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
Ex-Keswick cadet is colonel of the regiment
Mike Griffiths was a keen member of the Keswick Army Cadet unit when he was a student at Keswick School. He is now Colonel of the Regiment for the King’s Own Royal Border Regiment and he took the salute at Carlisle Castle last Sunday when the First Battalion Colours were transferred from the Regimental Chapel in the cathedral to the Regimental Museum.
Forces help fix the fells
Around 145 hill routes in the Lake District National Park have fallen victim to erosion and this week a joint exercise by the RAF and Army has involved 400 tonnes of stone for urgent repairs and restoration work to combat the effects of 24 million feet on the region’s fell footpaths.
The training exercise for reservists from the 6 Flight Army Air Corps, based at RAF Shawbury in Shropshire, involves a team flying north to the Lake District mountains, where they will be spending six days collecting and delivering materials in some stunning locations.
LDNPA Upland Paths Advisor Richard Fox said: “Everyone is a winner during these exercises. Pilots get real life lifting experience in a challenging terrain, we get a large amount of stone transported for minimal costs and that means we can spend more money on the actual repairs. And everyone gets a conserved fell landscape.”
30 years ago
Property left to National Trust
Moor Farm, situated on the outskirts of Keswick, has been left to The National Trust in the will of farmer Robert Bellas.
The 100 acre farm, a mile south of Keswick beside the A591 Windermere road, was farmed by Mr. Bellas for many years and he lived there virtually all his life together with his sister Mary.
Mr. Bellas, a leading judge of fell ponies, died last November and Miss Bellas, who was in her eighties, died this March. He was frequently called upon to judge fell ponies at local shows and he regularly stewarded the class at Keswick Agricultural Show.
It is understood that Mr. Bellas’s wish was for Moor Farm to continue as an agricultural property and that was in his mind when he made the bequest to the Trust. The Trust has confirmed the bequest, but has not yet given details of future plans for the farm.
40 years ago
International win for Ken Stuart
British fell racing champion Ken Stuart of Keswick A.C. led England to victory in the first leg of the inaugural Reebok Inter-Mountain Challenge on Sunday.
A disappointment was the non-appearance of some of the top Europeans including the strong Italian contingent, but the race turned into a battle between the home international countries, England, Scotland and Wales.
Stuart won the 9½ mile Sail Beck horseshoe from Buttermere in devastating fashion. His time of 81 minutes 50 seconds put him well over three minutes ahead of second place man Jack Maitland of Scotland.
England, with ‘their first four runners in the first seven placings, easily won the team event with 16 points to Scotland’s 26 and Wales’ 45.
Keswick were the club team winners and the club also took the veterans’ individual honours through Dave Spedding, who was 29th overall and second to Hugh Symonds in the Southern Counties championship. Keswick’s Mike Fanning came second in the junior championship race up Whiteless Pike.
Letter to the Editor
Dear Editor, — With regard to Mr. Impey’s remarks reported in last week’s Reminder:—
The people of Keswick don’t only want a hole in the ground with tiles on the wall, but do we really need the extravagant scheme that the /Swimming Pool Committee are planning? We keep hearing about what ‘the tourists’ want, but what do WE want? We want a swimming pool where our children can learn to swim (with lessons) instead of having to travel to Cockermouth, where experienced swimmers can lane swim, where older people can swim on their own, and one we can afford to use regularly.
How much is it going to cost us to use this “super luxurious pool” when it is eventually built, or are the admission charges going to be on the super luxurious scale to match?
G. Grave (Mrs.)
4 Catherine Cottages
Keswick
Cliff’s their number one
Keswick’s top pop group Subtle Issue have decided to dedicate their first-ever record to one of sport’s leading stars.
Former world snooker champion Cliff Thorburn, a regular visitor to Keswick, has taken a keen personal interest in the group’s fortunes since being sent one of their tapes. Cliff was impressed by the group’s talents and gave them a boost when he was doing a radio interview. He also telephoned them to pass on his best wishes for their future success. The group have recently cut their first record and it will be released soon. One of the tracks, appropriately entitled Number One, is being dedicated to Cliff.
The record gets its first airing on Monday on the new Radio Cumbria programme Turn It Up between 7 and 8-30 p.m. when members of the group will be interviewed. This is the first of a new series of programmes on local radio and a- representative of Radio Cumbria was at the recording studios to hear the Keswick group perform.
Subtle Issue, who have a strong local following, intend to release the recording on their own label.
50 years ago
Athletics
Ian Kellie gave Keswick Athletic Club a boost and a blow this week. After winning the county 1,500 metres title Ian announced that, having secured a teaching appointment in Bristol, he will be leaving the club later this year.
Latterly, whilst teaching at St. Bees School, Ian has been one of the Keswick club’s most successful performers. Although he prefers track and road racing, he has put up some good performances in the shorter fell races.
In the county championships at Whitehaven he won the 1,500 metres in a time of 4mins, 9.5secs. Unfortunately there was no chance of making it a double in the 5,000 metres — only Kellie and Keswick colleague Peter Trainor wanted to run so the race wasn’t held! Ian has held at least one county track title in each of the last three years.
Ian takes up his new post in Bristol on September 1st. But he will remain with Keswick for most of the summer and indeed this Sunday he is representing the club in the Fairfield Horseshoe race at Ambleside where there should be a strong Keswick contingent in action.
Ian’s departure from Cumbria will almost coincide with a trip abroad, in connection with his work, for another of the Keswick club’s leading performers, Peter Trainor. Peter is now resident in London although he manages to get back to the Lakes most weekends to train and race.
Although the club faces losing, for varying periods, the services of two of its longest-serving and most successful runners, membership continues on the increase — about double the membership of just over a year ago.
