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
Osprey pair re-united
The anxious wait for followers of the Lake District ospreys is over as Cumbria’s most popular birds have both safely returned to the area following a hazardous 3,00 mile migration flight after wintering in Africa.
The now famous pair of ospreys has been re-united at Bassenthwaite Lake this week and the birds have arrived back at the nest site they have used for the last three years. The male osprey arrived on Saturday 10th April and the female returned on Wednesday evening (14th April). If the birds settle down to breed, as is now hoped, a 24-hour guard will be mounted to thwart egg thieves. Dozens of volunteers are preparing to begin a three-month, round-the-clock vigil protecting the nest. Eggs are normally laid in May and hatch five weeks later.
Letter to the Editor
Dear Editor,
As a resident Keswickian, I am appalled by the proposal of Allerdale Borough Council to destroy the Lakeside Tea Gardens, a well-known unique feature of Keswick since 1928. This is to be replaced by a major extension to the Theatre, including a restaurant, on a very sensitive site. Surely this cannot be allowed. Are the planning Board, who can be very stringent on smaller planning matters, aware of the massive proposal?
I well remember when people came to see the natural beauty of the lakes and mountains, not man-made features or for entertainment. Times may change, unfortunately not always for the better.
The Lakeside Tea Gardens is a well run and well maintained family business, which ought to be allowed to carry on. It is more in keeping with the area and employs a number of local staff. People from all walks of life (including dogs), walkers with rucksacks, etc. enjoy the facilities provided on the terraces and indoors. I doubt if this could be provided by a theatre restaurant.
Is it not now time for everyone who has the true interests of Keswick at heart to stand up and be counted before everything that people enjoy about Keswick is taken away?
Irene Ewart
Keswick
30 years ago
Dedication of standard
About a hundred veterans lined up behind the new standard of the Mid and North West Cumbria branch of the Normandy Veterans Association to march through Keswick after the dedication of the standard at a service in St. John’s Church on Sunday afternoon.
The parade was led by the Cockermouth Mechanics Band and standards of other local ex-service organisations joined the procession. The Mayor and Mayoress of Keswick, Councillor and Mrs. Sean Crawford, took the salute at the Council Chambers.
The local branch of the Normandy Veterans Association was supported by branch members from other parts of Cumbria who followed the new blue and gold standard which was carried at the head of the parade by the vice chairman of the Mid & North West Cumbria branch, Frank Harrison of Keswick, with other Keswick members as escorts.
The Branch chairman, Bob Welsh of Keswick, said afterwards that he was pleased with the support given to his members, especially in view of the weather. A torrential downpour during the parade failed to dampen the spirits of the Veterans who were also celebrating the fiftieth anniversary next week of the Normandy landings.
Go for a duck!
For the second time, a very special duck has tried to join the Keswick Leisure Pool staff!
The persistent duck, known to the staff as “Jemima” for obvious reasons, has nested in the grounds of the Leisure Pool and raised seven ducklings on a previous occasion, according to maintenance manager Jackie Newton. And he has described the amazing sight of several beefy lifeguards chasing the ducklings in order to catch them and put them on the River Greta.
On her second visit, Jemima is nesting right up against the window of the pool and it seems that the proximity of toddlers splashing in the water with their mothers does not put her off her new abode. A member of the pool staff says the duck is sitting on her new nest almost all day.
Jemima arrived on her second visit a week ago and everyone at the pool is looking forward to the arrival of her next family.
Court decision
Although magistrates’ courts at Alston and Millom, which both sit only once a month and deal with only a small number of cases, are to close later this year, Keswick’s Magistrates’ Court has won a reprieve from the threat of closure.
Cumbria Magistrates’ Courts committee has decided that improvements will be made, where possible, in the courts at Keswick, Appleby, Wigton and Windermere which have been under review. A spokesman said the committee intended to have the next major review of its accommodation in five years’ time unless circumstances change in the meantime.
40 years ago
Easter in Keswick
This Easter was the sunniest and warmest for many years and the good weather brought the visitors in even greater numbers.
Many had booked their accommodation in advance so the Publicity Association had fewer vacancies notified to their office than usual at Easter. This meant that the staff of the Publicity Office were less busy, and able to join others who work in the vicinity of the Market Square in assessing the impact the Easter visitors have on the town.
Large crowds seem inevitably to bring great quantities of litter, but all the business people have been impressed with the efficient way in which the Square was cleaned. Extra litter sweeps had been organised by the council, and the litter was cleared away on Saturday, Sunday and Monday evenings.
The motor cycle brigades paid Keswick a short visit, and a large number of cycles were congregated outside Barclays Bank on Saturday morning, but they eventually went elsewhere.
Once again, however, the licensees spent the Bank Holiday standing at the doors of their houses, trying to keep out the more undesirable elements, but in spite of their efforts there was a certain amount of trouble. One licensee told the Reminder that many of those who can’t get onto the camping sites are camping rough on pieces of ground in various parts of the town, and he feels that the owners of such grounds are encouraging a lot of “riff-raff” to come to the town. “These people cause a lot of trouble,” he said.
Another landlord, Mr. Jim Wilson of the Pack Horse, said: “The police have done a wonderful job this weekend. I cannot praise them too highly for their help in keeping trouble to a minimum.”
Keswick lady to be Mayoress of Bexley
Next week a former Keswickian takes up her duties as Mayoress of the London Borough of Bexley for the coming year.
Mrs. Joan Bale is the daughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. Bill Cowen, Shu-le-Crow House, Keswick, and elder sister of Mr. Donald Cowen. She was educated at Keswick School before training as a pharmacist.
During her childhood she was Keswick’s May Queen, and now, fifty years later, she will be “First Lady” once again when her husband, Dennis, becomes Bexley’s Mayor. A former instructor at the Army D. and M. School at Portinscale in the war, Mr. Bale was an Alderman of Bexley before local government re-organisation and he is a Conservative councillor.
New Royal British Legion president
Mrs. Elizabeth Donald was invested with the badge of office as president of the Keswick Royal British Legion women’s section on Wednesday.
The ceremony was performed by vice-president Mrs. Evelyn Hayton at the annual sale of work in the Masonic Hall and Mrs. Donald said: “It is a great honour to be asked to be president. I have always been brought up to believe the British Legion was very important.”
The previous president was the late Mrs. Ruth Towers, a founder member of the branch in 1921, who also formerly held the office of chairman. Mrs. Towers died earlier this year and originally her sisters Mrs. Hayton and Mrs. Dolly Corfield were asked if they would like to take over as president, but they felt Mrs. Donald should be approached.
The sale was opened by Canon Richard Watson, Vicar of St. John’s who was introduced by the chairman Mrs. Melles Green and thanked by the new president Mrs. Donald.
Boxing win for local lad
Keswickian David Rose made his first appearance at a boxing tournament held at Cleator Moor earlier this month and, in the colours of Ambleside Amateur Boxing Club, hammered his way to an impressive knockout in the second round against B. Mattinson of Cleator Moor.
David will be appearing at the Royal Oak Hotel in Keswick against an opponent whose name has not yet been announced in a tournament to be held on Wednesday, May 9th. This will be the first time an amateur boxing tournament has been held in Keswick for many years.
50 years ago
Local darts champion in London
Keswick darts champion, Mr. Billy Bryson, Latrigg Close, sets off for London today with strong local support to stake his claim to fame in the finals of the “News of the World” darts competition.
Mr. Bryson, who won the northern region finals at Newcastle, will have Mr. and Mrs. Greenhow of the Lake Road Vaults, and twenty-four customers of the inn, supporting him at the Alexandra Palace where the finals will be played off and should he reach the latter stages, it is possible he may be seen in action on ITV on Saturday afternoon.
