Front page of the Keswick Reminder from March 21, 1975. 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 The then Prince of Wales unveiling the cabinet made by Braithwaite craftsman Matthew Jardine in March 2005. Visit of the Prince of Wales The Prince of Wales has been to this part of Cumbria five times in the last five years but his latest visit included dropping in at a local business at Braithwaite and the opening of the recently rebuilt village hall at Mungrisdale. The visit also involved a surprise in Saturday’s post for the couple hosting the Prince for two nights during his visit. At the weekend, preparing to host the Prince of Wales for two nights of his Cumbrian visit was uppermost in the minds of Joe and Hazel Relph, who run the Yewtree Farm guest house in Rosthwaite. However, when they opened their mail on Saturday morning, the shocked Relphs realised they had received an invitation to attend both the blessing and reception of the Prince’s forthcoming wedding to Camilla Parker-Bowles. Mrs Relph said she was “speechless” when the official invitation arrived, and added that the chance to attend the Royal wedding was definitely a “wonderful” surprise — they decided to remain silent about the “arrival” until the Prince had visited the area. The Relphs and their two children, Rachel, 24, and 18 year old Stephen, have now become friends of the Prince of Wales who, after this week’s visit, has been their guest on five occasions – the family say the Prince is “very good company” and they always enjoy welcoming him to their home. A member of the Prince’s press team said: “He really enjoys visiting this area, he loves it here and nobody bothers him.” Before he left Yew Tree Farm on Thursday morning, the Prince said his farewells to the staff at the Relphs’ Flock In tea room and gave Mrs Relph a kiss on each cheek before continuing his official duties in West Cumbria and the South Lakes. On Thursday the Prince was visiting Braithwaite where Matthew Jardine was presenting him with a hand-crafted cabinet to be auctioned to raise money for the Prince’s Trust, the charity set up by the Prince to help other young people in their new businesses. Mr Jardine says he has asked that the money raised from the auction of the cabinet be used in the North West. The cabinet will have a brass plaque inside which records its origin. Mr Jardine said: “I think it’s great that the Prince takes an interest in small businesses like mine.” Two to one – a new school is born The separate lives of Keswic’s St Kentigern’s and Trinity Schools draw to a close at the end of this week, and the life of the new St Herbert’s School will begin after the Easter holidays, as the two schools finally amalgamate to provide education in one environment for nursery age children through to Year 6 pupils whose next step in secondary school. Revd. Canon Brian Smith, Chairman of both St Kentigern’s and Trinity Schools’ Governing bodies, and of the Temporary Governing body of the new St Herbert’s School, told the Keswick Reminder that he sees the amalgamation of the two schools as “a positive move for the town of Keswick, with St Herbert’s providing education in one environment, from nursery through to the start of secondary education.” He said: “The new school is a testament to the dedication of the staff of both schools who have been, and will continue to be, led by a very capable Headteacher in Mrs Sarah Miller. The staff at St Kentigern’s and Trinity are already working together, and with the Governing bodies of the three schools, this excellent work will continue and build when St Herbert’s opens on Monday 11 April.” 30 years ago Railway plan for the park Keswick Town Councillors were last night holding discussions before the regular Council meeting, about a scheme to put a miniature railway in Fitz Park. Proposals for the siting of the miniature railway were on the agenda of the first public meeting of the newly established Charitable Trust. Keswick Town Council recently assumed responsibility for the management of Fitz Park which was previously operated by the Trustees of Fitz Park. 40 years ago Pupils at Keswick School were preparing to perform Quasimodo – The Hunchback of Notre Dame in this advert from March 22, 1985. Keswick girl wins through to national trials Eighteen old Kathleen Malvern of Millbeck has been chosen to play in trials for the national under-21 hockey team which take place in September. Kathleen was selected while playing for the North in territorial matches played at the Bedford College of Higher Education at the weekend. Indeed, at these matches Kathleen was chosen as “Player of the North,” a distinction which her efforts over many years have richly deserved. Having completed a special sports foundation course at Workington Technical College, Kathleen has been accepted by the Women’s Royal Air Force for training as a P.T. Instructor. She joins the force in April and will take with her the good wishes of all local sportsmen and women who know just how hard she has trained and worked to become Keswick’s first national representative at any sport for a great many years. During her education at Keswick School, Kathleen was coached by Mrs. Cynthia Ray and Mrs. Jan Wilson. Thirlmere available for boating Thirlmere is now available to the public for casual boating by non-powered craft on a permanent basis. The planning Board and the Water Authority have agreed on boating management, and owners of dinghies, canoes and sailboards may now use Armboth car park and launching point, without restriction on numbers of hours. 50 years ago Adverts for Keswick Theatre Club’s production of The Enquiry and the opening of Studio Benedict published in the Reminder on March 21, 1975. Possible education re-organisation The clear importance of the whole issue of re-organisation of secondary education in Keswick along comprehensive lines was emphasised last Friday night by the attendance of some 450 parents and other interested persons at an open meeting in the Rawnsley Hall. The audience had assembled to hear Mr. Gerald Powell, Cumbria’s Assistant Director of Education (Western Division) outline four possible schemes for re-organisation in the town. It was clear from the meeting that there was definite opposition to any proposals to transport children to Cockermouth, and also evident was the considerable volume of opposition to the whole idea of comprehensive re-organisation. The enormous size of the audience was referred to by the headmaster of Keswick School, Mr. J. E. Thompson, when he said that it clearly showed the amount of interest in the important topic. Before going into the details of the four plans set out in the consultative paper, Mr. Powell stressed he was giving a series of options and that no decisions had been made by the Cumbria Education Committee. “It doesn’t necessarily follow that any one of these options will be the finally recommended scheme. It could be that alternatives are submitted to the committee. We are at the beginning of a consultative process which will lead to the final decision. There is going to be no attempt to try and bulldoze through a hasty solution,” he stressed. Gun club The annual meeting of the Keswick Gun Club took place last Wednesday evening in the Swan Hotel, when the secretary Mr. I. Hindmarch, reported good attendances at clay pigeon shoots and also pest shooting, with over 150 crows shot. The treasurer, Mr. R. Wise, stated that the bank balance was fairly healthy and there was a goof stock of equipment. Officers appointed were: – President: Mr. Caunce; Chairman: Mr. W. Barnes; Secretary: Mr. I. Hindmarch; Treasurer: Mr. R. Wise; Committee: Messrs. Barnes, Crosthwaite; Todhunter, Graham, Larcombe, McCullen, Armstrong, Hayes, Burton, Harrison and Szatranski.
