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
Concern over traffic jams
There is increasing concern by Parish Councillors in Borrowdale over the problems of vehicles travelling from the valley into Keswick causing traffic jams which, they claim can last up to an hour and a half at peak times, with half hour delays common at Bank Holidays.
Traffic coming out of Borrowdale has only one way to go and is joined by vehicles coming from other facilities in Keswick trying to get past the roundabout at Tithebarn Street.
Borrowdale Parish Councillors are now trying to enlist the support of Keswick Town Council in trying to address the problem; they say that their views have been “brushed aside” in the past and pedestrianisation of Keswick Market Square has only made matters worse for the traffic situation.
Sally Bickerdyke, Clerk to Borrowdale Parish Council, said: “No-one seems willing to listen to us or to the many sensible suggestions that have been made.”
However, County Council highways engineers say that if places like Keswick and Borrowdale wish to attract tourists there will be a need to cater for the associated traffic, and problems will continue as long as car travel remains the principal mode of transport.
The engineers have written a letter to Workington MP Tony Cunningham, explaining that they feel the only reasonable solution would be to construct a relief road from Ambleside Road to the south of Castlehead Gardens in Keswick on to the B5289, an idea which may be put forward at meetings of the Area Transport Advisory Group and the Allerdale Local Committee.
The County Council highway engineers have warned that one effect of the proposition would be the increased traffic wanting to access Borrowdale, leading to future problems at the next most critical pinch point.
30 years ago
Keswick School Prize Giving
The courage of last year’s Head Boy, Kevin Dowding, after a serious road accident earlier this year was acknowledged by pupils at the annual Prize Giving on Friday evening. They led everyone in the Rawnsley Hall in standing to honour Kevin as he received his prize from the Bishop of Carlisle, the Rt. Revd. Ian Harland.
In his address, the Headmaster, Howard Allen, spoke of the very serious injuries sustained by Kevin in the Spring term and of his courage and determination to climb back to full health during the past seven months. Kevin has now returned to school to continue his studies.
Gold Cup glory
There was a festive atmosphere in the Oddfellows inn in the Market Place last Saturday after publican David Maloney’s massive £112,000 win on the Ayr Gold Cup.
Mr. Maloney has a 25 per cent share in the winner of the Gold Cup, a three year old filly Daring Destiny. Fifty-one per cent interest in the horse is retained by the breeder, Mrs. Ann Wright from Fife, while the trainer, Karl Burke, and his wife Elaine share the other 24 per cent.
A horse racing enthusiast, Mr. Maloney backed his horse at prices from 25-1 down to 16-1. According to one of the racing industry’s leading publications, the ‘Racing Post’, he had a total of £5,000 on with Ladbrokes, the race sponsors, and another £1,000 with Hills.
Bare facts
Keswick Police were called out recently to investigate the bare facts, having received a report from a local resident that three naked cyclists had been seen pedalling furiously towards the town!
A police spokesman said: “We were told three cyclists were travelling towards Keswick along the Borrowdale road and had last been seen at Big Wood car park.”
He added: “Officers who went to investigate the report traced the cyclists and found they had clothing strategically placed to avoid indecency. Apparently it was a ‘stag’ night bet.”
The officers spoke to the blushing cyclists about their conduct and they got dressed, he said.
Theatre for Keswick – visit of Lord Gowrie to Century Theatre
Lord Gowrie, chairman of the Arts Council England, visited the lakeside site chosen for the new theatre for Keswick last Friday and said he was “burning with confidence” for the scheme.
This summer the unique theatre by the lake has been playing to 80 per cent audiences and Lord Gowrie praised the “miracle of post war engineering” which is the present once-mobile theatre. But he recognised the need for a new theatre which could double for other community users.
Although he was not able to solicit applications for funds, Lord Gowrie said he would not be surprised to receive an application from the new theatre. He felt it would be “a highly eligible candidate” for money from the national lottery as it would be a tremendous asset to the region.
He added: “It is important that the lottery becomes a national civic duty, as well as an enjoyable flutter, to buy a ticket every week.”
40 years ago
Keswick Town Council – supermarket need queried
The Town Council’s Planning Committee on Thursday decided to recommend refusal of a major development scheme for the local bus station and nursery gardens.
The Mayor, Mr. Eric Impey, alleged that Cumberland Motor Services were “looking forward to the day when they close Keswick down.” He said: “They don’t want to know a bus service in this area.” The Government has stated that the National Bus Company should be privatised and Mr. Impey felt they were “trying to get every penny out of this site they possibly can before it is privatised.”
Some Councillors questioned the need for another supermarket in Keswick. Mr. Sean Crawford, in a written series of comments, said he also questioned the willingness of firms to build to sufficiently high standards of design and urged members to take note of Penrith and its problems. Such a shop in a relatively isolated part of Keswick would need a substantial car park for its customers, he felt.
Ski champions
Keswick School’s under 14 Ski team – Ian Turnball, Paul Spencer, Gordon Oliver and Kevin McCourt – won the under 14 event at the English Schools Ski Championships held at Gloucester last weekend.
This is the second year running that the under 14s have won their event, and three members of this team, Ian, Gordon and Paul, together with Richard Baxter, were sixth in the Open Team event, qualifying as one of the teams in the first ten places to represent England in the British Championships which will be held on the Hill End Slope in Edinburgh in December. This will be the third successive year that Keswick School has been selected to compete in this event.
Boating on Thirlmere
Proposals for Thirlmere to be used on a permanent basis by non-powered craft from next Easter received approval in principle on Monday from Lake District planners, who retain the right to determine the number and size of craft.
50 years ago
Letter to the Editor
Dear Sir,— Those prophets of gloom, the self-styled “Friends of the Lake District,” gain mention by you, in last week’s issue, of their recent News Letter.
They publish, as you mention, and with obvious glee, a picture of the earth-works in progress on part of the A66 improvements. The picture looks very much as do most earth-works at that stage. However, as most of us recognise, when the construction work is completed and after the reseeding has been carried out, the road will blend easily and naturally into the surrounding landscape. What the “Friends” fail to do is to comment on the very wonderful vista of Bassenthwaite Lake revealed by the clearance, during road-works, of the confused thicket of trees at Peil Wyke. This is but a foretaste of the benefits which will presently accrue when the lakeside section of the proposed dual carriageway is completed giving unparalleled views of lake and mountain hidden from sight since the railway was closed.
What the “Friends” also fail to do is to tell the public that as the result of their A66 campaign and the resultant lengthy enquiry in 1972 the road works were delayed by some three years. As these years were ones when inflation raged, several millions of pounds were added to the cost of the road improvements and this had to be paid for by the taxpayers at large.
The Friends’ continued sporadic campaign, of which they are so inordinately proud, whilst it cannot stop the eventual completion of the work, could conceivably cause more delays with further escalation in cost. I must emphasise that the improved A66 is a vital life line for industry in West Cumbria and also for the Workington Docks which the Cumbria County Council takes over next April.
With “Friends” such as this, what need have we for enemies?
Martin Brannan
Portinscale
Golden Wedding
A well-known Keswick couple, Mr. and Mrs. Percy Robinson of 16, Skiddaw Street, celebrated their Golden Wedding this week.
Married at St. John’s Church, Keswick, by the Rev. Sidney Metcalfe on September 17th, 1924, Mr. and Mrs. Robinson have lived all their married life in the town. Mrs. Robinson was formerly Miss Martha Griffiths of Workington. They have three children, Mrs. Jean Waine, who lives at Newcastle, and Mrs. May Dixon and Mr. Brian Robinson, both of whom live at Keswick. There are ten grandchildren.
The family are celebrating with a special dinner party at the Middle Ruddings Hotel, Braithwaite, on Saturday evening, followed by a party at the home of their daughter, May.
