1996
PENRITH
The chairman of Penrith Football Club, David Johnson, has sold his shares in the club, although he will continue in the post.
At a meeting earlier this month, the club agreed to pay more than £87,000 to buy 1,350 shares from Mr. Johnson as part of a “sort-out” before any potential deal involving the proposed Southend Road supermarket. This leaves only Mr. Johnson’s son, Robin, and Robin’s wife, Brenda, as shareholders.
TEMPLE SOWERBY
Temple Sowerby bypass campaigners said they were “despondent” after the visit of roads minister John Watts brought them no new hope of work starting.
Mr. Watts spent half an hour in the village as part of a fact-finding visit during which he travelled on the county’s main raods, but he was unable to offer any positive news of a start date for the long-awaited bypass and would merely confirm the scheme remained as a priority in the Government’s trunk road program.
STAINMORE
A mother has praised the actions of an off-duty policeman after he helped her injured 14-year-old son, Micket Steadman, who attends Kirkby Stephen Grammar School, was grouse beating with friends on Stainmore when he fell about 40ft and broke his ankle in two places.
PC Colin Frood, who was off duty, was out shooting and came across the injured teenager. He covered him up and ordered his two Labradors, Rab and Toby, to lay either side of the boy to keep him warm.
KESWICK
The end of an era for theatre in Keswick is set for 2nd November — when the final performance will be held at the Century Theatre prior to its closure.
It was announced this week that 1996 will definitely be the final year of the famous old Blue Box, as the theatre is moving from its Lakeside site to the award-winning Snibston Discovery Park, in Leicestershire. It will make way for the new theatre in Keswick, building of which is scheduled to start in the new year.
APPLEBY
Top Eden bowler Richard Sampson has taken another major scalp. The Appeby Bowling Club member won the Northern Counties under-25 singles championship at Southport by defeating Lancashire representative Jason Parkinson by 21 shots to 19. Only two weeks previously, Parkinson had won the under-25 national singles title at Worthing.
ALSTON
North Cumbria is not quite so remote as the outback of Australia, nor is the provision of health services to the scattered population of Alston, Brampton and Longtown quite that of the Aussie flying doctors, but the three centres, providing for 20,000 people and administered by locality manager Bill McNulty, can boast the most outlying ambulance service in Britain.
In a unique situation, the vehicle is owned by the Cumbria Ambulance Trust, yet is based in a garage at Alston, serviced by garage staff and, when called into action, driven by them.
50 YEARS AGO – 1971
PENRITH
A forgotten Penrith hero who survived the Charge of the Light Brigade way back in 1854, will be recalled at Sotheby’s sale in London next month. Trooper William Pearson, one of the 4th Light Dragoons who charged the Russians — and lived to tell the tale — earned himself a rare medal which will come under the hammer on 7th October as part of the late Captain John Batty’s fine military collection.
The machine-gun-like rattle of the “clackers”, the latest fad to hit Britain’s youth, will no longer echo down the corridors of a number of local schools. They have been banned as a health risk at Appleby Grammar School and Penrith’s Ullswater Boys’ Secondary Modern School and Tynefield Girls’ Secondary Modern School.
Penrith Queen Elizabeth Grammar School is one place where pupils can freely twirl their “clackers — but only during the breaks.
LITTLE STRICKLAND
Eleven parents who send their children to Little Strickland School do not intend to send them to Morland School when their present one closes down, members of Westmorland Education Committee were told.
Parents should have the freedom of choice to do so, said the Rev. W. N. S. Hall, who told the committee of the parents’ intention.
KIRKBY STEPHEN
Kirkby Stephen traders fear loss of business, if a proposal to ban big lorries and buses from the Kendal-Tebay-Kirkby Stephen-Brough road goes through, North Westmorland Rural councillors were told at Appleby on Wednesday when they decided it would be better to improve the road, which has a bad accident record.
100 YEARS AGO — 1921
PENRITH
The gas which Penrith consumers never used, but for which they had to pay, was discussed at a meeting of the Urban Council. With the severe restrictions on the use of gas during a coal strike, consumers expected that accounts would be down and were surprised — and indignant — when they found they had to pay more than during a normal period.
The explanation was that they were having to pay for air which was passed through the pipes owing to the gas being turned off. There is to be no relief for the consumers, as the Gas Committee state they have no option but to charge for consumption as per meter readings.
ALSTON
One of the best-known farmers of the district, Mr. Edward Raine, late of Wanwood Hill Farm, died at Croft Terrace, Alston. He was an expert farmer and a noted breeder of Galloway cattle.
