25 YEARS AGO – 1996
GLENRIDDING
An Eden gold prospector says members of the Country Landowners’ Association are overreacting to the possibility of people seeking the valuable metal on their land.
Malcolm Pitchford, Glenridding, who has panned for gold as a hobby for more than 20 years, said he found the CLA stance “ridiculous”.
The association in Cumbria issued a warning last week to farmers and landowners in the Lake District and Pennines after announcements by the British Geological Survey that they had found gold beneath parts of the region.
APPLEBY
Workers at Appleby’s largest employer were left stunned this week after being told that 46 jobs at the plant are being axed. The Cheese Company announced that after 35 years of cheese making in the town, production is being transferred to Lockerbie and the production plant at Appleby will be closed.
GREAT STRICKLAND
A man who bought a croquet lesson at an auction of promises has become the national garden croquet champion. Ian Tupling, of Great Strickland, won the garden croquet classic at Solihull at his first attempt after taking up the sport just three years ago.
He said he had received a lot of help from Peter Sidey, of Little Strickland, himself a good player, who has a croquet lawn where Mr. Tupling plays most of his croquet.
PENRITH
The Secretary of State for the Environment, John Gummer, has announced that there will be a public inquiry into the bid by Alba Proteins Limited to relax conditions imposed on its infamous processing plant, formerly known as Wildriggs, on the outskirts of Penrith.
The latest public inquiry into the long-running saga is to begin on 29th April and is expected to last two days.
TEBAY
Staff at Cumbria County Council’s highways department have shown they are not prepared to duck out of a pressing problem!
Following an appeal by the residents of Brough, led by toddler Nicole Allison, calling for a warning sign to alert motorists to ducks crossing the road in the town, engineer Rob Lawley has written to confirm that a sign will be erected.
“It’s nice to know we are going to get the signs and at least it shows the county council also have a sense of humour,” said Nicole’s mother, Mrs. Anita Allison, who received a lighthearted letter from Mr. Lawley.
ALSTON
The death of Dr. Anthony Michael Brown, Temple Croft, Alston, at the age of 65, has meant the loss of a person who served the community of Alston Moor in many ways over the past 27 years.
Dr. Brown came to Alston in 1969, taking up an appointment as GP in partnership with the late Dr. John Hassan and later Dr. W. McConnachie. He soon became involved in local public affairs and was elected as a member of Alston Moor Rural District Council in1973.
He continued as a parish councillor until earlier this year.
50 YEARS AGO — 1971
KIRKBY STEPHEN
In the two weeks since proposals to ban large vehicles from the A.685 Kirkby Stephen-Kendal and A683 Kirkby Stephen-Sedbergh roads became known, the townspeople have enlisted the support of the county’s M.P., Mr. Michael Jopling, a mass protest has been called for and North Westmorland Rural Council have condemned the plan.
The main reason for the protest is that the bans would probably prevent hundreds of buses from the North-East using the route through Kirkby Stephen to the M.6 Interchange at Tebay and it is claimed that the whole economy of the town would be affected.
LOWTHER
Lowther Endowed School is due to have a new Headmaster at the turn of the year, when Mr. T. E. Gates retires to Penrith and is succeeded by a Wakefield man, Mr. Derek Peet, a married man in his thirties and with one child. Mr. Thomas Edward Gates, retiring at Christmas after over forty years in the teaching profession, succeeded Mr. J. J. Dando on the latter’s retirement in 1958.
He was previously Head of Shap Boys’ School and then, after the reorganisation at Shap, of the Secondary Modern School.
EDEN VALLEY
The freight and coal depots at Appleby West, Kirkby Stephen East and Warcop, which at present handle traffic in full wagon loads, will be closed on and from Monday, 18th October. Alternative facilities for the merchandise and coal will be provided at British Rail’s Freight Terminal and Coal Concentration Depot at Carlisle.
KESWICK
Keswick Urban Council Housing and Planning Committee on Monday asked the Surveyor (Mr. R. Lusher) to prepare a scheme for building about 80 more houses at Windebrowe.
The need for more houses for general letting had been stressed previously by Mr. S. T. Hogarth, who pointed out that there might be considerable delay if the Council went out of existence in the re-organisation of Local Government.
100 YEARS AGO — 1921
PENRITH
Colonel Turnbull, who succeeded Mr. C. de Courcy Parry as Chief Constable of Cumberland and Westmorland, has purchased the residence, Beacon Bank, from Mrs. Jacob, a daughter of the late Mr. Charles Graham. Colonel Turnbull now resides at Castle Head, Keswick.
SANDFORD
The United Methodist Church — the only place of worship in Sandford — which has been closed for some weeks for renovation, was reopened by Mrs. Wild, Warcop Hall. The Mayor of Appleby, Councillor J. Parkin, preached the sermon and Miss S. A. Richardson presided at the harmonium.
Supper was served by Mesdames Hall, Brown, Kersey, Crowther, Robinson, Cowperthwaite, Halmes and Lacey and the Misses Richardson, Hall, Brown and Kersey.
