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
Flooding at the rugby club
On Tuesday morning, at about 10-30, the River Greta met the lake and burst on to Davidson Park, flooding it to a depth of about 3’ 6” in the deepest part. No-one really appreciates how much the Davidson Park Pitches slope until viewed in its flooded state, but only a small piece of grass was visible at the Skiddaw end of the Greta Grove pitch in the corner behind the Youth Club.
Even extreme optimists began to doubt that rugby would be possible during the forthcoming weekend but by Wednesday morning only the main pitch was flooded and the Grove was clear of surface water if still a bit tacky. In the words of Club President Malcolm Craghill it looked as if it might ‘take a stud’.
Amazingly three players turned up to train on Tuesday evening when the training area was inaccessible and the unfloatable distant scrum machine and pitch roller defined roughly where the training area finished and the beck commenced. The players were sent home to put their feet up but told to keep an open mind about Thursday night.
Letter to the Editor
Dear Editor,
Oh, how I giggled at the article “Concern over food outlets”. Does it really matter?
For years we have opposed new outdoor clothing shops yet every visit down town there is yet another. A knick-knack shop closes; it’s, let’s see – another outdoor shop! A garage closes – another outdoor shop. A wallpaper shop closes – another outdoor shop. Do we see the pattern?
Let’s get real planners. With three young children and no transport, where do I get kids’ clothes, shoes, entertainment at affordable prices?
When I moved house, where at affordable prices could I get paint, wallpaper, light shades? I had to get a bus to Penrith, Workington, Carlisle.
Keswick has gone mad! But once here you are trapped as you can’t afford to get out.
Any ideas, planners?
A Keswick mother
(name and address supplied)
30 years ago
Elvis’s Cadillac comes to Keswick
Owner of the Cars of the Stars Museum in Keswick, Peter Nelson, is soon to take delivery of one of the world’s most coveted collectors cars, Elvis’s gold Cadillac.
Peter, who is a dentist in the town, acquired the car recently from the owner in California after he first viewed it in a customiser’s workshop when on holiday. He had thought that he would have little chance of buying the coveted gold Cadillac as the owner said he would never part with it.
Mr. Nelson explained: “With the recent earthquake which caused damage to property he suddenly found himself short of storage space and asked me if I was still interested in buying the car. Naturally I jumped at the chance and bought it.”
Elvis Presley’s Cadillac will join another recent acquisition to the Cars of the Stars collection, Marilyn Monroe’s Cadillac, and will be seen at exhibitions and shows later this year. Both vehicles should be spending a little time at the Keswick car museum although their main role will be going on the exhibition/show circuit.
40 years ago
Snooker dream
Two young Keswick men were having a game of snooker in the R.A.F. Club when downstairs walked a world champion and asked them if he could join in.
“It was like a dream – the sort of story you could tell to your mates and they would think you were having them on,” said twenty-two year old David Brayton of Latrigg Close. David and his pal Vince Peet (21), from Blencathra Street, are both currently jobless and play several hours of snooker each week at the club.
They knew ex world title holder Cliff Thorburn was staying in town, but never thought for one moment they would get to meet him, let alone become his private practice partners for two days.
Cliff gave them a game after first meeting them on Thursday, and the following day David and Vince nipped down to the club early to tidy up the table and get everything spick and span for Cliff to practice.
“He was obviously impressed that we had made a real effort to get things in shape and he again asked if Vince and I would play a game with him,” said David.
The youngsters have been fans of the Canadian ace for some time, and after their practice sessions with him David said: “He was fantastic, an absolute gentleman. He gave us both some useful tips on how to make shots and cracked plenty of jokes. By the end of our sessions we had got to know him really well.”
Mr. Joseph W. Cowman
Mr. Joe Cowman, secretary of the Herdwick Sheepbreeders Association, died in the Mary Hewetson Hospital last week.
Born in Wasdale, Mr. Cowman spent the greater part of his life in that valley and Eskdale. He worked as a shepherd for Mr. John Amrstrong and his late father at the Woolpack, Eskdale, before farming on his own account at Penny Hill and Wha House, Eskdale. He enjoyed his surroundings and working alongside people for whom he had great affection, and he was held in great esteem by all who worked with him.
In his latter years Joe and his wife came to live in Keswick, where Joe worked for the National Park Upland Management service, helping farmers to maintain the fabric of the countryside and visitors to enjoy the amenities of the dales and always giving his sound advice and expertise.
His great interest was Herdwick Sheep, and he was a worthy ambassador for the breed, attending conferences and demonstrations. He was much in demand as a judge and at Sheep “Liverings,” and he was an active member of the Eskdale, Wasdale and Keswick show committees.
He had an abundance of amusing stories which he narrated in local dialect, and his knowledge and love of the Lake District made him an interesting companion.
Mr. Cowman is survived by his wife Pat, and by his son, Stuart who lives in Maryport, and by two granddaughters, Jennifer and Sharon.
Travel writers invited to Keswick
Some of Britain’s top travel writers and broadcasters have been given an open invitation to come to Keswick.
The town’s Publicity Association have written to 36 writers and T.V. personalities – people like Judith Chalmers and John Carter, offering them a two or three day stay in the area. In return they hope to get some editorial publicity which the Association will back up with advertising.
Some of the top north Lakes hoteliers are co-operating in the scheme by offering accommodation, while the Association will conduct the visitors round if necessary.
Association secretary Mrs. Joan Airey said: “It’s a case of flying the flag for Keswick and district.”
The Association also invited Liberal M.P. and celebrated bon viveur Clement Freud, but he replied that Keswick was just a bit remote from his usual haunts. However he told Mrs. Airey he would “think fondly” of the district and read Wordsworth!.
“It was disappointing to learn he would not be taking up the offer, but it was nice to get a personal letter from him,” she said.
50 years ago
Letter to the Editor
Dear Sir, – I have just read an advert in a Sunday newspaper – “Come to picturesque Keswick, Queen of the English Lakes.”
The surrounding scenery is certainly picturesque. Keswick itself is rapidly becoming patches of car parks, whilst buildings with local character are being demolished, and concrete monstrosities are being erected. Most of the visitors are trying to escape from covered arcades and shopping precincts.
If something has to be built – why not a swimming pool and a children’s paddling?
R. Miller
34 Windebrowe Avenue
Keswick
The weather
January 1974. Après 1973, le déluge! This was our wettest January ever; the fortnight 4th-17th brough 8.36 inches of rain, and the final 10 days another 6.78 inches, so that the “grand” total was 15.22 inches on 25 rain days (average, 6.04 and 20). Only October 1967 of infamous memory has been wetter, with its 18.51 inches.
Mr. T. F. Peart
A delegation from Braithwaite hall committee and the Friends of Braithwaite Institute met the M.O. for Workington, Mr. Fred Peart when he held a surgery in Keswick on Saturday.
They outlined to him the circumstances of the refusal of the County Council to provide an underpass or alternative means of crossing the A66 to get to the hall and the refusal of planning permission for a swimming pool and Mr. Peart agreed to look into the matter.
He also met members of the Cumbria NFU who expressed their concern over the accelerating price of feeding stuffs compared with the price recorded for their products and who forecast that there would be a shortage of milk and beef because of the number of cattle slaughtered. Mr Peart advised them to press their case with the Government and repeated previously expressed views that entry into the EEC was responsible for high feeding cost prices.
