Looking back through the archives of The Keswick Reminder from around this week 30, 40 and 50 years ago.
30 years ago
Town council by-election
Only fourteen votes separated three of the four candidates in last week’s by-election for the Town Council East Ward vacancy.
Mrs. Sheila Hawkrigg of Rogerfield won by just two votes from the Labour candidate, Mr. Bob Barnby, while Mr. Alan Dunn was twelve votes behind, in third place. Both Mr. Barnby and Mr. Dunn were on holiday, and were not present at the count. Mr Ron Munby, of Helvellyn Street, was the fourth candidate.
Mrs. Hawkrigg, who was brought up and educated in Keswick, is a youth worker in the town. She expressed some surprise at her victory, but said she thinks the town wanted another woman on the Council. “I did no canvassing,” she added. “I decided I would simply stand by what people in Keswick knew about me.”
Retirement of trustee
The longest serving Trustee of the Fitz Park, Major P.L. Davidson, retired after giving over forty years’ service to the town’s park and museum, including several years as Chairman of the Trust Management Committee.
A keen sportsman, Phil Davidson has zealously guarded the interests of all sporting activities in the parks according to the rules laid down in the Trust Deed, and he has stressed that the sports clubs must have the same consideration in the future. In addition his valuable expertise as an architect has been readily given and the Chairman of the Trust, Fred Aston, said after Monday’s Trust meeting: “His help and advice, so readily given, could never be assessed in value, and this depicts just what a public spirited person can contribute to the life of the community.”
Mr. Davidson stressed that advancing years was his only reason for resigning. He said that the proposals now being discussed for the future of the park and the museum were proceeding satisfactorily, and it was his wish that the parks would remain as they are, continuing to be administered for the benefit of the local people and the visitors to the town.
Letter to the editor – Keswick theatre
Dear Editor, — I wonder how many Keswick people or lovers of the Lake District world-wide really want a permanent Theatre building on the lake shore? No one I have spoken to is happy about it. It seems that the Theatre Trusts have a bee in their bonnets and have forced a decision in their favour regardless of local opinion, or the National Park’s planning policy.
As long as I can remember, the lakeshore has been almost free from any buildings; it is one of the world’s most famous parklands. A large public building will have a devastating impact on the views, and the spirit of the place. Given the existence of a theatre, can other building development be far behind?
Already the car park is a disruptive intrusion — and if the theatre is successful, it will generate more than 200 extra cars. All this traffic will have to pass through the town centre to reach the theatre. How much more sensible it would be then, to site a theatre in the town centre itself.
There are open car parks in the centre of town. A theatre might be built over one of them. Alternatively, with Keswick School vacating its town site, a theatre could be built there. It could indeed be tied in with the redevelopment of the old school buildings, to provide a wide range of tourist and local business services.
One last thought — why must a Lakeland Theatre be designed by a London architect? We have excellent local skills, including architects who have received national awards for their designs. A competition, open to Cumbrian architects would be worth sponsoring.
R. E. BANKS
Rothersyke, Lorton,
Cockermouth.
40 years ago
Requests to council to back new theatre
A meeting last night (Thursday) vital to the future of Keswick’s new theatre scheme, was being held by the Town Council’s Finance and General Purposes Committee.
The Committee received a request for financial backing from the Friends of the Century Theatre.
Friends chairman Alan Hankinson warned: “If they refuse us this time then as far as I’m concerned it’s the end. My committee are right behind me on this. We shall continue supporting the existing Century Theatre for as long as it has left, but there will be no new theatre for Keswick”
Mr. Hankinson has written to the Council saying that if they don’t give any money Keswick will have no theatre in a few years time.
“But if the Council decides to make a contribution there is every chance of building a theatre which will enhance the standing and prosperity and life style of this area for decades to come,” he said.
Retirement of vicar of St John’s
After more than thirty-three years as vicar of St. John’s Church, Canon Spencer Ellis has notified his Church Council of his decision to retire — although retire is not quite accurate, as he is going to live near Market Harborough where he will assist in a combined parish of several churches.
Canon and Mrs. Ellis came to Keswick 1 January 1950 and have brought up their four sons in the large Victorian vicarage. When they leave St. John’s at the end of May it will mark the end of one of the longest ministries in a local church.
Ken Stuart wins again
Keswick’s Kenny Stuart served notice that he intends becoming Britain’s top fell runner when he won one of the season’s pipe openers on Saturday.
Stuart, who returned to the amateur ranks towards the end of last season after a successful professional guides racing career, won the six mile Carnethy Five Hills Race at Penicuik in Scotland.
He beat Kendal runner Bob Whitfield’s record with a time of 48mins. 21secs., breaking away from the field on the first major climb. Whitfield, winner of the race twice previously, had to be content with third place. His Kendal team-mate Hugh Symonds was second in 49mins. 17secs.
50 years ago
Golf
A first class picture of what Keswick’s proposed golf course at Threlkeld Hall will look like when it is completed to full 18-hole standard will be available for local golfers and other interested people next week in the form of a scale model, in relief, which the Club is to put on show at its annual meeting on Wednesday evening in the Council Chambers.
Better than any map or diagram, this model, which has been made by Mr. E. L. Mansfield of Troutbeck, shows a championship standard course of over 6,000 yards with the clubhouse and the eighty acres of new forest which will be part of the scheme.
At the moment the Club is concentrating on the first nine holes which are in an area bounded by the River Glenderamackin and the disused railway.
This land has been drained and a bridge is being built over the river. As soon as the bridge is complete, it will provide the access from a new road which has been built, to enable work to go ahead on the course and it is likely that play should start in 1974, during which year work will start on the clubhouse.
The previous week: A Quick Reminder: When Patrick Moore joined Keswick quiz team for BBC radio recording
