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
Quick thinking prevented fire problems
The quick thinking of an off-duty electricity worker, who was camping in Braithwaite with his family, prevented further problems when a fire broke out in an underground electricity link station in Tithebarn Street on Saturday afternoon.
A small explosion causing flames to shoot from underground manhole covers gave the first indication of any problems. However, off-duty electricity worker Kevin Hoban was in the vicinity at the time and used his keys to open the nearby electricity substation, where he managed to shut down supplies to the town centre.
Mr. Hoban called in engineers and informed the fire service that it was an electrical fire and to use dry powder and sand from a local builder to dampen down the blaze.
PC Kerry Jamieson said: “There were small explosions and knee high flames coming from the ground, and it was important that we moved people away.”
30 years ago
Blooming nerve!
Some folk have a blooming nerve! It would seem that someone is stocking their own garden at the expense of the Keswick in Bloom initiative – four hydrangeas were stolen from Great Crosthwaite only weeks after they had been planted, and now two hebes have been taken from a newly planted area near Knight’s Bridge.
According to the chairman of Keswick in Bloom, Mrs. Maysie McCambridge, these thefts don’t appear to be the work of vandals. She said this week: “It is almost certainly gardeners. It makes me sick. I suppose people think that the local council is responsible for planting them and that, being the council, the plants are fair game.
“But this work is done by a committee which has to beg for its money and rely on the generosity of people making donations large and small.”
Mrs. McCambridge said her committee had written begging letters asking for support. “When something like this happens it is really annoying. If it was vandals at least you could say it was mindless and feel sorry for them.”
Druidic ceremony explained
An invitation to attend the Druidic handfasting ceremony at the Castlerigg stone circle next Wednesday has been extended to “curious locals” by the 25 year old nurse who is the bride.
Liz Young, who lives in Rossendale, is marrying Tony Ritchens-Smith, also from Rossendale, who works in the computer industry. She says that, contrary to some local concern, they have no connection with new age travellers.
She added: “I understand that some people in Keswick are perturbed that new age travellers will be descending on the area. We are bringing no more than thirty guests and they are travelling by executive coach while Tony and I will be coming up to Keswick by car.”
She says the ceremony is more of a reaffirmation of vows than a wedding. A small ring of people will probably be created within the stones and people of many different religious faiths are attending. “There will be a mixture of denominations. In fact, only three pagans will be there,” she stressed.
“We should really be getting married at dawn, but I did not fancy getting up at 3 a.m. so we are holding the ceremony in the afternoon. Locals are more than welcome to come and wish us luck.”
The couple’s first application for a ceremony at the stone circle was turned down, but Liz said she appealed to the national office in London and there was a softening of attitude. The National Trust say this is the first time they have given permission for a ceremony on the summer solstice and it is by way of an experiment.
Big break
Fifteen year old Ben Lanigan, from Harrington, earned £210 for his school last week with his ‘big break’ on television.
Ben was chosen to appear on the Big Break Stars of the Future programme on BBC television after auditions at Keswick School, where he is a student, a few weeks earlier. This new show, which concentrates on up and coming stars, is introduced by snooker John Virgo and comedian Jim Davidson.
Ben had to answer questions which earned time for one of the snooker players to pot balls, this being reflected in the amount he won – £210 for the school and ten per cent for himself, as well as a souvenir Big Break snooker cue.
40 years ago
Across the sea to Ireland – on a sailboard
A Keswick man is planning the first ever crossing of the Irish Sea on a sailboard.
Mr. Andy Hunter, a 32-year-old caretaker/instructor at the Hawse End outdoor activities centre near Derwentwater, will make his crossing from St. Bees Head to Donaghadee near Belfast Lough either at the end of July or in early August, depending on the weather conditions being suitable.
He said: “There have been several sea crossings by windsurfers in different parts of the world, but this is the first time anyone has attempted this particular route which is about 70 miles long.”
Andy anticipates that the journey will take between 8 and 14 hours and he said “It’s more a test of mental endurance than anything else – it’s a case of overcoming the open sea and keeping cool.”
He is confident that he will be able to make the crossing successfully. Many hours of advance planning have gone into the adventure including meticulous attention to safety procedures.
He will be accompanied by a back-up boat carrying half a dozen different types of sail for the different wind speeds. And he will carry enough food both on the board and in a back pack to last 24 hours.
Spiders
The sight of a spider crawling up the plug hole is likely to send most people into a fit of the shivers, but not Mr. John Parker of Lakeland Park in Keswick for he has spent a lifetime studying the various species and their habits.
In fact Mr. Parker is one of the country’s foremost authorities on things that go creep in the night and he has just been appointed president of the British Arachnological Society at the annual meeting at London University. He will serve for a three year term and had previously been secretary for sixteen years.
Mr. Parker’s interest in spiders began as a schoolboy in Carlisle. Many of his friends opted for the ostentatious studies of birds and butterflies, but he decided to alight on a study which would offer more of a challenge.
In the early days there were no reference books to help identify species and it all had to be done in the form of correspondence with fellow enthusiasts.
His main collecting has been done in Britain, France and Spain though he has also collected in India. Mr. Parker keeps a personal collection of spiders for reference purposes and he has had the distinction of describing species previously unknown to science.
Golden wedding
Former Keswick ambulance officer Mr. Harold Hartley and his wife Florence celebrated their golden wedding anniversary at the weekend. They were married at St. Mary’s Church, Threlkeld, in June 1935.
Mr. Hartley worked in his father’s painting and decorating business and took over when he died. After the war he was a maintenance manager with Lake District Hotels Ltd.
During the war Mr. Hartley served as medical officer with the Light Field Ambulance 4th Armoured Division in Greece and the Middle East.
When Keswick’s Ambulance Station opened in 1972 he became Station Officer, a post he held until his retirement seven years ago. He has been a member of the St. John Ambulance Brigade for over half a century and last year he was made a Brother of the Order of St. John in recognition of his services.
Mrs. Hartley, who was just 18 when the couple married, was born in Threlkeld and, at one time, worked in Bardgett’s drapery shop in Keswick.
The couple, who live in Portinscale, have one son Philip, who lives in Penrith and has two children.
50 years ago
Keswick Festival
Keswick’s first summer festival starts tomorrow when Border Television personality Mr. Alec Cleaver will officially open the programme of events in the Moot Hall at 10 am. This year’s festival, which runs until June 28th, is largely based on activities being staged by local organisations and clubs.
After the opening ceremony, Border T.V. chef Tony Stoppani will be in the Moot Hall to give demonstrations. Other first day events include a cricket competition on Fitz Park, a bowling competition, a “merrie neet” in the Lairthwaite Centre and a visit to the Market Square in the evening by a team of Morris dancers.
On Sunday the Derwent Club is staging a pram race in the town centre, starting at noon, while the R.A.F.A. Club are following a mystery walkabout in the morning with a tea dance in the club premises at The Hollies.
Visitors will have the opportunity during the festival fortnight to see some traditional local entertainment from the Keswick Male Voice Choir and Crosthwaite Handbell Ringers while the town’s Amateur Operatic Society is staging a special programme and there will be an organ recital in St. John’s Church.
Minister in the district
Fellwalkers, market day shoppers and visitors enjoying the views found themselves chatting informally to a Government Minister at the weekend. Mr. Dennis Howell, the Minister for Sport and Recreation, was visiting Cumbria for a first-hand look at some of the pressures on the region and its particular problems.
On Saturday and Sunday he toured the region, not only looking at the roads, caravan sites and car parks but also taking time out to chat to visitors.
Mr. Howell met his first group of holidaymakers near the Fish Inn, Buttermere, and after a visit to the Ramblers’ Association guest house at Hassness he went on to see the youth hostel on the top of Honister Pass. From there his route took him along the narrow road to Watendlath and it was here that Mr. Howell, accompanied by National Park warden Mr. John Bulman, got down to the hard work – a walk across the fell track into Rosthwaite.
Mr. Howell talked to visitors at two famous Lakeland viewpoints – Surprise View and Friars’ Crag, and later he saw the Moot Hall Information Centre and wandered round the Keswick Saturday Market.
