A Quick Reminder: Looking back through the archives of The Keswick Reminder from around this week 20, 30, 40 and 50 years ago
Friday January 7, 2005: Storm drama in Keswick
With the horror of the Asian tsunami still fresh in everyone’s minds, the force of the gales and rains in the county last weekend must have come as a surprise to most Cumbrian people, particularly in Carlisle, which was virtually submerged.
However, Keswick also had its fair share of the weather and below is a timetable of events on what turned out to be a night of drama and community spirit in the town.
The people of Keswick and surrounding district have been praised by Inspector David Watson for their “fantastic” community effort which moved into action when the town was struck by the severe gales and flooding on Friday.
It was all hands to the pump as hundreds of people were involved in the rescue operation, as large numbers of volunteers joined the emergency services in evacuating householders from flooded homes and clearing fallen trees from roads amongst other work.
Inspector Watson said community spirit was “overwhelming” in Keswick over Friday night right through Saturday, and commended many of his officers who had acted “with some heroism in very difficult conditions.” He added that there will have been many, in addition to the rescue services, who had made voluntary contributions which would never be known about.
Timetable of events
Keswick police dealt with a record 100 plus officially logged calls over what Inspector Watson called an “exceptional” weekend.
The countdown to what was possibly Keswick’s most dramatic night in recent history of the town went like this:
Friday 2-30pm
- Police received a report that two canoes had been sighted going down the River Greta unmanned; the canoeists were subsequently located safe and sound, their canoes swept away by the rising water as they disembarked.
Friday 6-15 pm
- A car became stuck in flood water at St John’s in the Vale.
Friday 7-45pm
- The situation was becoming more serious as two police officers had to shut the Borrowdale valley road which was flooding.
- Six feet of water was seen on the Low Briery access road below the A66 bridge.
- The Stone Circle road and Chestnut Hill became impassable due to water and rubble rushing down the roads.
Friday 11pm
- Penrith Road, near the Conservative Club, became flooded and impassable.
- Calls began coming in from residents seeking assistance.
- Ravensfield Old p[eople’s Home was advised they might need to implement their evacuation plan.
Friday 11-20pm
- A call from ambulance control saying an elderly bedridden man needed help in a ground floor flat at Elliott Park.
- Up to 20 homes were now flooding.
- Police set the emergency plan into place and asked for Keswick School to be opened. Keswick Mountain Rescue Team was called in and a team from RAF Kinloss, already in the area on an exercise weekend, offered their help.
- A dinghy manned by Keswick Mountain Rescue Team was deployed to evacuate people from Elliott Park.
- By this time police officers were up to their chests in water helping to get people out of their homes safely – some off-duty officers joined in the rescue operation.
Friday midnight
- Ravensfield was in need of evacuation – local taxis volunteered their services.
- Hotels and pubs in the town also volunteered to provide shelter.
- Tithebarn Street corner and lower Main Street were flooded – water was inches from the wall at High Hall.
- Residents of Crosthwaite Road were asked if they needed evacuating.
Saturday 1am
- The River Greta burst its banks and a car was swept into gardens.
- One police officer was swept off his feet and ended up swimming in the water, having to be assisted by a colleague – they remained to assist the Mountain Rescue Team who brought a boat.
- 150-200 people were evacuated – some went to Keswick School, others to family and friends and local accommodation.
- A second centre was opened at Trinity School in case part of the town became cut off.
Saturday 2am
- Power is lost at Keswick Hospital and flood water is still rising – decision is taken to evacuate patients to Penrith Hospital.
Saturday 4am
- Two men were arrested after an incident in Crosthwaite Road where firefighters reached them in the floods – they were later charged with being drunk and disorderly.
Saturday 7am
- Trees were down on Penrith Road and Manor Brow. A flat roof was blown in at St Kentigern’s Close and flood water was widespread.
- Police closed roads, but were hampered by motorists trying to get to work or simply coming to look at the damage – several disregarded signs and found themselves in trouble.
At High Briery a driver had to be rescued after getting into the flood and similar calls were received from Bassenthwaite.
Saturday later in the morning
- The wind blew launches ashore at Derwentwater and a large diesel container was adrift this was recovered with the help of the Environment Agency, fire service and launch company.
- Keswick Fire Service pumped out houses and carried people to safety as did the Mountain Rescue Teams.
- Keswick School staff provided hot drinks and food.
- Taxi drivers, hotels and off duty officers were also praised.
- Theatre by the Lake provided food and drinks during the diesel tank operation.
20 years ago
Keswick honeymoon couple escape tsunami
A Keswick honeymoon couple who were boarding a boat in Railay Bay, Thailand, when the Boxing Day Tsunami waves hit the region killing thousands, are known to be safe and well after managing to text a friend in Keswick, a few days after the shocking disaster.
Tony and Sarah Lywood, who run the Lakeland Sandwich Shop in Keswick’s Station Street, were enjoying their belated idyllic honeymoon holiday in the beach paradise when the wave suddenly came. Sarah, who is pregnant, was swept overboard, but Tony managed to cling on to her and they managed to reach the relative safety of high ground by hanging on to trees and debris.
Keswick Guest house owner Andy Peters finally received the text message which gave the information that the Lywoods had survived the ordeal. Andy said he knew Tony and Sarah were in Railay Bay and could not believe it when he saw the disaster on television. “I couldn’t get hold of them at the start, but Tony texted me to say they were both alive and uninjured, but obviously in a great deal of shock,’ said Mr Peters.
30 years ago
Lost photographs return
Following detailed research by Ted Petty, an amateur historian who lives at Lorton, further historical information about the origins of Cockermouth brewers Jennings Brothers has come to light.
Photographs never seen in the UK for over a hundred years have also been unearthed in Canada, showing founder John Jennings, his son and three grandsons.
These pictures will be formally handed over to Jennings Brothers in a ceremony to be held at The Yew Tree Hall, once the home of the original Jennings malthouse and now Lorton’s village hall.
Old folks’ do
The Old Folks’ Do is one of Keswick’s oldest traditions, and on Wednesday it was held at the Keswick Hotel where 125 people attending the party were welcomed by the President, Mrs. Irene Hogarth, and the chairman, Stephen Hogarth.
The event is now in its 122nd year and this long-running and successful event provides older residents with an opportunity to get together for a chat and to enjoy a meal and entertainment.
On this occasion the oldest lady present was 92 year old Mrs. Amy Blacklock of Hillcrest, The Heads, who received a bouquet of flowers. The oldest man was 95 year old Tom Hackett, a resident of Millfield in Penrith Road.
Entertainment was provided by the choir of Trinity Junior School, who were trained and accompanied by their teacher Mrs. Louise Brown. There was also a choral item provided by two of the guests, Mrs. Edith Creighton and Mrs. Mary Ferguson.
40 years ago
Swans at Brandlehow
A pair of young swans which have recently been noted on Derwentwater in the area of Brandlehow have been causing a good deal of interest.
And the highly attractive swans have also found themselves an unofficial guardian in the person of local resident Mrs. Barbara Massey.
Mrs. Massey contacted the “Reminder” last week-end to report the presence of the swans. She said: “They are beautiful birds. I have never seen any before on the lake and I will do my level best to ensure no harm comes to them.”
Mrs. Massey has been feeding the majestic white swans and she said they had been coming up on to the shore to meet her.
Her husband thinks the swans, which are of course protected birds, are young ones. They hope that they are the forerunners of more on Derwentwater.
50 years ago
Old Keswick
Keswick Town Council has been asked to help preserve some of the old street and court names which are disappearing from the town.
Mr. Sean Crawford, who is headmaster of Lairthwaite School and a prominent member of the Keswick Society, has written to the Council after the disappearance of street names had been brought to his attention by several local people.
In his letter, he says: “If we accept the premise that Keswick is a town of long history whose primary economic function is to serve the tourist, then any effort by the Town Council to preserve links with the past for the edification of visitors and local inhabitants should be welcomed.”
Mr. Crawford gives the new Herries Thwaite shopping development as an example. This largely occupies what used to be known as Museum Square. Now the old name could disappear for good and all – a waste or a tragedy depending on your viewpoint, he comments.
“I would suggest that the Council, at no great expense, affix informative plaques in Herries Thwaite and a dozen equally worthy locations around the town. The general theme could be ‘this was the site of . . .’ – up to forty or fifty words – possibly in raised metal style favoured by the National Trust.
“Coherence could be given to the scheme by the publication of a single sheet guide or history trail, distributed from the Information Office. A map of old Keswick could be reproduced on one side to accompany the text,” his letter says.
