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
More trouble Trotters
More trouble for Trotters Animal Farm — the Lake District National Park Authority have threatened to take enforcement action requiring the removal of a residential caravan to the north of the reception building of the animal farm. Trotters already face enforcement action over unauthorised extensions, use of land as a zoo, and the erection of fences and animal housing.
The recommendation to take fresh enforcement action will be considered by the Development
Control Committee at a meeting in Kendal on August 3rd. This recommendation will go before Development Control Committee members at a meeting in Kendal on August 3.
After last month’s enforcement decision, Trotters director Charles Graves accused the planning authority of conducting a witch hunt against the popular visitor attraction.
Cumbria gets air ambulance
The distinctive green and white livered helicopters of the Great North Air Ambulance Service will welcome a further addition to its current fleet of two aircraft when Cumbria gets its own dedicated “Angel of the Air” on 8th August.
Grahame Pickering, Chief Executive of Great North Air Ambulance Service, has confirmed that a helicopter staffed with paramedics and kitted out with the latest medical equipment will take to the air from its new Cumbria base on 8th August this year.
The campaign in Cumbria has been so successful that the charity was able to commit to providing a helicopter as the month on month sustainable income has reached a level to allow the charity to confidently launch Cumbria’s first dedicated Air Ambulance. The charity still has to maintain a monthly income of approximately £50,000 to maintain the service. A local businessman, Andrew Tinkler of W.A. Developments is providing the charity with a helipad and the use of ‘Melbourne House’ situated on the Gillwilly Industrial Estate at Penrith as a base for the Cumbria operation.
With Cumbria having its own dedicated service based at Penrith, 80% of the county will now be within 10 minutes of Air Ambulance cover and no more than 10 minutes flying time from a hospital.
30 years ago
Cumbria in Bloom awards – another first for Keswick
Keswick has retained the Cumbria in Bloom Award for Small Towns with a population between 4 and 7 thousand. The Mayor of Keswick, Mrs. Maysie McCambridge, who is also Chairman of the Keswick in Bloom committee, was presented with the trophy on Tuesday at a ceremony held at The Chequers Motel, Dalton-in-Furness.
The judges commented on the “very enthusiastic response by all concerned. All parts were well presented and free from litter and graffiti, making an important contribution to promoting Keswick as a major tourist centre.”
This year another award came to Keswick. The Cumbria Tourist Board Rosebowl which this year was competed for by retail outlets in membership of the board, was won by Caterite’s Lakes Food Store in Keswick.
Cockermouth also retained the trophy they won last year for Small Towns with a population between 7 and 10 thousand. This was a new trophy, given last year by Jennings Brewery.
40 years ago
Councillors meet police to discuss complaints
A meeting took place last week between senior police officers and a group of Keswick Town Councillors to discuss recent claims that the town was being subjected to late night noise and disturbances.
Mr. Sean Crawford had reported to the Council “an enormous number of complaints” from residents about indecent behaviour and other incidents contrary to the image which a tourist town should be presenting. He said that a large number of people were creating “merry hell” in the centre of Keswick between the hours of 11-30 p.m. and 2-00 a.m.
The Mayor Mr. Eric Impey said this week that a meeting had been held with the police to air some of the complaints and he had also been making a number of personal inquiries and investigations.
He said that a number of interviews with residents had been taped and added: “People have supplied definite information about incidents, what happened and where. The complaints are not just hearsay. It struck me these claims were legitimate.”
Mr. Impey said it had been pointed out at the meeting with the police that although Keswick had a population of 4,500, there might be up to 30,000 people in the town on a busy day during the holiday season.
Heart transplant recipient in Keswick
Fifty year old Mr. James Kelly who received a heart transplant four years ago was in Keswick at the weekend.
On Friday he and a friend climbed Skiddaw, and in the evening they met members of the British Heart Foundation for an informal talk about the great benefits of heart surgery.
Also present were Mr. Jack Bradbury, a general surgeon at the Harefield Hospital in Middlesex and Mr. John Jackson a recently retired surgeon who has come to live in St. John’s-in-the-Vale.
Mr. Kelly went up Helvellyn on Saturday, and completed his three peaks attempt on Sunday with Scafell, where he was filmed by BBC TV for a slot in the national news programme. And finally he set off to cycle the 300 plus miles from Keswick to his home in Southend to complete a sponsored exercise to benefit Harefield Hospital.
50 years ago
Robert Southey
The August issue of “Lakescene”, the monthly magazine published by the Border Press Agency Ltd. of Carlisle, accuses Keswick of having forgotten the poet Southey and of neglecting the bi-centenary of his birth, which falls on August 12th. The magazine also says that had it not been for the efforts of a London man, Mr. F. J. Benjamin, who has retired to Keswick, the occasion would have passed virtually unnoticed.
Mr. Benjamin’s deep interest in Old Keswick has earned him much respect — indeed, this paper often prints small anecdotes which he has found in his research into the town of days gone by.
It would be wrong, however, to forget to give credit to Major P. L. Davidson, Mr. Gandy (curator of the Museum), and other members of the Fitz Park Trust, whose enthusiasm and effort have resulted in a Southey exhibition at the Museum, and in the publication of a souvenir booklet on the poet’s link with the town, Cumbrians, and Keswickians in particular, are often accused of an apparent lack of interest in their surroundings or in their history. It is assumed that they either don’t know, or don’t want to know, about the history of the town, and that in their quest to make money out of the tourist industry they will be tempted to spoil the beauty of their surroundings.
But this is not so. Although they are somewhat reticent on the subject, Keswickians are very proud of the beauty of this part of Lakeland, and of the connections with the Lake Poets. In their first English lessons at school Keswick children were told of the Southey and Coleridge families, and their life at Greta Hall, their friendship with the Wordsworths and the Lovells, who were related by marriage.
The exhibition at the Museum includes some of Southey’s poetical and historical works, including his history of Brazil, and another small exhibition marking the bi-centenary has been arranged by Mr. Warren Elsby, Head Librarian, at the Public Library. Lectures and poetry readings are also being arranged. And the souvenir booklet contains Southey’s original story of the Three Bears, in which a little old woman (not Goldilocks) goes to the Three Bears’ house.
Schools
The end of this summer term was the end of an era in the educational life of the town.
After more than six hundred years Crosthwaite Old School has closed, having been an “ancient grammar school,” a boys’ school, a senior school for children of eight to fourteen years, and, latterly, a junior school.
The names of Mr. Henry Swinburn and Mr. Bill Slee will always be associated with the school, and many of today’s townsfolk have cause to be grateful for their teaching and guidance.
Mr. Brian Wilkinson has been headmaster since Mr. Slee’s retirement eight years ago, and on the last day of the term — and of the school — he was presented with a silver tray by the 120 pupils. Mr. Wilkinson’s new post is at the Garth Infant School, Workington, and Mrs. Wilkinson will join the staff of Crosthwaite Infant School to continue teaching the 7-8 age group which from next term will remain at the infant schools.
At Brigham School a presentation was made to Mr. Conrad Hall who has retired after twenty years as headmaster. During this time Mr. Hall has done much work in St. John’s parish, including a term lasting several years as secretary of the Church Council.
Mr. T. McCambridge thanked Mr. Hall on behalf of the teachers and parents, and Mr. F. J. Cox, churchwarden, thanked Mr. and Mrs. Hall for their work for St. John’s Church. Their thanks were endorsed by the Rev. V. M. Spencer Ellis, who presented Mr. Hall with a cheque and Mrs. Hall with a bouquet.
Keswick children in the eight to eleven age group will move to the new Trinity School at Windebrowe Avenue next term.
Here they will have a new building, and, for them, a different method of education in the “open plan” system. The beginning of a new school and of a new era, in which it is certain the children will find the same happy atmosphere that existed in their old schools at St. John’s, Brigham and Crosthwaite.
