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 a chick!!
Cumbria’s world famous ospreys have hatched out their first chick this year after an anxious five week wait.
After being alerted by a change in behaviour by the adult birds, Osprey Project staff at Bassenthwaite Lake got their first glimpse of a chick on Friday. Ospreys usually lay three eggs, but it is not yet known if there is more than one chick in the nest. The project team are hoping that more chicks will hatch in the next few days.
30 years ago
Poirot on the trail
Wednesday morning in Keswick Market Square. An imposing car drew up outside the Queen’s Hotel, the back door was opened – and out stepped a man in a light brown suit, fawn leather gloves and carrying a silver-topped cane. It was Hercule Poirot – in Keswick to solve yet another murder with the help of his assistant, Hastings.
This week Keswick has turned back the clock over sixty years for the filming by Carnival Films for London Weekend Television of scenes for an episode of the Agatha Christie detective series featuring Poirot, her eccentric Belgian detective.
Three hundred local people applied for work as “extras” and some of them, in the costumes of the 1930s, manned old fashioned markets stalls selling rabbits and pheasant, flowers and vegetables, and they served in shops some of which bore new names, more in keeping with that era.
David Suchet, in the role of Poirot, bustled down the street in his inimitable way – a street in which the double yellow lines had been covered up with strips of rubber matting and soil. More “extras” wandered about in the roles of hikers and shoppers watched by quite a large crowd of interested onlookers.
Later in the day a funeral scene was staged in St. John’s churchyard.
The story of this particular episode is based on Agatha Christie’s story ‘The Dumb Witness’ and is about a murder which takes place during an attempt of a world speed record on one of the lakes.
What’s in a name?
Well, what IS in a name? Quite a lot it seems.
A local Allerdale councillor was very surprised to read in an evening paper this week that he had suggested the name ‘Greta Grove’ for a new development in the town because he happens to be this year’s President of Cumbria Rugby Union and the headquarters of Keswick Rugby Club used to be called Greta Park before renaming in honour of a former official!
In fact, Councillor John Branthwaite says he suggested the name Greta Grove because the new development happens to be built on the site of the house which was named Greta Grove!
The old house stood on that site for over 150 years and was in private ownership until the late 1930s when Mr. Teddy Hall, the current owner, decided it was far too large for one person and he moved to a smaller property on Manor Brow. Cumbria County Council acquired the property and from then until about four years ago it was leased by Keswick School.
From the late 1930s until 1946 Greta Grove was used as a Junior boarding house for boys and girls from 5 to 11 years — at that time the School still had a Preparatory school — and Greta Grove also housed a nursery class for 4 to 5 year olds.
From 1946 Greta Grove was the senior boys’ boarding house until the last two years of its life when it was used as a Sixth Form Centre. Unfortunately it was then found to be structurally unsound and the County Council decided to demolish it and sell the site for redevelopment.
Councillor Branthwaite says he felt the name should be kept, but Allerdale councillors were told by Councillor Jim Hully of Cockermouth that there were a lot of Gretas in Keswick and this made life difficult for the emergency services. The voting was 8 for Greta Grove and 11 for Elliott Park.
40 years ago
Stuart wins again
Keswick runner Ken Stuart has not lost a fell race since the Ben Nevis event in 1983.
On Saturday Stuart moved a step closer to becoming Britain’s “Fell Runner of the Year” when he won the longest race in the championship calendar, the 23 mile Ennerdale Horse Shoe.
The heat led to slower times and Stuart, home in 3hrs, 32mins, 59secs., was well outside Billy Bland’s record of 3-21-07 set in 1980. Kendal’s Hugh Symonds was second in 3-34-45 with Jon Broxap (Keswick) 3rd in 3-39-34. Billy Bland, four times winner at Ennerdale between 1980 and ’83, was fifth.
Keswick finished the first team of three with nine points, ahead of Rossendale who had twenty-three. The result extends Keswick’s lead in the F.R.A. team competition.
Remarkably thirteen Keswick A.C. runners completed the Ennerdale event out of a 150 strong field. Other leading performances were by Rod Pilbeam and Colin Valentine 16th and 17th respectively.
It was good to see former long-distance “King of the fells” Joss Naylor still going strong, winning the veterans’ prize with 18th position overall.
Winner of the ladies’ event was Keswick’s Pauline Haworth in 4hrs. 55mins. 52secs.
Their individual victories meant that Ken and Pauline are almost assured of the F.R.A. titles for 1984.
The Derwentwater Hotel
After twenty years in the same ownership the three star Derwentwater Hotel at Portinscale, has been sold. The sale price has not been disclosed but hotel and licensed property agents Robert Barry & Co., who handled the sale on behalf of the vendors, Derwentwater Hotel Ltd., were seeking offers in the regions of £400,000 for the forty-one bedroomed hotel together with two adjacent properties — the owners’ detached bungalow which is situated in the hotel grounds, and Harney Peak, a large detached stone building at the moment housing a bar, two self contained flats and staff accommodation.
The new owners, David and Rosalind Byers-plan to continue to run the Derwentwater (one of very few hotels with a lake frontage) as a three star country house hotel with an emphasis on good food and comfortable accommodation. Each improvement plans include a new bar for the hotel and the conversion of Harney Peak to provide self catering accommodation for those who prefer it.
RAF officer awarded wings
Flight Lieutenant Damian Steel has just been awarded his pilots’ wings after successfully completing helicopter pilot training at RAF Shawbury, Shropshire. At No. 39 Course graduation he was presented with his wings, a certificate and the Blackwood Trophy for Ground School Studies by Air Vice Marshal D. Parry Evans, the Air Officer Commanding No. 1 Group.
Damian was educated at Keswick School and was a member of 2199 ATC Squadron (Keswick). He later obtained a BSc at Liverpool University.
Married to another old Keswickian, formerly Miss Lucy Walker of Threlkeld, Damian now goes on to fly the Wessex helicopter. His mother and stepfather live at Crosthwaite Road, Keswick.
50 years ago
A little “natter”
We read and hear many comments on the beautiful area in which we live — often these comments are made by those who come here only to look, and not to live. But, because these people are outspoken and, indeed, bother to send out excellent press handouts, their opinions are heard while the views of the young and middle-aged Cumbrians who work in the area tend to be ignored.
This is, to a great extent, due to the natural reticence of the average Cumbrian, who will “ natter ” quietly to his friends rather than join an organisation such as his local Civic Society where he could air his views on his own town. He is often too busy earning a living — not always an easy task in this area of little opportunity other than the seasonal tourist industry — to stand for his local Council where he could represent the views and voice the opinions of his fellow Cumbrians.
The Lake District is rapidly becoming over-populated with the retired and elderly. No region can function properly without a fair share of the other age groups, and while we do have a small number of young and middle-aged couples who choose to live here and work in west Cumbria, many of the young folk with their fresh ideas to keep us “on our toes” are still having to move away to areas of better opportunity.
Are we really going to believe for much longer that a building such as the Pencil Mill, standing in tree-lined grounds, is more undesirable than the Bell Close eyesore or the mass of twisted and ever-rising girders of the shopping precinct? Better by far that the Planning Board give permission for a neat and tidy building to house a light industrial concern, to give all-year-round employment to our local people, than to allow the construction of premises for which the demand is still doubtful and for which there is little off-season trade.
Record
The “Reminder” would like to pay tribute to a stalwart “old Keswickian” who has now served the longest-ever term as a Keswick Councillor.
Percy Sanderson was first elected to the Keswick Urban District Council thirty-four years ago, and has been Chairman on three occasions.
During his long period of service to the Keswick community Percy has carried out his duties as a Councillor with honesty, fair-mindedness and dignity, and has always endeavoured to bear in mind the well-being of those who elected him to office.
Congratulations, Percy on your record, and thank-you.
