Looking back through the archives of The Keswick Reminder from around this week 20, 30, 40 and 50 years ago.
20 years ago
Welcome surprise for osprey fans
After over-wintering in Africa the Lake District’s osprey are back and more than 60 volunteers this weekend began a round-the-clock protection scheme to guard the famous pair after the surprise news that the birds are incubating eggs.
The female bird has laid eggs in the nest near Bassenthwaite Lake almost a fortnight earlier than she did last year and the 24 hour vigil over the nesting platform is necessary because of the threat from egg collectors.
A change in behaviour of the ospreys in the last few days alerted the Lake District Osprey Project – a partnership between the Forestry Commission, Lake District National Park Authority and the RSPB – to the news the eggs have been laid. The female is now sitting tight on the eggs, while the male occasionally takes his turn at incubation and delivers a regular supply of fresh fish to the nest. If all goes according to plan the eggs should hatch in June.
A little piece of history – Blencathra v Stainton II
A little piece of history was enacted at Threlkeld last Saturday when, for the first time ever, the village fielded two cricket teams and therefore the Keswick club fielded four senior teams. This is a tribute to eight years of junior coaching spearheaded by John Bryson and to the sense of pride and achievement generated by the splendid facilities at Threlkeld.
After the obligatory ‘photocall in front of the pavilion’ — with its brand new sign, openers David Hindmarch and Ben Coker strode out to face the first balls bowled to the Blencathra team. Twelve overs later following an exhilarating start and an opening partnership of 83, Hindmarch was out for an entertaining 43! Coker quickly reached a hard-hitting 50 and new captain Rob Dixon, who scored 22 with his first 5 scoring shots, played a superb innings of 63. George Moulder crafted a leg-side 25 runs, and a vintage little innings from Threlkeld-born Neil Airey (resting from “Me and My Girl” rehearsals) took the total to 227 all out at tea.
Sadly the miserable weather deteriorated and the match was abandoned soon after tea. This was a big disappointment to the home team as the villagers were confident they could bowl Stainton out for maximum points.
All in all it was an excellent start for the new team and bodes well for the future. ‘Shot of the Day’ was the first ball to 13 year old Dan Gaskell who calmly hooked a head-high no-ball for 4! Brilliant!
30 years ago
Desecration of bowling green
Braithwaite’s bowling green was desecrated during last Friday night in what an official described as a “frenzied attack”.
The sports facilities at Braithwaite have been the pride of the village, for they were restored a few years ago in a huge effort by the local community. The bowling green was restored from the state of a “near wilderness”, and the reformed bowling club had proved very popular, attracting some 130 members who played bowls whenever possible during the summer evenings.
In a veritable orgy of vandalism the culprit dug about sixty holes in the green, some of them a foot deep and a foot square, by dragging a pickaxe or similar implement across the turf and pouring creosote over the grass. A fire was seen on the green at about 2 a.m.
A committee member of the village Sports Club, Ian Hindmarch, said later: “I have seen desecration before, but not on this scale where sixty holes were dug in the surface. It must have taken some time and really all you can say is that it was a frenzied attack.”
Towns field
Keswick Mayor Neville Goodfellow has spoken of the concern of the Town Council about the digging of parts of the Towns Field by people searching for bottles which had been buried in an old tip.
He said efforts had been made to stop the digging, and on one occasion the police had been called, but they had no authority to arrest the diggers. Some of the holes created by people searching for souvenir bottles are six feet deep, said Mr. Goodfellow.
The Council has been using infill from Hope Park to try to improve the look of the field. Mr. Goodfellow appealed to the public to contact the Town Council or the Police if they saw anyone digging in Towns Field.
40 years ago
“Troy”
The Amateur Operatic Society had a royal send off when they launched “Troy,” their latest production, in the Century Theatre this week. For among many goodwill messages received by the company was a special one from Buckingham Palace.
In view of the show’s Greek background, the Society wrote to the Duke of Edinburgh informing him of their plans. The president, Dr. J. D. Mitchell, read a message from the Palace to an invited audience at Wednesday night’s preview, and said the Duke had sent his good wishes for every success.
Other messages came from Melvyn Bragg, the Cumbrian-born television presenter, and film director Ken Russell, both of whom are keenly interested in the scheme to build a new theatre in Keswick.
Letters to the Editor: To Keswick – a tribute
Dear Editor, – It is some thirty-three years since I left Keswick and no matter how many times one returns – “It never seems the same” – new faces, new families, births, deaths etc.
But – things happen in towns which are very rare in cities, – people remember people. I attended the funeral of Walter Swallow at St. John’s Church on the 11th April, 1983. Now although Walter was never a star – no M.B.E., no distinguished deeds – he was to my family a friend. I knew him for 44 years – he did land in France on D-Day plus one, was a member of St. John’s Church Choir for many years, and part of the old “Keswick Mountain Singers,” and a deliverer of millions of papers on foot for Chaplin’s for years and years.
I can never recall a moan about people or things.
Many people from Keswick attended St. John’s on the 11th April, and remembered. Eventually when the time comes, may we all remember our friends.
Ian Mills and family
Leeds
50 years ago
Death
Mr. William Maurice Horsley (55) of Peat Howe, Borrowdale, who died suddenly in his sleep last Monday, was a well-known figure in the hound trailing and hunting world, and much sympathy will be felt for his widow and family.
Mrs. Horsley was formerly Miss Peggy Pattinson, daughter of the well-known Mr. Ben Pattinson of Borrowdale who has trained many trail hounds, and her interest in training and following trail hounds was fully supported by her husband. He was also a keen supporter of the Blencathra Foxhounds.
A native of Braithwaite, Mr. Horsley had lived in Borrowdale for twenty-six years, most of them at Peat Howe and for the last 24 years had been employed in the Forestry department at Lingholm, having previously worked for Messrs. Croasdale, timber merchants, and with the Forestry Commission. During the last war he served with the Royal Navy.
At the funeral at Borrowdale Church last Wednesday, conducted by the Rev, V. R. Hill, the bearers were Mr. John Richarson (Blencathra Huntsman) and Mr. Stanley Mattinson (Whipper-in), and Mr. J. Grave and Mr. R. Pepper, two of Mr. Worsley’s workmates.
He is survived by his wife, one daughter Mrs. W. Bland, two grand-children, and seven sisters.
“Swallows and Amazons”
Arthur Ransome’s famous children’s book “Swallows and Amazons” will be filmed entirely on the authentic English Lake District locations associated with the original story and shooting will begin on and around Derwentwater and Coniston on May 14th and continue for seven weeks.
The film, in colour and widescreen, will be produced by Richard Pilbrow and directed by Claude Whatham, who recently made his feature film debut with the highly-praised and successful “That’ll be the Day.”
Playing the ‘guest star’ role of the “Swallows’” mother, Mrs Walker, will be distinguished, award-winning British actress Virginia McKenna, who has given memorable performances in so many notable films, including the remarkable “Born Free.”
The previous week: When a marshalling blunder cost Keswick runner victory
