Front page of the Keswick Reminder from April 9, 1976.
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
Irene’s 90th birthday walk
On Thursday 6th April the Keswick Rambling Club held a special walk, followed by a celebratory tea for Irene Brew, their oldest active member, in honour of her 90th birthday.
Irene, who was 90 on 21st March, has been walking with the Club for almost 30 years and she still seldom misses a walk day. Despite heavy showers, 27 members put their trust in a forecast of improving conditions and joined her in a climb up Barrow.
In what was later described as a most memorable event they had to battle with winds measured at 40 miles an hour on the summit ridge before completing the climb successfully. Afterwards, at the tea, the number of friends increased to almost 50 for a most enjoyable celebration where Irene cut a special cake and received a photographic souvenir recording 80 of her walks with the club.
30 years ago
Newlands School
Nearly thirty years ago – on Wednesday 22nd March 1967 – the tiny Newlands School closed its doors. It had been built in 1820 by the dalesmen who, for want of a better place, made it as an extension to the ancient whitewashed Newlands Church.
After World War II, the small one-teacher schools in the valleys of Lakeland closed one by one, and eventually only Newlands School was left in this area. It was believed to be the smallest school in the county with, at the time of its closure, only fifteen children on the register. The threat of closure had been hanging over the school from as far back as 1941 but local people successfully fought during the next twenty-five years to keep it open.
Sadly, after school ended on 22nd March 1967 the teacher, Mrs Isobel Standing, who lived in the valley, locked the school door for the last time. The children were transferred to Braithwaite School. It was the end of an era for the little school which had been described as one of the happiest schools in the county.
Isobel Standing had been the teacher for five years, and her predecessor, Miss Dorothea Potts, taught there from 1943 to 1962. The admission register of the school went back to 1877 and from that date to its closure 460 children had attended the school, taught by thirteen teachers.
Now the room which served as schoolroom, dining room and, in the bad weather, playroom as well, is in urgent need of repair. The Vicar of Thornthwaite, Braithwaite and Newlands, the Revd. Canon Campbell Matthews, is calling a meeting of residents of Newlands Valley for discussion about repairs and maintenance of the building.
Bottle digging nuisance
People have once again been digging in the Towns Field for old bottles which were buried there many years ago.
The latest evidence of digging has taken place in spite of notices posted and the chairman of the Charitable Trust, Councillor Sean Crawford, said that park staff had lost a considerable amount of time last week in filling in an excavated site. And he added that, as on previous occasions, large stones and rubble had been used for infill which should further reduce the area where digging was easy.
Letter t’Editor
Wat a difference t’extra hoor maks of a neet, efter wark yer can ga for a walk, see wats garn on and wo’s aboot. Just efter t’clocks changed, ah went wid t’wife an tarrier doon Main Street. We gits t’Greta Brig, ther was neer geese aboot. An thowts wats Esmie and Issac dun wid them, than a spots yan on t’beck bank, so t’uthers wadn’t be far off. T’next thing, ther was folks stripped off an runne t’wards t’sceul. T’wife said till me,”It’s Roond Hooses Race”. Sum on them war bashen on, sum war a bit brossen, mebe ther hed eaten ower much ower t’winter.
We gits garn up t’park, t’laal lambs war racen in t’hospital field, thar war enoyen thersels. T’Daffs war aboot oot, an t’cricket lot war maken ther pitch riddy. Ah thowts Summer mun be on t’way, but thers still a lot a sno on t’tops.
We did enjoy oor walk, wat a bonny spot t’live. Let’s hope we hev a geud summer and that t’locals an visiters can enjoy thersels, an them planners doont muck up Toonsfield wid ther rubbish tip.
Yoors varra respectably
Dick Rabnor
40 years ago
398 years of service!
A very special presentation ceremony recently took place at the Rexel Cumberland Pencil Company, Keswick, when no less than twelve members of staff received a carriage clock in recognition of thirty years’ service. In fact, some staff have been with the company considerably longer than thirty years and the twelve have notched up a grand total of 398 years between them!
The presentations were made by Group Chairman, Mr. F. A. P. Hall, who paid tribute to this splendid achievement. With the years of service given after each name, they are: Allan Wray (37), Fletcher Grisdale (31), Brian Taylor (31), Jack Lamb (36), Mr. Hall, Fred Thorn (36), Bobby Hindmarch (39), Eric Lowe (31) and Billy Blakeney (32), Doris Price (31), Joan Hindmoor (31), Moira Collins (32) and Mary Atkinson (31).
B.M.X. awards night
Keswick B.M.X. cycle club held its first annual prizegiving ceremony in the Labour Club on Wednesday following the winter series of competitions.
The chairman Mr. Eric Impey said the track in Fitz Park, which was opened last year, was now able to take a national B.M.X. event and he could imagine that in twelve months to two years’ time a national meeting would take place in Keswick with as many as 10,000 people coming not just from this country but from all over the world.
Trophies were donated by the Labour Club and presented by the president Mr. Les Bailiff. Also present was Keswick’s Deputy Mayor Mr. Neville Goodfellow who conveyed the good wishes of the Town Council. The secretary of the B.M.X. Club Mrs. Mary Thompson was presented with a bouquet by five year old Richard Hardman.
Award winners were: 8 and under: Michael Barnby, Steven Jones, Gareth Newton, Richard Hardman. 9 years: Stuart Hardman, Jamie Wonnacott, Matthew Thomson, David Martin, Paul Yates. 9 years girls: Gaynor Taylor, Hayley Cooper. 10-12: Stuart Beck, Clive Clank. 13 years: Darren Cullum, John Turnbull, Andrew Nelson, Paul Moffat, Martin Cuthell, Graeme Sibson. 14-15 Jason Hudson, Duncan Booth.
Keswick runner shines in G.B. debut
Local athlete Ken Stuart won his first Great Britain vest in an international half marathon at Rotterdam in the Netherlands at the weekend.
And Stuart, the reigning British fell running champion who is now turning his attention to the roads, made a remarkable debut at the distance.
He finished in second place, beaten by just five seconds by Tavares of Portugal, and two seconds ahead of Marti Ten Kate of the Netherlands. His time, 62mins. 55secs., was the fastest ever recorded by a Cumbrian.
Stuart, who runs for Keswick A.C., said later that he almost caught the runaway leader whilst himself having to break away from a following group of runners.
His time was the fastest-ever recorded by a Cumbrian in a half marathon and one of the fastest times recorded by a Great Britain athlete this year. All the more remarkable considering it was his debut at the distance.
50 years ago
O.K. Association
Tribute was paid to Mr. Thompson’s devoted service to the school and to past and present pupils during his nineteen years as headmaster by the President of the old Keswickian Association at the annual meeting last Friday evening at Greta Park.
And in his last Headmaster’s Report, Mr. Thompson was able to give details of another busy and successful year, both academically and in out of school activities. Special mention was made of the revival of the Science Club, and the success of the computer made by members of the Club in the national schools’ competition.
Mr. David Hodgson was re-elected president, and Mr. W. J. Pridmore and Mrs. J. Branthwaite were returned to the offices of treasurer and secretary respectively. Mr. H. D. Pridmore and Mrs. J. Branthwaite were appointed O.K. Governors.
John Bushby and Helen Lyall resigned from the committee, and other members were re-elected with the addition of Andrew Branthwaite, the Head Boy and Head Girl.
The meeting followed the rugby match between an O.K. XV and the School 1st XV. Afterwards a tatie-pot supper was served by ladies of the committee to about seventy O.K.’s.
