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
Letter to the Editor
Dear Editor,
Stephen Armstrong is surely right in his letter of 8th April. Getting the Wivell Bridge over the Greta replaced is really important and will take a big local effort, but we should consider re-siting it further upstream. Once the old swing bridge upstream had gone, the Wivell Bridge was far from ideally placed. It was just too close to the Station Road bridge to be the only upstream crossing to Fitz Park.
What we need is a crossing that can be used in conjunction with the road bridge to allow people to get across to the eastern part of the park, to walk through it, and then to get back across the river. This means we really need the bridge to be some 200 metres upstream of the road bridge. If this isn’t possible, the old swing bridge site, further upstream still would be better than the Wivell Bridge site. It would at least allow people to walk through the eastern part of the park and then get back.
Whatever is done, a step needs removing from the foot entry to the park from Station Road to help disabled access.
Martin Pugmire
Keswick
30 years ago
Station site plans
A fresh bid is being made by Lakeland Plastics of Windermere to change the use of the former railway station in Keswick to that of kitchen products and a restaurant.
If successful, Lakeland Plastics’ application to the Lake District Planning Board could head off the threat of High Court action challenging a Department of the Environment inspector’s decision on the site by Principal Hotels, owners of the nearby Keswick Hotel.
Last October the Inspector overturned a decision of the Planning Board who had refused the application for change of use submitted by Lakeland Plastics. Principal Hotels have challenged aspects of the Inspector’s judgement relating to parking and servicing.
However agents acting for Lakeland Plastics have submitted a planning application which they hope will overcome any problems and obviate the High Court action. They say it is not the firm’s intention to have customers approach the building from Station Road. Car parking will be at the rear of the premises with access from Brundholme Road, a similar arrangement to that which applies to the nearby Leisure Pool.
John Curran raises £1,300
John Curran, a member of Keswick Athletic Club, has raised £1,300 for the Special Baby Unit at Newcastle’s Royal Victoria Infirmary.
John was sponsored in the London Marathon which he ran in 2 hours 41 minutes, some three minutes faster than his time last year, giving him a finishing position of 344.
John is a close friend of Tony and Linda Martin whose baby son Edward has spent some months in the RVI’s Special Baby Unit. Edward was the second Keswick baby within the space of a year to receive treatment at the unit, the first was Jasmin Houghton.
Tony and Linda Martin have expressed their gratitude to everyone who sponsored John in the marathon so that the good work done at the RVI can continue to help other small babies.
40 years ago
Allerdale reveal secret talks on major Keswick leisure plan
Keswick’s Derwentwater Caravan Site could become a much sought after timeshare development together with a theatre and conference centre, hotel, improved lake access and other features. Plans for what was claimed to be the “most significant development in the leisure industry in the Northern Lake District this century” were unveiled on Thursday at a meeting of Allerdale District Council’s Policy and Finance Committee.
The Committee gave the go-ahead to negotiations for a major development on the shores of Derwentwater which could provide “up market” timeshare accommodation and other visitor facilities.
Secret negotiations with Langdale Timeshare Partnership were revealed in a report to the Committee by the Council’s Joint Management Team which is composed of senior councillors and chief officers.
The existing caravan site at Derwentwater is at present mainly used by static caravan owners and the report referred to the need to make provision for those who might be displaced.
In a statement issued at the meeting, the chairman of the Policy and Finance Committee Mr. George Hodgson, Keswick, said: “For some time this Council has been aware of the vast potential for a development like this but have been constrained by cash limits. To get to this stage has meant the careful examination of a variety of possible alternatives and it is only now, when we see a positive means of achieving our aim, that we can reveal the fruits of these patient and painstaking investigations.”
Mr. Hodgson stressed that there was still considerable negotiation and investigation to be undertaken before the venture became a reality. But he added: “I am cautiously optimistic that we shall succeed and that we shall give tourism and employment the biggest shot in the arm that Keswick has ever seen.”
Letter to the Editor
Dear Editor,– May I endorse Mr. Donald Watson’s points in today’s Reminder concerning possible excavation at the Stone Circle? It certainly has an atmosphere not to be found at Stonehenge or any other smaller circle.
Will the sum of human knowledge be increased by very much if excavation is carried out? Does not human imagination (even curse at such an achievement) have an important place in the very material minded world of today?
If any explanatory information is to be set up near the Circle, let us hope that it will be no nearer to it than the present road. That site deserves to remain as nearly as possible as the builders left it. Whatever their purpose may have been they recognised perfection of position when they saw it. Can we not leave it like it was all those centuries ago?
H. R. Mather
Portinscale
50 years ago
Letter to the Editor
Dear Sir,–Come, come Miss A. P. Norton (“Keswick Reminder,” March 14th, 1975), your reference to “The Exorcist” as “the devil’s own film” is typical of the hundreds of hysterical ramblings much publicised some months ago on the release of the film. Much of this free publicity I might add was penned by persons who had neither taken the trouble to see the film in the first place, nor read the book.
I will admit to finding the work of a disturbing nature, but in view of the fact that in the end the utmost evil is overcome, I scarcely think that the devil would appreciate any reference to “The Exorcist” as “his film”.
My advice to those who are anti-“Exorcist” is simple. Don’t go! No one is forcing you! Exorcise your right.
A. E. Grisdale
9th Signal Regiment (Radio)
British Forces Post Office 53
Famagusta
Cyprus
