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
Letters t’ Editer
Dear Editer:—Ah’s varra pleased to see t’wickmen are gtten on weel wid phase 2 ov oor toon centre. Them lads are deuan a reet gud job doon theer. They mun av bin weel wet thru at times wid aw t’ran wiv hed lately, nut t’menshen being frozen t’byans in t’cold. Ah see in last week’s Reminder t’munnys aboot, in fur phase 3 az weel. This time next ’eer we shud be leukn reet post. Ts easier awridy t’ walk aboot int ton centre noo maist f t’traffics been banned, cept furt delivery lorries an t’taxis. Still t’powers that be can seun sort that oot.
Ah see the’s a gud banking system available furt dogs in Keswick. It runs frm St John Street along Ambleset Road up till’t bottom ov Manor Broow. Dogs can leave a deposit anywhere along theer ont pavement. Noo this is a narra road wid two way traffic and a varra narra pavement adornd wid accumulative piles of assets. Us fwoak that walkt’toon ev t’ hop ower it at times or be forced t’lowp on t road, or else we hev yah shoo higher than t’other. Noo ah divvn’t blame t’dogs its owners that’s trouble, an they wark under cover ov darkness (Ah notice its nivver fund on Manor Broow ’cos t’hill’s ower much like hard wark for them!)
Yoors varra sincerely
(Mrs) Dinah Craig
Keswick
P.S. Ah’ ve ritten aboot this delicat matter in dialect, so as nut to flay’t tourists.
30 years ago
Heather burning
Keswick Fire Brigade was called out on Wednesday when burning heather on the fells threatened to get out of control.
In sub zero temperatures the firemen went to Bleaberry Fell and Falcon Crag, together with members of Keswick Mountain Rescue Team who were alerted to ensure the safety of the firemen.
A spokesman for Keswick Police said a local farmer was burning heather and the fire spread to areas where it was not intended, and firemen were called out as a precautionary measure. There was no damage to people or property and the fire was successfully extinguished.
Keswick School – “A good school”
The report of the Ofsted Inspectors who visited the School from January 10th to 14th states “Keswick School is a good school. The Governors and the Headmaster successfully support the school’s aims in promoting the high expectations of staff and pupils. Its reputation can be justified in the commitment of its staff, in the good behaviour and attitudes of its pupils, in the excellent relationships they experience and in high academic standards which they achieve together”.
The Headmaster, Mr. Howard Allen, commented: “I am pleased that Keswick School has received a most positive report and this reflects well upon both my teaching colleagues and the pupils. Naturally the Inspectors in their evaluation of the School have also made recommendations to the Governors and Senior management for building on the current strengths of the School for the future.”
40 years ago
Double hill race success for Keswick
Keswick Athletic Club’s former British ladies fell race champion Pauline Howarth is determined to show that, once again, there is room at the top for her undoubted talents. Pauline, who had injury problems last season, is now scorching back into top form and she slashed 1 minute 50 seconds, from the record for one of Scotland’s leading hill events on Saturday.
Pauline won the Carnethy five hills race in 61 minutes 13 seconds and although Ann Curtis (Livingstone and District A.C.) separated her from Keswick team mates Gill Wilkinson and Daphne Varney, Keswick ladies easily claimed the Cowan team trophy. Gill was third in 67 minutes 31 seconds and Pauline’s sister Daphne was fourth in 70-07.
The second part of the double was pulled off by Ken Stuart, who beat more than 200 runners in the six mile men’s race, winning in a time of 49 minutes 44 seconds.
Public support sought by coal merchants
Two Kewsick coal merchants are to petition hundreds of homes in the town and surrounding district in a bid to fight possible eviction from their present site at the railway station yard.
Taylor Bros. and Dover Bros. insist that if the Lake District Planning Board turf them off the site, they will go out of business and local customers will suffer as a consequence.
The station yard site is earmarked by the planners for access to proposed community and housing developments and they say that the continued use for coal business would be incompatible.
“If we are forced off the site that will be it as far as Keswick is concerned,” said Mr. Mick Taylor. “It’s up to people to support us now because in a few months it could be too late. We would have to spend £20,000 preparing another site and that would be an absolute waste of time. If we lose our present site we will be out of business.”
Mr. Taylor and Mr. Dover deliver to around 800 homes in the Keswick area. Mr. Taylor maintained: “Our disappearance would be a major blow to locals. They would never get the same service from someone based outside the town. I often turn out on Saturdays to deliver bags of coal and my business works 52 weeks of the year.”
Mr. Taylor thinks that the Planning Board have been dictatorial in their attitude and he said there had been a coal business at the station for over 100 years, long before the planners came on the scene.
He was also critical of Keswick Town Council, accusing them of “turning a blind eye” to the problems he faced at the station. “They are supposed to look after the interests of Keswick folk, but they have done nothing,” he said.
Mr. Taylor does not want to move his business outside the town and he said that efforts to secure an alternative site within the town had proved unsuccessful. He sees the attempt to get a petition as his “last great battle”.
Mr. John Chapman, solicitor to the Lake District Planning Board, said: “As far as the Board is concerned it will endeavour to make some alternative provision and will certainly not evict Mr. Taylor until it is absolutely necessary to do so to facilitate the development of the site. We have no ill will towards him and recognise that he provides a valuable service. As far as we can we will try to take a positive attitude towards re-location and investigate with him the sites available.
Mr. Chapman pointed out that the Board has published a development brief for the station site inviting potential developers to come forward to promote community facilities such as a leisure pool and theatre which have been canvassed locally.
Mr. Chapman said the Board hoped to provide planning consent for housing and the access, shared with other community facilities, would run right across the station coal yard.
He did not know when the Housing Association would be in a position to start building, but clearly it was incompatible with the coal business and Mr. Chapman said: “I think we will make him an offer which will enable him to have some premises.”
However, the only sites likely to be available are at Threlkeld and Mr. Chapman said: “We can’t allow the station site to be sterilised simply for a coal merchant who can be accommodated somewhere in the Keswick area.”
Death of Braithwaite musician
A well-known music teacher Mr. Frank Stansfield, of The Island, Braithwaite, has died at the age of 80.
He had lived in Braithwaite for over forty years, since his appointment as storekeeper and checker of timber for the Forestry Commission at Thornthwaite. Later he took over the duties as head forester engaged in timber production.
Mr. Stansfield developed a love of music in his late teens and became a skilled pianist and organist, subsequently gaining examination results which enabled him to commence teaching music.
He was also a keen cyclist and beekeeper, being on the executive committee of the Keswick and District Beekeepers Association.
He is survived by his wife Mrs. Edith Stansfield and a nephew, Mr. Derek Wynne, who live in Canada.
50 years ago
Election specials on Border TV
On Friday, 22nd, Monday 25th and Tuesday 26th February, Border TV will give their viewers an opportunity to meet every candidate standing in the ten Border Region constituencies. On each of those days, “Border News and Lookaround” at 6 p.m.will be almost entirely devoted to special General Election Reports.
The candidates for the Workington constituency, Mr. Fred Peart, Labour, and Mr. Richard Page, Conservative, will be featured on Election Special on Tuesday evening.
Film Society seeks more support
The arrival of colour television and BBC2 in Keswick has meant a drop in attendances at the Keswick Film Society.
Mrs. Margaret Mitchell, the Society’s secretary, said, “During the past year we have noticed a big difference as people seem more reluctant to come out on a Sunday night when they can see a film in colour on television.”
