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
MP enters rail row
Penrith and the Borders MP David Maclean has accused CKP Railways of exaggerating claims about Government backing for the project to re-open the Keswick to Penrith line which, he says, is “pie in the sky.”
He said the £60 million it could cost to revive the rail link, which closed more than 30 years ago, would be better spent on improving the west coast line and the A66 road and that he was pleased that the Transport Minister has “slapped down” the rail company.
Mr Maclean said the Ministry was planning to write to CKP Railways saying their public statement was distorted and had given the impression that the Environmental Impact Study had received approval, which was not the case. He added that the Department had simply given an opinion based on information to be included in the environmental statement.
“CKP Railways gave the impression that they had Government approval for the first stage of the plan but they have got no approval whatsoever and there would have to be a public inquiry before the Government would even consider this project further,” said Mr Maclean.
However, CKP director Cedric Martindale said Mr Maclean’s comments were out of date and his concerns were addressed several weeks ago and the project was continuing on course. The Carlisle-based rail engineer, who has been the driving force behind the project, said Mr Maclean had been kept up to date on progress, but remained sceptical about the measure of local backing. He said concerns were dealt with in correspondence with the Department of Transport last month and in September when the Department asked for an assurance that CKP Railways would not imply they had reached a view on the merits of the scheme overall.
Planner blasts commission
Lake District planner Maureen Colqhoun has blasted Forestry Commission officials for failing to attend a meeting at which questions were asked about proposals for an international class mountain biking centre in Whinlatter Forest near Keswick.
The meeting of the Lake District: National Park Authority were told by Maureen Colqhoun that it was “outrageous” that no-one from the Forestry Commission, a publicly-funded body, was present. She said: “When we hear from objectors the least the Commission could do is to have somebody on duty to answer members’ queries.”
A decision on the future of the centre has been put on hold while further talks are held with the Forestry Commission.
The Forestry Commission plans to set up a network of trails through the forest varying in standards of difficulty from family friendly to expert mountain bikers. There will be a car park for 102 cars along with a cafe, bike hire shop and changing facilities at the new facility, which is to be based at Revelin Moss opposite the existing visitor centre where thousands of visitors come during the summer to view the webcam focused on the nest of the famous Bassenthwaite ospreys.
30 years ago
Honorary doctorate for Portinscale lady
Claudine Morgan of Portinscale has been awarded the Honorary Degree of Doctor of Education by Queen Margaret College, Edinburgh. Now retired, she was Principal of the College from 1971 to 1984.
She was appointed Principal of the Edinburgh College of Domestic Science in 1971, shortly before it changed its name to Queen Margaret College. She steered the College through the changes of the 1970s and presided over a rise in academic standards which laid the foundation for recent successes which see the College now established in the university sector.
This is the first year that Queen Margaret College has awarded its own honorary degrees under powers which it received from HM Privy Council in 1993.
Queen Margaret College’s education provision includes one of the most extensive ranges of health care courses in the UK, in addition to degree and diploma courses in the areas of business, management and theatre arts together with related developments in science and social science.
40 years ago
Long service award for Keswick teacher
The Deputy Head Teacher of Trinity C. of E. School in Keswick received a Long Service Award at a ceremony held in the Members Room at The Courts, Carlisle, on Thursday.
Eleven people with 35 or more years service to the County Council were presented wit awards at this ceremony.
Mr. Kenneth Robinson, who lives at Troutdale Bungalow, Grange-in-Borrowdale, worked as an assistant teacher in Thornhill (Egremont), Parton, Frizington and Paddle Schools between 1949 and 1962, when he was appointed deputy head of Brigham C. of E. School in Keswick. In 1974 he transferred to the same post at the new Trinity School.
Mr. Robinson was a pupil of Keswick School between 1938 and 1945, and he then went to the Chester Diocesan Training College. After leaving college he did his two years National Service in the Royal Navy, and this connection with the sea is being continued by his elder son who is in the Merchant Navy and is at the present time inspecting oil rigs off the coast of Scotland. Mr. Robinson’s younger son is at St. Martin’s College, Lancaster, studying for a B.A. degree.
Ken’s great interest is music and in addition to his work as secretary of the Keswick and District Schools Music Association he is the conductor of the Keswick Mountain Singers and organist at the Grange Methodist Church. He has also served for over twenty years as a member of Borrowdale Parish Council, and he can’t remember just how long he has been treasurer of Borrowdale Flower Show!
He went to Carlisle on Thursday with good wishes of his colleagues at Trinity School and of the parents and the large number of pupils, past and present, for whom Ken has been a caring and popular teacher.
Also receiving a Long Service Award on Thursday was Mr. Alex Penn who retired as Head Teacher of Bothel C. of E. School this summer.
Mr. Penn taught at several schools in the Maryport area before he was appointed Acting Head of Bothel School, becoming Head of the school in 1967.
Mr. Penn enjoys music and drama, and he and Mr. Robinson are both members of the same music association. Mr. Penn is also a lay preacher in the Church of England.
Keswick athlete’s success in New York marathon
Keswick athlete Grant Horsburgh’s trip to America to take part in the famous New York marathon proved a huge success for, despite the intense heat and humidity, he recorded a personal best time of 2hrs. 45mins.
Grant’s performance is put in perspective when one considers that he finished in 212th place out of the 18,000 who started. He clipped thirteen minutes of his previous best time for the distance.
But it was not just his performance which made it memorable for Grant said the crowds who lined every inch of the 26 mile race route were fantastic. “Some estimates place the crowd at 24 million. It didn’t seem to matter that not many really top runners were taking part. They turned out all the same to cheer,” he said. “People were all along the route and there was a fantastic crowd in the stands near the finish in Central Park. It was the peak of anything | have done so far.”
Planning board open meeting: Pool finance available
A proposed leisure pool for Keswick’s railway station site could cost up to £1.5 million, but a meeting on Wednesday was told that the finance could be available within the town.
The Mayor of Keswick Mr. Eric Impey said at a public meeting with members and officers of the Lake District Planning Board: “I can not see why there is a hold up. The money is available.”
The Planning Board own the station site and Principal Planning Officer Mr. John Pattinson said they were currently holding discussions with major developers to see if there was any way of providing a development package for the site to enable a pool and theatre or theatre and conference hall to be built there. The Board would then have to decide whether the package was in the best interests of Keswick. If they did find the package palatable he gave an assurance that they would seek public reaction.
Mr. Pattison said the Board did not want the site lying idle for a long time, but at the same time they did not want it developed for the sake of getting it developed. “We have to proceed slowly and logically,” he said.
Originally the Century Theatre had expressed an interest in building a new theatre at the station, but Wednesday’s meetings at the Royal Oak Hotel was informed by Mr. Pattison that the new Theatre Trust had expressed a strong wish to remain at the lakeside.
50 years ago
Allerdale District Council
Allerdale District Council confirmed a recommendation at its meeting on Wednesday that they accept in principle that a one-way traffic scheme for the central area of Keswick was required and that the Highway Authority be asked to produce detailed recommendations for the area within the next month for consideration by the Transport Sub-Committee.
This recommendation followed the discussion of the problem of dealing with traffic flows in the Market Place and the production of a plan by representatives of the Town Council suggesting a one-way system.
Plans
It’s the end of the line for plans to develop the old railway station at Braithwaite if the views of Allerdale’s southern planning sub-committee are endorsed by the Special Planning Board.
The application, made through a firm from Richmond, Yorkshire, is for alterations to the existing house and the provision of two holiday flats; but the sub-committee, meeting at Cockermouth on Tuesday, voted for refusal on the grounds that the station, on the other side of the A66, is unrelated to the village and the plan would constitute sporadic development.
