Folder and his wife, who comes from the Newcastle area, attained their diamond wedding anniversary in November. Mrs. Folder survives him with three sons and two daughters.
Bell Close
At a special meeting of the Council’s Housing and Town Planning Committee last Thursday evening, a proposition by Mr. P. J. Buttle, supported by Mr. C. F. Metcalf and Mr. T. Dixon, was defeated by eight votes to three.
Mr. Buttle proposed that demolition of the south-west side of Bell Close be stopped, and that plans for the improvement of the old yards be made, to provide workshops or houses and to prevent the area looking sterole and empty. Mr. Buttle referred to the recent poll organised by the Young Socialists on the Bell Close question, and said he felt also that it would be very wrong to destroy the three houses which are due for demolition.
Letter to the Editor
Dear Sir, – May I use your paper to criticise the Keswick Council in the new shopping area?
Do they not think it would have been better to build workshops and warehouses for all the tradesmen who lost their premises with all the alterations to Bell Close?
Keswick has shops of every description, and good quality. (I am not including the mushroom growth of small cafes and craft(?) shops which have appeared in the last two years. I expect the new shops will be similar, and will be closed after the season). Any spare land in Keswick could surely be used for more important purposes.
Yours faithfully,
(Mrs) J. Morrison.
18 Greta Street,
Keswick.
