Looking back through the archives of The Keswick Reminder from around this week 20, 30, 40 and 50 years ago.
20 years ago
Residents oppose housing scheme
Lake District National Park planners have been told that there is a “demand” for up to 740 housing units in the Keswick area. An assessment which is to go before the NPA’s Development Control Committee next week, says that although actual need will be much lower, this figure is a crude indication of the scale of problems faced by local people seeking accommodation in the area.
Planning officers have been working with housing associations to identify suitable sites in Keswick, but progress is “slow and difficult”.
Plans by Eden Housing Association for a house and four flats on allotments at Stanger Street have run into objections from nearby residents. Housing Association officials recently warned that, if the scheme did not get the go ahead from planners, money for it might have to be returned to the Government.
Keswick Town Council has backed the views of the residents in saying the building would over develop the site and the design was unneighbourly.
A report to Nation Park planners says the difficulties may prove insurmountable, but it is felt that every conceivable avenue should be explored to see if they can be overcome or compromises reached. Talks are to take place with the agents to discuss design issues and planning committee members are being advised to hold a site visit to look at the situation for themselves before making a final decision.
Some letters of support have been received by planners which refer to the lack of affordable housing in Keswick, particularly for young people, and saying the development would be of great benefit to the town. However nearby residents have raised a number of objections including loss of amenity, poor design, overlooking of adjacent properties, loss of business for guest houses, over-development and highway dangers.
Laying up of the Normandy veterans standard
On Sunday morning the Vicar of the Parish Church of St John, Canon Brian Smith, accepted the standard of the Normandy Veterans Association, Keswick Branch, for “laying up” in the church.
The standard was carried to the altar by Dick Fisher, whose account of his work as an 18 year old soldier in the Normandy landings for the invasion of Europe was read by Canon Smith. The standard was escorted by the President of the Association, Robert Welsh, and the secretary Edwin Crowson, and there was a short, meaningful ceremony before the standard was laid on the altar.
Several members of the Normandy Veterans Association were present at the service which was attended by the Mayor of Keswick, Mrs Sue Conlon.
30 years ago
Church roof stripped
The slate roof of Wythburn Church has been virtually stripped of slates in what has been described by the police as almost certainly an overnight operation.
In the region of a thousand traditional Lakeland slates have been taken from the church roof and Keswick Police Sergeant Jim McMonies says the thieves left the church in an appalling mess.
He said the theft was further evidence of the desperation of criminals to steal valuable slate from isolated buildings. “They are running out of barns and boat houses and now they seem to have turned their attention to a church,” he said. “If they are robbing a church, then nothing is safe or sacred.”
Sergeant McMonies added that there is obviously a big market for secondhand slate. “We don’t know the exact value of the slate stolen from Wythburn Church, but it was obviously expensive.”
Police are appealing to anyone who might have seen the incident during the night of last Friday/Saturday, July 30th/31st, to contact them. They would also like to know if anyone has been offered slates for sale.
Sergeant McMonies said it was surprising that no-one travelling along the Keswick to Windermere road had noticed anything as the theft of the slate was a substantial operation, probably requiring the use of a lorry.
Borrowdale Parish Council
The clerk to the Parish Council, Bill Hind, who is retiring after nearly 40 years in office is to be succeeded by his great niece, although the Council have stressed that family links played no part in the decision.
Vanessa Metcalfe, who has been appointed as clerk, lives in Rosthwaite and was brought up in the area. She is secretary to the commercial manager at British Steel in Workington and is studying for a BA honours degree in business studies. She and her husband are members of Rosthwaite Institute committee.
40 years ago
Borrowdale car park — at last!
A twenty year battle for a car park and toilets at Rosthwaite in the Borrowdale Valley is nearly over. Last week the new toilets in the village opened, and a new car parking area will soon be brought into use.
Parish Council clerk Mr. William Hind said: “It’s one of those issues which seems to have been going on forever. I can remember talking to surveyors about the need for a car park at least twenty years ago.”
The Lake District Planning Board have provided the new car park on land leased from the National Trust. Mr. Hind said that once final clearing up operations were over, the car park which holds about twenty-three vehicles, would be ready for use, but he added : “It is very much a watered down scheme compared with the one the Parish Council wanted. You could fill one twice as big on a summer’s day.”
Fell racing weekend
There could be a showdown on the Lakeland hills this week-end involving fell running’s big three.
The 18 mile Borrowdale Race tomorrow (Saturday) is the first stage of Keswick Athletic Club’s mini fell racing festival. On Sunday the shorter 3 mile dash up and down Latrigg Fell takes place from Fitz Park.
The Borrowdale Race has become established as one of the classics of the fell running calendar, taking in some of England’s highest mountain peaks including Scafell Pike and Great Gable.
The three leading challengers for the 1983 British Fell Runner of the Year championship could ‘well find themselves lined up in opposition. Borrowdale runner Billy Bland is the acknowledged Borrowdale Race expert. He has won the event several times, including last year when many competitors with less knowledge of the terrain went astray in the mist.
Billy defends his title, but former professional guides racer Ken Stuart from Threlkeld, who also runs in Keswick A.C’s colours, makes an intriguing debut in the race. Ken, in his first full season after being re-instated to the amateur ranks, is favourite for the Fell Runner of the Year crown.
Race official Bob Barnby said: “It will be even more interesting if the reigning champion John Wild shows up. Last year he had a bad day, staying up with Billy Bland for much of the race then getting lost and failing to finish once he had been dropped.
Letters to the Editor
Dear Editor, — There are many people like me needing permanent accommodation in the town who can not afford the greatly inflated prices of houses. I feel an incredible amount of frustration looking at the hundreds of empty houses ‘and flats which could be leased out to young people from the area. That is, if it were not for the greed and lack of consideration of the property owners. Many more flats are owned by outsiders, these are used for perhaps 3 or 4 weeks a year. As in other areas, such as South Wales, the locals are being priced out of their home area. It is not very nice when it is happening to you! I suppose nothing will be done about the situation, the property owners and Councillors have somewhere to go home to tonight.
Yours sincerely,
Mr. Homeless, and many others.
50 years ago
Retired
To mark his retirement after over forty years in the teaching profession and twenty-two years at Lairthwaite School, past and present pupils of the school, together with members of the staff, subscribed towards the presentation of an electric power drill and a cheque for the purchase of accessories to Mr. Donald Watson, of Chestnut Hill, Keswick.
Mr. Watson, who is a native of Mexborough, Yorkshire, entered the teaching profession after serving his apprenticeship as a cabinet maker and has been at Lairthwaite since it was opened. He has also taught at evening classes and he is treasurer of the Keswick Branch of the Cumberland Beekeepers’ Association and chairman of the Cumberland Vegetarian Association.
The presentation was made by the Headmaster, Mr. S. Crawford, and in reply Mr. Watson, who said he had been “a square peg in a square hole,” expressed his enjoyment of his years in the profession and said he had never thought of doing anything else.
The previous week: When industrial estate plan threatened to derail Keswick railway revival dream
