Looking back through the archives of The Keswick Reminder from around this week 20, 30, 40 and 50 years ago.
20 years ago
Whirlwind by the lake
One of snooker’s most popular stars ‘blew’ into Keswick last Saturday, just in time to present the match ball to the winning captain of the annual Old Keswickians’ cricket match.
Snooker legend Jimmy White, who was a guest at the Derwentwater Hotel in Portinscale, enjoyed a drink at the Bank Tavern following the OK presentation and was even tempted to pour a pint or two behind the bar before leaving to play an exhibition match in Workington.
Jimmy was in no doubt about his feelings after his first trip to the Lakes: “It’s amazing. After life in London, I feel so relaxed just after one day. I’ll certainly be back, the people were great.”
Letters to the Editor
Dear Editor,
As the author of “An American President’s Love Affair with the English Lake District”, which won the Lakeland Book of the Year Award in 1997, I thought your readers might be interested to know that this week marks the Centenary of Woodrow Wilson’s third visit to the Lake District. For the first time, he brought with him his wife Ellen, and they stayed for six nights at the Rothay Hotel (now the Wordsworth Hotel) in Grasmere (July 10-16) and two nights at the Keswick Hotel in Keswick.
Woodrow Wilson, whose mother was born in Carlisle, first visited Carlisle and the Lake District on a cycle tour in the summer of 1896 while he was a professor at Princeton University. On his very first day in the Lake District – after cycling from Keswick to Grasmere and Rydal – he fell in love with the area and wrote to his wife that he would be “haunted” by the charm of it all “till I get you here”.
He had to wait another seven years to do that, but meantime he returned on another cycle tour with his brother-in-law Stockton Axson, a fellow professor at Princeton University, in July 1899. After getting off the train at Penrith, they cycled along the shore of Ullswater on what he told his wife “must surely be the most beautiful road in the world.” They stayed at the White Lion in Patterdale, and then cycled across the hills to Keswick, where they stayed at the George Hotel. After four days in Keswick, they cycled along Thirlmere to Dove Cottage and Ambleside, where they lodged at the White Lion from July 13 to 15.
Woodrow Wilson was so overcome by his visit to Dove Cottage that he told his wife that without her presence it “was almost too much”. He then described to her the charms of Grasmere and Rydal, adding: “But you shall see for yourself! The day would have been perfect if you had been along.”
That promise was fulfilled in 1903, when Woodrow Wilson, by then President of Princeton University, brought his wife to the Lake District at the start of a European tour. They arrived at the Rothay Hotel in Grasmere on Friday July 10th and spent the next five days touring around. Their excursions included a visit to Dove Cottage, where they signed the Visitors’ Book, and a trip over Kirkstone Pass to Ullswater, where they went on a “gondola”. When they left the Rothay Hotel, Wilson recorded in his account book that he gave tips to two waitresses (48 cents each), a maid. (60 cents), head boots (48 cents) and boots (60 cents). He noted that the hotel bill came to a total of $48.52, including 15 shillings for the Ullswater trip, 15s. for a “special conveyance” to Keswick, and 9/6 for “laundry”.
On the way to Keswick, Wilson gave 12 cents to Wythburn Church, 7 cents to skidpan boys who put skids under the carriage wheels to act as brakes, and 48 cents to the driver. After arriving at the Keswick Hotel, they spent Friday 17th on a drive to Buttermere and Crummock, where they had lunch at the Buttermere Hotel and a boat trip on Crummock. They also took a cab to Crosthwaite Church, where the poet Southey is buried. Wilson recorded that his hotel bill came to £3/9/9 (which he converted to $16.74), including 3/6 for the Crosthwaite cab and 12/- for the trip to Buttermere. He also tipped the maid, a waiter and the head waiter 24 cents each and two boots 48 cents each. He and his wife then caught the train for Edinburgh. From correspondence afterwards, it is clear that the Wilsons greatly enjoyed their joint visit to the Lake District, Ellen falling in love with it just as Woodrow had done. In fact they liked it so much that they returned to the Lakes area again in the summer of 1906, bringing their three daughters with them. They stayed at a rented cottage in Rydal and became friends with the local artist Fred Yates and his family – a friendship which was continued by correspondence and then renewed by Wilson in person when he returned on his own to the Rothay Hotel in 1908.
He even wanted to return again to his “beloved Lake District”, but in 1910 he was elected Governor of New Jersey, and in November 1912 he was elected the 28th. US President. He did return to Cumbria, however, when, during a quick visit to Britain prior to the Peace Conference in Paris at the end of the Great War, he fitted in a surprise four-hour visit to Carlisle, on what he called “a pilgrimage of the heart”, on 29 December 1918.
Andrew Wilson
30 years ago
Retirement celebrations
Last Friday marked not only the closure of St. John’s School, but also the retirement of the Headteacher, Mrs Margaret McQueen, and the Deputy Head, Miss Loretta Wilde.
The Friends of St. John’s First School and Nursery planned several events on Friday to mark both the retirements and the last day in the life of the school. They prepared a party lunch for the children with a visit from a clown and a face painter, and a bouncy castle, and special activities in the Nursery.
The parties were followed by the presentations, all members of the staff, both teaching and ancillary, received gifts which had been purchased by the Friends to be presented by the children. The gifts were in appreciation of the dedication and loyalty of the staff, Mrs McQueen received a painting of the school with an engraved plaque and Miss Wilde was presented with a box of watercolour paints and an engraved plaque.
40 years ago
Chip shop fire
Customers had to be evacuated from a fish and chip shop in the town centre on Wednesday night as staff fought a serious blaze. Police diverted traffic away from the Market Square, as firemen were called in to tackle the blaze which caused extensive damage to the “ Old Keswickian.”
Station Officer Chris Burns, head of the Keswick Fire Brigade, said: “The whole thing flared up quickly and within a short while we had quite a blaze on our hands. At first staff working in the chip shop tried to cope with the fire themselves, using an extinguisher, but they could not manage to control it.”
He added: “As well as the extensive damage to the shop, the accommodation upstairs was also damaged by smoke.”
Crosthwaite says goodbye to Mrs. Neale
Parents, Friends and Governors gathered at Crosthwaite First School on Tuesday afternoon to thank Mrs. Barbara Neale for her years of service as reception teacher and latterly as temporary headmistress and to wish her ‘bon voyage’.
Mrs. Neale is leaving school at the end of the week after nineteen years to take up an appointment at Brigham School.
The Revd. R. Hughes expressed the feelings of the gathering in a short speech when he referred to the importance of a child’s first teacher and the single – minded dedication Mrs. Neale had given to the children in her charge over the years. On behalf of all contributors to the gift collection, Mr. Hughes presented Mrs. Neale with a crystal rose bowl and a cheque, and Clair Lonsdale, the youngest pupil, gave Mrs. Neale a cream and red flower arrangement (and a kiss!).
In expressing her thanks for these gifts Mrs. Neale said that she would be sorry to leave the school after such a long association, and she referred to the four year old who, on seeing the date 1833 above the school door, had asked Mrs. Neale if she had been there “all that time”.
New vicar of St. John’s
Canon Richard Watson was installed as priest-in-charge of St. John’s Church at a special service last Thursday evening. The Bishop of Carlisle, the Rt. Rev. David Halsey, and the Archdeacon of West Cumberland, the Ven. I. R. B. Hodgson, took part in the service which was attended by a large congregation.
With his wife, Heather, and their children, Stephen, aged 11, and Helen, aged 9, Canon Watson comes to Keswick to follow Canon Michael Spencer Ellis who retired at the end of May after thirty three years at St. John’s.
50 years ago
Retirement of Mr. Sparey
The recent retirement from practise of Mr. Leslie Sparey, Brundholme Terrace, Keswick, brings to an end a period of 33 years service to Keswickians as a dental surgeon, the longest period which anyone has served the town in this profession, and 43 years practise in all.
Mr. Sparey, who was born in London, was educated at Mercer’s School and London University and practised in London before moving to Keswick where he and his family are also well known for their musical talents.
Mr. Sparey studied the cello at Trinity College of Music, London, and with his wife, who teaches the piano, his son Jonathon and daughter Carolyn, who are now both professional musicians, has given many recitals of chamber music in Keswick and abroad, including Keswick’s “twin” town of Konigslutter where they were guests.
He founded the Keswick Music Society which has been in existence for about twenty-six years, was chairman for fifteen years and is now vice-president.
