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
Enforcement action approved
At this week’s planning meeting the National Park Authority approved the enforcement action to stop unauthorised use at Trotters Animal World near Bassenthwaite. Members, who said they were shocked when they learnt that the attraction, once a children’s animal park, had a zoo licence, also refused a retrospective planning application.
The planning committee has called for the removal of fences, poles, artificial mounds, nets and animal housing and the restoration of land to agricultural condition at the farm and Bird of Prey Centre.
However, Charles Graves, a director of Trotters Animal World, who feels that the planning authority’s attitude is unreasonable and that they are conducting a witch hunt against them, said: “They are hounding us for no good reason. They seem to have got it into their heads that I’m the bad guy on the block at the moment. The opinion of the planning authority seems to be that a field with sheep in it is different from a field with a zebra in it.”
During the foot and mouth outbreak Trotters lost its stock of animals and the directors decided that, as the park was evolving away from pure farm animals, they should have some rather more exotic stock. Trotters then acquired many of its animals from Southport Zoo when it closed down, including Canadian lynx, African antelopes, bison and a pair of zebras.
Enforcement officer Bill Murray said things had changed every time he visited and the work went far beyond the boundary established nine years ago when a planning application was approved. The unauthorised extension was first reported five years ago and, during talks held last year, it became evident that paddocks were being used beyond the boundary of the site.
Mr Graves said that if he was forced into reducing the park because of planners’ actions it would reduce the area the public has access to, making it less attractive.
He said that enclosures were created to be stimulating for families who visit Trotters, but the planners were making him out to be someone who was set on destroying the Lake District. “In reality my business revolves around the Lake District,” said Mr Graves. “The majority of Trotters’ visitors are families and it is an insight for them into the animal world.”
30 years ago
Keswick bridge drama
At lunchtime on Tuesday Keswick Police received reports that a man was threatening to throw himself off the bridge which carries the A66 Keswick by-pass over the Greta Gorge.
The first Police Officer to arrive on the scene was Andrew Slattery who found the man in a very agitated state. P.C. Slattery said later that his first job was to try to calm the man down and establish a rapport with him.
The viaduct was sealed off at both ends to traffic while the Police tried to persuade the 25 year old Workington man, who was seated precariously on the parapet of the bridge, hundreds of feet above the River Greta, not to throw himself over. Traffic had to be diverted through the town centre causing major problems with heavy wagons mixing with tourist traffic on the diversion route.
P.C. Slattery was joined by a woman counsellor and at one time he climbed over the barrier and stood on the narrow ledge overlooking the drop into the gorge. This, he said, didn’t particularly worry him as he is used to heights.
The man remained sitting on the outside of the bridge, his legs dangling over the massive drop, while P.C. Slattery continued to talk to him in an attempt to persuade him to come down. After three and a half hours he climbed back over the fence and left the bridge.
It is understood that he was later admitted to hospital.
Inspector Derryck Corrighan of Keswick Police has praised the 26 year old P.C. Slattery and the counsellor for their efforts in preventing a tragedy. “P.C. Slattery was the first officer on the scene and he managed to strike up a rapport,” he said. “He did a first class job and he and the counsellor deserve full praise for what they did.”
Lifeboat Institute gold medal
Keswick naval veteran Commander William S. Donald has received the gold medal of the Royal National Lifeboat Institute in recognition of his long service as Chairman of the Keswick branch.
Commander Donald, who has been chairman for over thirty years, received the award from the North West regional manager, Miss Sue Hennessey, at a lunch held for local members at the Portinscale home of Mr. and Mrs. Bruce Cooper last week.
During his naval service, Commander Donald was awarded the DSC and Bar.
Greta Hall
Greta Hall, once the home of Lakes poets Coleridge and Southey, has been put on the property market by the Governors of Keswick School.
The property has been used by the school as a girls’ boarding house since 1909 when it was bought by Canon Rawnsley and rented to the governors who purchased it from him in 1921.
The decision to put Greta Hall on the market was taken reluctantly by the Governors as a result of the reduction in the numbers of boarders. In recent years the senior girl boarders have lived at Greta Hall but in September they are moving to Lairthwaite boarding house where accommodation has been refurbished especially for them.
40 years ago
School of Art Centenary
The Trustees of Keswick Industrial Arts celebrated the centenary of its foundation with a cheese and wine party on Friday evening.
The event gave the guests an opportunity to view the centenary exhibition which includes items of work from the early days of the School of Art through to the present day. Some of the older pieces, lent for the exhibition by the owners, are fine examples of the intricate designs produced in copper and brass during the School of Art’s early years. These would be prohibitively expensive today, and the demand is for simpler designs in the practical stainless steel.
After a video, showing the work of craftsmen in today’s workshop at Greta Bridge, the chairman of the Trustees, Mr. Geoffrey Simpson, spoke of the changes in demand and the way these have affected the work force. In the present economic situation there is less money available for high quality craft products; K.I.A. have had to turn their attention to the industrial market and have added such items as commercial cooker hoods, stainless steel worktops, and so on, to their range of products. There is still a small demand for specialised items for churches – crosses, chalices, wafer boxes, etc.
Mr. Simpson reminded everyone that K.I.A. also make cups and trophies, and asked them to bear this in mind when awarding sports prizes.
The Mayor, Mr. Eric Impey, wearing a mayoral chain made at K.I.A. many years ago, thanked the Trustees for their hospitality.
It was in 1884 that Canon H. D. Rawnsley, vicar of Crosthwaite, and his wife founded the School of Art to give winter work and training to Keswick men, many of whom had seasonal work and no prospect of jobs during the winter months. Some of the designs used at that time were actually the creation of Mrs. Rawnsley herself, and a few years ago some of these original designs, including the beautiful Tudor Rose design, were brought back into use.
Borrowdale boy’s trampolining title
A thirteen year old Borrowdale boy, David Herring, at the weekend became the British under 13 boys trampolining champion when he scored a fine success at the British Trampoline Federation national age group championships in Liverpool.
David, who lives at Dancing Ghyll, Grange, and attends Keswick School, was not expected to win, according to his coach Jim Crowe. “We are delighted about his success,” he said.
The result puts David among the top half dozen trampolinists in the under 15 age group in the country and he has excellent prospects of being chosen for the British national youth team later in the year.
A special birthday
Crosthwaite Church rang to the strains of a different “anthem” during morning service on Sunday when the large congregation sang “Happy Birthday” to the Revd. David Foster, who had celebrated his 80th birthday on Friday.
And David’s speech of thanks for all the good wishes he had received was greeted with applause — perhaps an unusual thing to happen in a church, but one which proved the love and respect with which he is held in Keswick.
After retiring as head master of Penruddock School, Mr. Foster took holy orders and was appointed vicar of Matterdale. Ten years ago he and his wife, Grace, came to live at Vicarage Close, Keswick — a little nearer his childhood village of Bothel.
Sadly, Mrs. Foster died about six years ago, but David still takes an active part in the work of Crosthwaite parish and he was in charge during the long interregnum two years ago.
A man who can surely be described as being only eighty years young!
50 years ago
New Scout Headquarters
On Monday evening the new Scout Headquarters – the upper floor of the former bakehouse attached to the Keswick Cafe – was officially opened by the County Commissioner, Mr. J. A. Rawlings, Carlisle.
The new headquarters, which include a large activity room, dens for the various units, a kitchen, toilets and storage space, was provided by the former Urban Council in lieu of the old Morton Hut in Bell Close and the Scouts and Guides have themselves spent in the region of £500 on equipment and fittings.
Mr. J. W. Slee, President of the Group Scout Council, welcomed a large gathering on Monday evening and Mr. Rawlings was presented with a key and a pair of scissors by two Cub Scouts and two Brownies before cutting the tape to declare the premises open. He also presented stainless steel dishes to Mr. and Mrs. A. Boardman, former chairman and secretary of the Council, in appreciation of their work.
