25 years ago – 1996
Penrith
The appeal for a new children’s hospice at Carlisle received a boost of £11,396 from a single source.
The money was raised through a barbecue which was held by poultry farmers Andy and May Forster in a massive chicken shed at Maidenhill, Penrith. Some 900 people, young and old, attended the event and enjoyed the live music provided by the Hunters’ Band.
A leading supermarket chain this week confirmed its interest in moving into the Penrith area if the right site could be found.
A spokesman for Sainsbury’s said they were interested in Penrith as a place to build a new store, but would not say whether or not they would definitely be looking at the Southend Road site.
Clifton Dykes
A close friend’s heart attack has inspired an Eden man to undertake a 250-mile sponsored bike ride across the Holy Land.
Christopher Merchant, who lives at Clifton Dykes but soon moves to the Hamlet of Whale, near Askham, will be heading off on the Israel Experience in November to raise money for the British Heart Foundation.
Kirkby Stephen
The community of Kirkby Stephen and the surrounding villages gathered to bid a fond farewell to Canon Bill Greetham, who is leaving the area on retirement.
Many people from all sections of the community and from other denominations in the town attended the event at the parish church to acknowledge the works and ministry Canon Greetham had given the area for almost 15 years.
Stainton
Eden planners have approved a scheme to create an alpaca centre at Stainton.
Mr. and Mrs. Stephenson applied to Eden Council for permission to use a redundant chicken shed on their smallholding at Dalegarth for the centre.
Planning officer Malcolm Johnson said the plan was to create a display area and office facilities where agricultural groups interested in diversifying into the alpaca business could receive presentations.
Upper Eden
Upper Eden Rugby Club members Dave Metcalfe and Dave Lawrence completed their 4,000-mile fund-raising marathon with a reception at Twickenham.
The pair visited 450 English rugby clubs on their two-week trip to raise money for the Spire Appeal to help former rugby players who have suffered crippling injuries. Mr. Metcalfe said he estimated the amount raised would be about £8,500.
50 years ago — 1971
Alston
Alston firm Precision Products has won an export order for 30,000 golf club head castings from a major American manufacturer of clubs.
The order is scheduled for delivery by the year end to the McGregor Division of the Brunswick Corporation in Albany, Georgia.
Later this month the Cumberland firm’s chairman and managing director, Mr. W. G. Ball, and the works manager, Mr. Hugh McMillan, are flying out to the States, to investigate the possibility of a long-term order.
Penrith
A man who began his working life as an office boy with a Penrith trader has retired as chairman of a group of twenty firms in the quarrying, construction and transport industries.
Mr. John N. Farrer, Winters Park, Carleton, Penrith, is handing over his duties as chairman of Northern Lime and Concrete Products Ltd. the controlling company of a group of twenty firms in the North of England and Scotland, a position which he took up in 1968 when he was also appointed a Divisional Director on the Board of the parent organisation, London and Northern Securities Ltd.
“This year’s balance sheet is one of the most pleasing we have had for a number of years,” reported the secretary-treasurer of Penrith F.C. Supporters’ Club, Mr. Wilf Shaw, at the annual meeting in the Social Club at the Penrith football ground.
“For such a small committee I think you have done extremely well,” commented Mr. Shaw after presenting the balance sheet showing Club funds amounting to over £117.
Knock
One of the North’s leading motor cycle road racers, Peter Berwick, Silverband Villas, Knock, has decided to quit the sport after seven years of competition.
Peter told a “Herald” reporter that the expense was not worth the reward.
Although he had financial assistance in buying machines, he had to run a large van to carry them and the price of spares was high. He made his racing debut in 1964 on an Ambassador road machine, and from there progressed to a D.O.T. Starmaker.
100 years ago — 1921
Nenthead
A grave was found on Killhope Fell, about two miles from Nenthead, by Mr. T. Harrison, who was tending sheep.
The body turned out to that of an officer of the Royalist Army, killed during the retreat of the “Young Pretender” from Derby. Mr. J. T. Proud, coroner, returned a verdict at an inquiry of “found dead”.
Keswick
The O.B.E. has been awarded to Mr. J. W. Younghusband, Keswick, who is now a member of the Natal Postal Department.
Mr. Younghusband, who received the award from Prince Arthur of Connaught at Natal, gained the honour for outstanding work in the censor of telegraph department during the war.
