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
Television’s mixed messages
On occasions, television shows the Lake District in a good light, as David Dimbleby’s ‘Of Britain’ demonstrated so admirably last Sunday evening. The first programme in the series spent a lot of time in the Keswick area discussing how the first visitors were attracted to what, in the early years, were regarded as the “horrors” of the wild fells.
They hold few terrors nowadays as is evident by the large numbers of tourists who flock to the Lakes and no doubt Dimbleby’ s excellent programme will have persuaded many more to travel this way.
However there’s another side to television. Last Sunday people in Keswick’s busy Main Street witnessed a “naked” man dashing in and out of shops and up and down the street. He rushed into Rathbone’s outdoor equipment shop wearing a bobble hat and asked if they could kit him out with walking gear.
In fact he was covering his modesty with a flesh coloured item of underwear and inquiries revealed that he was being filmed by Channel 4 for a spoof programme which is due to be screened in the autumn. Staff in the shop seemed unmoved by the drama and the “naked rambler” was last seen heading off in the direction of Ashness Bridge to frighten more tourists and horses!
It is unlikely that this is one idea that will be promoted by Cumbria Tourist Board to attract more visitors to the Lake District
30 years ago
Theatre for Keswick
A major step towards a new theatre in Keswick may be taken within the next few days.
Cumbria County Council’s Heritage board meets next week to discuss a grant for the proposed new theatre at the lakeside. Cumbria Theatre Trust is hoping to receive a ‘substantial’ grant from the County Council.
And last weekend the Trust prepared the first draft of their application for funds from the National Lottery. The joint chairmen, Graham Lamont and Vicky Robinson, hope the bid will be completed as soon as the County and Allerdale Councils have approved their capital grants towards the cost of the project.
Last weekend the joint chairmen were in London where they met Lord Gowrie, chairman of the Arts Council, and Lottery Board members who will consider the Trust’s full application in the next few weeks.
Handfasting ceremony allowed
Permission has been given by the National Trust to a Lancashire couple for a form of wedding ceremony to take place at Keswick’s historic Castlerigg Stone Circle on the summer solstice.
Similar requests in the past have been turned down by the National Trust but the recent change in marriage regulations has caused them to rethink their approach.
The conditions imposed by the Trust include only one coach with a maximum of 30 passengers being allowed to park near the Circle. Guests may not leave litter or destroy the site in any way. And the couple have been told they may only have thirty minutes at the Stone Circle for the ceremony which will be accompanied by a guitar and a drum.
40 years ago
School children put Keswick ‘on the map’
Children from Trinity School are taking part in the B.B.C. Domesday Project this term.
This project is involving some 10,000 schools and community groups all over the country in presenting twenty computer pages each on a disc portraying life in their area in 1985. Other information required from each group is a comprehensive land cover and amenities survey of their block.
This block is comprised of a 3km by 4km area on the Ordnance Survey map.
All the information will be collected and recorded by each group on a floppy disc. The BBC will then transfer these on to an interactive videodisc which will be produced by them in 1986 to coincide with the 900th anniversary of William the Conqueror’s original survey.
There will be some ‘mini-reporters’ round and about Keswick in the coming weeks and would be very grateful for any assistance you could give them.
Newlands Church
Our ‘“Lookback June, 1885” column on page six mentions the completion of the alterations and reseating at Newlands Church, and one hundred years ago this month the Bishop of Carlisle preached at a special service at Newlands to mark the refurbishing of the church. After the service tea was served, price one shilling!
Last Sunday Newlands Church celebrated the 100th anniversary of the refurbishing and the preacher at this service was the Archdeacon of West Cumberland, the Venerable T. R. B. Hodgson, who has many close connections with this part of the Diocese. Refreshments were served all day in the recently restored Old Schoolroom and brilliant sunshine ensured a very pleasant time for all who went along.
The vicar, the Revd. T. R. Harper told the Reminder: “This House of God is well equipped to welcome both locals and tourists in the years to come, and the use of the Schoolroom by the County Scout Authority is an additional bonus.”
Rowland’s an ace — twice over
Keswick member Rowland Stanley achieved a golfer’s dream on Monday – a hole in one. But not content with one, he went out for another round less than 24 hours later, and promptly did it again.
Rowland’s million to one double was achieved on the Keswick course. On the first occasion he holed with a five iron at the 161 yard third hole and the next day he aced with a three wood at the 172 yard 15th.
It is the first time Rowland has holed in one in something like fourteen years of playing golf and, to make it even more of an achievement, he has only just started playing again after a lay off since last September with shoulder trouble. “What a turn up. Normally I struggle to play off a 24 handicap,” he admitted. “I think I must have used up a lifetime’s good luck in two days.”
50 years ago
Letter to the Editor
Dear Sir,–It was good news to read the new Mayor’s opening remarks that Tourism is here to stay In Keswick. To ruin a lovely little town, start an industrial site. Visitors, or people who retire here, do so simply to get away from industry, because they are well aware of the havoc that industry can have on an environment.
If Cumbrians need industrial sites, I suggest they redevelop the derelict sites at Maryport, where they can find dilapidated iron works, tannery, textile mills and domestic property, all empty, because of failure.
On the East Coast the government built factory sites to attract industry. These premises are empty, in spite of the fact that ample labour, road, rail, shipping and air ports are available. Why don’t they take their industry to where it is needed?
Keswick holiday trade syphons off labour during the season.
Keswick already has much to offer the school leaver. Hotel work, shopkeeping, garage work, agriculture, agricultural machinery, building work, decorating, laundry work, veterinary work, medical, dental, guided walks, sports of many kinds, all are open to those interested. No matter where one is born, it is necessary to move to specialised areas for trades such as woollens, cotton, pottery, iron and steel, chemicals, etc.
We should be told quite clearly the details of what we are to expect by the proposed works. Toxic liquors, toxic gases, poisonous powders, can be expected from most works. We must know precisely what to expect before the residents of this holiday town permit the first factory building to set foot in Keswick.
It is far easier to spoil a place, than to put right a stupid mistake, as an after thought.
Tourism is Keswick’s life blood. Please do everything to keep it that way.
Thomas H Gerrard
Chartered Engineer
4 Crosthwaite Gardens
Keswick
