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
Low lake level warnings
Recognised as one of the most scenic and popular lakes in the county, Derwentwater may well be facing huge problems unless there is rainfall in the next few weeks, according to a local councillor.
Keswick Councillor David Etherden said he stands by a claim he made eight or nine years ago when work took place to remove sluice gates and part of a sill from the Portinscale end of Derwentwater where the lake enters the River Derwent.
“I warned at the time that we were fast becoming Keswick-on-a-muddy-puddle and I stand by that claim today. We are not even at the height of summer, but already we have extreme difficulties,” said Mr Etherden.
An extensive study was carried out prior to the work being carried out, involving the Lake Users Group, Town Council, Allerdale Borough Council, the National Park Authority and the Environment Agency. It was agreed the sill at Portinscale needed to be strengthened and made higher, but no one group was prepared to take the lead role.
30 years ago
New head teacher for Borrowdale
Mr. Malcolm Miller has been appointed by the Governors of Borrowdale C. E. School as the new Head Teacher to succeed Mr. Colin Illman when he leaves to take up a new position outside the county at the end of this term.
Mr. Miller is at present Head Teacher of Arlecdon County Primary School. His first teaching appointment was at the former Lairthwaite Secondary School in
Keswick but in 1972 he moved to a post in a junior school and has held various positions in primary schools in the west of Cumbria since then.
He lives in Keswick with his wife, Sara, and two sons, and he lists among his interests many forms of outdoor activity. These include rock climbing, canoeing, sailing, orienteering, ski-ing and a recent sampling of paragliding.
Above all he regards walking and climbing in the Lake District as his favourite pastime.
Mr. Miller has been a member of Keswick Mountain Rescue Team for over 20 years and is also well known in the local community through his membership of Keswick Athletic Club and West Cumberland Orienteering Club among others. In the summer of 1989 he completed the Bob Graham Round and regards this as his most rewarding achievement after many years of competitive sport.
40th anniversary
One of the most active and long-running clubs in Keswick is the Old Folks Circle which recently held a party to celebrate its 40th anniversary.
The secretary, Mrs. Melles Green, said they remember with pride the achievements of the Circle, which was established to enable people in their later years to get together in a spirit of friendship and to share fellowship.
The Circle meets each month in the Labour Club and at present there are around 130 members. It receives valuable support from a number of people including local business people.
Mrs. Phyllis Rigg, 88, was a founder member and is now senior vice president. She was invited to cut the 40th anniversary cake.
Carnival time
It just managed to keep fine for the new Carnival Queen, Hayley Newton, last Sunday as she rode through the streets in the Carnival Parade in her beautifully decorated float.
This was Haley’s big day, culminating in her ‘coronation’ by last year’s Carnival Queen, Katie Houghton.
Hayley wore an attractive ivory dress with a royal blue cloak, and when she received her crown she was also presented with the crimson cloak and the sceptre of office. She was attended by Stacey Wilson and Laura Birkett, both aged 11, who wore royal blue dresses, and the smart herald was seven-year-old Joe Baker.
The Carnival Parade through the town was a colourful and magnificent event, watched by hundreds of people. It was led by the Langholm Pipe Band and included the Dearham Band and two marching bands.
The beautifully decorated floats were the result of hours of thoughtful preparation and hard work, and there were also walking groups including the local group of national dancers taught by Mrs. Patsy Hamilton-Wright of Borrowdale and Mrs. Cathie Houghton’s Blobbydazzlers, and an off-shoot of Keswick Lions, a bride and groom pushed by Mrs. Sue Robinson and Mrs. Little.
Letter to the Editor
Dear Editor, — I write to voice my concern at the name selected by Keswick Town Council for the new properties being developed on the site of Greta Grove house.
Your headline is ‘What’s in a Name?’ and once one starts naming streets of a town with names of local personalities then it does invest the title with some special significance. With the notable exception of Bank Street, it has not been the practice in Keswick. All roads and streets have either indicated the destination they lead to or have a connection with the surrounding fells. My suggestion would have been Causey View on the basis that that fell is very conspicuous from that street.
I know I am not alone in being anxious about using names of living persons to name streets and believe that representations to that effect were sent to the Council. I fervently hope that the Council will be able to have second thoughts about their choice.
Michael Evans
The Headlands
Keswick
40 years ago
Royal visit to Bassenthwaite horse trials
Princess Anne arrived to a noisy welcome as a low-flying jet swooped over the lake in an unofficial salute when she arrived at Bassenthwaite yesterday.
The Princess was the principal guest at the first-ever cross country horse riding trials for the disabled to be held in Cumbria. The trials took place at Mirehouse and attracted some 150 riders from all over the county.
The Princess took the opportunity to meet a party of children from a school in Leicestershire who have been staying for the week at the Calvert Trust Adventure Centre for the Disabled at nearby Little Crosthwaite.
She was also given a tour of Mirehouse, the home of Lt. Col. and Mrs. J. H. Fryer Spedding, and was transported from Mirehouse to the scene of the riding trials in an open topped horse drawn carriage.
The Princess, who is an acknowledged international standard horsewoman in her own right, has a particular interest in riding for the disabled for she is patron of the R.D.A. which has over 500 groups spread throughout Britain.
It was a memorable day for 13 year old Gail Monkhouse of Keswick. Princess Anne spotted her sitting in a wheelchair holding a posy of flowers and halted for a chat. Gail handed her flowers to the Princess.
The Princess also met Calvert Trust warden Peter Lingard and his wife Renee during a visit to the Trust’s boathouse on the shores of Bassenthwaite. She showed a great interest in the work of the Trust in offering disabled people challenging, adventure holidays in the Lake District.
Woodland memorial to Borrowdale man
A ceremony will take place at Stonethwaite tomorrow to commemorate the role a hotelier played in the preservation of the unspoilt character of the valley.
A section of woodland near Greenup Gill is being dedicated to the memory of the late Captain S. H. “Sandy” Badrock, who was a member of the regional committee of the National Trust for 35 years, from 1945.
Captain Badrock was a rock climber and also a prolific and talented painter of water colours. The Scafell at Rosthwaite was the family hotel and, after being invalided out of the tank corps in 1942, where he was a regular officer, he took over the management of the hotel.
Captain Badrock died on 25th May, 1980, and subsequently an appeal was launched in order to provide a memorial to his work for the National Trust in Lakeland. A spokesman said it was particularly fitting that this should take the shape of a woodland in Borrowdale.
Car party
A former Keswick man has returned to live in his home town and has brought with him his 1929 Austin 12/4 leather-bodied car.
This car has been in the possession of Mr. James Lindsay Bacon and his wife for twenty-five years and they celebrated this “silver jubilee” of ownership on Sunday afternoon with friends and neighbours, also making the event a house warming party. One of the guests was Carlisle jazz musician Mick Potts.
Mr. and Mrs. Bacon moved from Sale in Cheshire recently to live at 20 High Hill, Keswick. Mr. Bacon is the only son of Harrison Bacon who had a garage near the Bus Station many years ago. He went to sea at the beginning of the Second World War, retiring in 1950 to Sale.
50 years ago
Lairthwaite School
Last Wednesday afternoon Lairthwaite School held the annual open day when parents were welcomed by the Headmaster, Mr. Sean Crawford, and members of his staff and were able to inspect the school and some of the work done there, at their leisure.
Prizes awarded as a result of the year’s work was displayed in the school library and the winners were as follows: Sir Percy Hope memorial bursary award: Richard Stoker; Percy McKane prizes (services to the school): Dorothy Chapman and Gillian Macbean; Mrs, Cowen memorial prizes: Annabel Green (housecraft), Nicholas Routledge (woodwork); Mark Hopper prize (science): Malcolm Scott; S, Allason prize (local study): Gillian Macbean; T. Graham prize (divinity): Theresa Hind; Mrs. Dobson prize (creative work): Gordon McKenzie; Nancy Smith prize (girls’ P.E.): Isobel Hutchinson.
Music: Julia Roe; Boys’ P.E.: Grant Horsburgh; Needlework: Gail Richardson; Metalwork: Keith Wilson; Best pupil in junior school: Robin Forster; Progress: Colin Hadley.
Exemplary conduct or effort – 5th Form: Simon Gilboy, Judith Christie, Joy Harrison, Rona Houston, Michael Hartley, Tony Peet, Janette Gate, Baron Thornton, Elizabeth Robinson, Brian Roper, Ian Bertram.
4th Form: Christopher Brownrigg, Alan Weightman, Eileen Jenkinson, David Pritt, Russell McCade, Carol Jenkinson, David Hall, Susan Cook, Kevin Robinson, Anne Braithwaite, Shona Lister, Carole Thorn.
3rd Form: Susan Greenwood, Anne Murphy, Robin Graham, Michael Creighton, Marcus Davies, John Stephenson, Gillian Armstrong, Caroline Newton, Alan Grave, Paul Wilkinson, Julie Wilson, Gail Temple, Anne Storey, Alan Skivington.
2nd Form: Rebecca Howard, Maxine Clayton, Barbara Robinson, Grant Atkinson, Alison Routledge, Christine Edmondson, Jacqueline Robinson, Jill Newton.
1st Form: Keith Graham, David Mitchell, Eilidh Campbell, Roy Hodgson, Avril Dixon, Christine Stephenson, Janet Green, Alan Bell, Ann Mattinson, Jane Bowness, Mary Ellwood, Judith Cook, Kathryn Norton.
