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
New bus station for Keswick
E H Booth & Co. has lodged a Planning Application this week for a new bus station and coach park on the land in front of the supermarket on the corner of Tithebarn Street and Elliot Park.
Booths, who took over the supermarket in September 2002, have carried out several improvements within the building and are now seeking approval from Lake District National Park Planners for better quality car parking and improved delivery arrangements as well as the new bus facilities.
There are several safety problems with the existing arrangements – buses turn in across the flow of traffic right on the junction, there are no pedestrian walkways and delivery vehicles have to reverse across the coach park.
The proposals were instigated by Cumbria County Council’s successful bid for ‘Rural Bus Challenge’ funding in 1999. This covered the ‘Cumbria Connexion’ –the A66 corridor and the Keswick Bus Station was a key component of the bid.
The new layout includes five proper bus stands, a covered waiting and information building and paved walkways linking the bus and coach areas to the main concourse. The object is to encourage bus travel in the region by making it safer and more comfortable for passengers.
Words by the Water
Sir Roger Bannister thrilled a packed audience and signed many copies of his re-issued and updated autobiography on Tuesday, the opening day of Words by the Water literary festival at Theatre by the Lake.
30 years ago
Cars of the Stars on Blue Peter
Peter Nelson, owner of the Keswick Cars of the Stars Museum, says the telephone switchboards of the BBC, Keswick Tourist Information Centre, and his museum were jammed with enquiries after the museum was extensively featured on last Thursday’s programme of children’s TV series Blue Peter.
Mr. Nelson said: “On the Tuesday before the programme I received a call from the programme’s editor asking if I could send seven cars down to London. Although it was short notice I jumped at the chance which I thought would be a great boost to Keswick with this sort of coverage.”
A third of the Blue Peter programme was devoted to the museum, doubling the weekend visitor numbers. Peter added: “Even after a week the phone is still red hot, so we hope for the same over Easter.”
Amongst the cars sent to the London studios were FAB 1, James Bond’s Aston Martin, and Noddy’s car.
Car park dilemma
Allerdale Borough Council has had to ask bailiffs to assist with the removal of a woman from a car park in the centre of Keswick.
The woman is alleged to have been living for several weeks in an ‘A’ registration Rover 2000 which has been parked on the Central Car Park, near the toilet block, for over two months. The car is packed with what appear to be mainly plastic bags.
Allerdale Council have been granted a possession order at Workington County Court and is thought to be dealing with the situation under a by-law which forbids sleeping overnight in car parks.
The woman is said to have a current Allerdale car parks season ticket displayed in her vehicle and she can therefore continue to park in Keswick provided she does not sleep in the car.
At one time the woman kept some budgies in the car but these were removed by the RSPCA although she was allied to keep her dog with her. She has been seen visiting the car occasionally and is believed to have visited the town previously, but never to have stayed for such a long period of time.
Inspector David Watson of Keswick Police admits a number of people have mentioned the woman to them and that they have spoken to her. “As far as we are aware, she is fit and well,” he said.
Inspector Watson understands she travels around the country and comes and goes. “If she chooses to live in a car she can live in a car. She is paying her car parking fees and has committed no offence,” he said.
40 years ago
Keswick link with lake inquiry
A 56-year-old pilot who has been charged following the discovery of the “lady in the lake” in Wastwater is a former head boy of Keswick School.
Peter Hogg has been charged with the murder of his wife Margaret whose body was found in 100ft. of water in England’s deepest lake. She had disappeared from her home at Cranleigh in Surrey in 1976 when she was 37.
Peter L. Hogg was a boarding pupil at Keswick School from 1941 until 1945 and contemporaries have described him as a popular holder of that office.
He was the son of G. L. Hogg, a well known author of children’s books, and at the time he boarded at Keswick his father had a Lancashire address.
Mr. Hogg was at Keswick School under the headship of Mr. H. W. Howe and former teacher at the school, Mr. Jim Mungall, said he was particularly remembered for his athletic prowess. Peter was the school Victor Ludorum and also won his colours for rugby.
Mr. Mungall said: “When his picture was flashed up on the television screen I recognised him, even though it must be nigh on 40 years since I last saw him.
“I will always remember him running up Skiddaw as a boy and reaching the top in 54 minutes which was a very respectable time for a youngster. It is something which has always stuck in my mind,” he added. “I recall that he was a very nice lad and the news of his arrest has been a great shock.”
An inquest in West Cumbria has heard that Mrs. Hogg died as a result of strangulation. The inquest has been adjourned to a date to be fixed.
Keswick bakers in the Kitchen
The Bryson Brothers, John and Neil, are to appear on Border T.V.’s “Canon in the Kitchen” series this Spring.
Canon John Ely of Carlisle Cathedral is back on the screens with a new series of twelve programmes, beginning on March 19th when his guest will be a Carlisle butcher who will talk about the different cuts of meat. John Ely will demonstrate the right way to cook steaks and different meats.
The second programme will feature the Keswick bakers John and Neil Bryson who will show over three dozen different types of loaves, while John Ely demonstrates how to cook a simple scrambled egg loaf.
Keswick traffic scheme go ahead
The County Highways Authority are to go ahead with plans for a traffic experiment in the Market Square.
County surveyor John Davison told last Friday’s meeting of the County Council’s highways general purposes sub committee that Keswick Chamber of Trade had voiced objections to the proposal to ban traffic from the square on Saturday market days. However there had also been some support in the town for the eighteen month experiment which is seen by many locals as a preface to eventual moves for a fuller pedestrianisation scheme.
The question of the future of Keswick Market Square has long been one to arouse controversy in the town and has been the subject of recent consultation between the County Council and local organisations.
The highways sub-committee decided to advertise the traffic Order and agreed to review it after a period of nine to twelve months.
Keswick hotelier Mr. Geoff Kitchen this week confirmed that he intends to submit an objection to the traffic Order. He said: “The car is Keswick’s main artery and to ban it is to ban people. The biggest percentage of visitors choose accommodation out of their car. Why don’t they put double yellow lines round the Square instead?”
Letters to the Editor
Dear Editor,–With reference to recent correspondence in your paper, I also am somewhat disturbed over the proposal to remove the fragments of the “Rock of Names” from their present position to Dove Cottage.
The original rock was approximately half way between Grasmere and Keswick and thus equidistant from the the homes of the people who used to meet there and cut their initials thereon, namely: – William Wordsworth (who was tallest so his initials were at the top) Mary Hutchinson, Dorothy Wordsworth, Samuel Taylor Coleridge, John Wordsworth and Sara Hutchinson.
When it was known that the rock would be submerged by the raising of the level of Thirlmere, Canon Rawnsley tried to have the face bearing the initials removed in one piece but this proved impossible due to the nature of the rock. When the rock was subsequently blown up by the Manchester Corporation to provide stone for wall-building Canon Rawnsley and his wife Edith spent two days searching for any bits of stone with initials on them, and those found he had built into the present cairn which is sited directly above the position of the original rock.
To remove the cairn from its present position would, in my mind, destroy the whole purpose of its existence.
Dove Cottage already have a water colour painting by Harry Goodwin showing the original “Rock of Names” by the side of the road which ran along the shore of the original lake. If they wish to call attention to the existence of the rock, surely they could exhibit the painting which was not on view the last time I went there?
It may well be that the cairn is now in poor condition. That maintenance of it is necessary, I well know, as various aunts, friends and relations of mine and myself have at intervals over the years visited the cairn and scraped away the moss and lichens that accumulate on it. Rather than remove it to Dove Cottage I would prefer to see the cairn possibly rebuilt in its present position and treated with something to discourage the growth of moss and lichens. If Mr. Michael Berry could see his way to do this, it would be splendid.
Yours sincerely,
Geoffrey E. Simpson
Common Hill
Underskiddaw
Keswick
50 years ago
Blencathra Foxhounds
The annual meeting of the Blencathra Foxhounds was held in the Queen’s Hotel on Friday evening, Mr. P. L. Davidson, Joint Master, presiding, supported by his fellow Joint Master, Mr. G. B. Graham.
In his report as secretary, Mr. H. Ralph said the weather during the season under review had not created the best conditions for hunting, but eighty-one foxes had been accounted for – ten more than last year.
Mr. Ralph referred to the death of the late Master, Sir Percy M. Hope, and to the resignation after thirteen years as Whip of Mr. Stanley Mattinsin who was giving valuable service on the general committee. He also commented on the appointment of Mr. Harry Todhunter as Whip and said Huntsman and Whip were working well together.
National darts finalist
On Tuesday a Keswick darts player became the first man from the Keswick District to qualify for the National Finals in London of the “News of the World” Championship. Billy Bryson, who plays for the Lake Road Vaults, won the North of England Individual Championship at Tynemouth, beating his opponents 2-0, 2-0, and 2-1 in the final.
Billy, who is married to a local girl, won an automatic gold watch for his wife and himself, a Pontins holiday for two, a bottle of whisky, and a handsome Challenge Trophy. Well done, Bill!
