25 years ago – 1996
APPLEBY
Three athletes who are all registered blind completed a gruelling triathlon to raise funds for the Eden Voluntary Society for the Blind and Partially Sighted.
Steve Barton, Penrith, Tim Sawyer, Kirkby Stephen, and Angela Cameron, Little Corby, gathered at Appleby swimming pool before the start of the run, swim and bike ride. Staff from the pool helped with the organisation of the event and clothing was provided by Tony’s Sports and Leisure, of Appleby.
ALSTON
The prominent Methodist Church buildings in Alston have been bought by a Penrith family firm.
M. C. Ferguson expect to open a shop in the Methodist schoolroom next year and to use the extensive basement rooms in the church for storage and office space. However, there are no firm plans as yet for the main part of the spacious St. Pauls Church.
PENRITH
Penrith is losing one of its best-known businesses, the high class shoe shop John Guest, in King Street, where once you could order shoes made-to-measure from elephant ears or the hide of a water bison.
Owner Peter Connon will close the shop at the end of January as a result of his decision to retire from it and the retirement of a key member of staff.
Mr. Connon bought the business 36 years ago and its closure will end his long retailing association with the town. A year ago he closed his ladies’ fashion business in a neighbouring property which is now a charity shop.
Penrith’s swimming pool, currently being revamped to provide updated changing facilities and a new learner pool, is to get a name change.
The operation of Eden Council’s leisure facilities is currently being transferred to Glendale Leisure Limited and the company have suggested the building on Southend Road be re-named Penrith Leisure Centre following the refurbishment.
DUFTON
The death has occurred of Dufton farmer James Dennis Johnston, at the age of 71.
Mr. Johnston was born at Dufton Wood, near Dufton, and lived there all his life until a few months ago, when he retired from farming and moved to live in Appleby. He and his family had a lifelong association with Espland Hill Methodist Chapel, at which he attended regularly as part of the congregation.#
GARRIGILL
A service on Sunday at St. Augustine’s Church, Alston, to honour the Rev. Mary Gill, Old School House, Garrigill, on her presentation for ordination as a priest, drew a large congregation. Mrs. Gill had served as a deacon for the past eight years after her ordination at the Cathedral Church of St. Nicholas, Newcastle-upon-Tyne.
50 YEARS AGO — 1971
APPLEBY
The Chairman of Appleby magistrates, Mr. L. S. Chapman, is retiring after almost twenty years on the Bench, the last six as its Chairman.
He is being succeeded by a farmer, Mr. F. G. Baxter, Bolton Lodge, Bolton, a magistrate for nine years. Mr. Baxter is a native of Newcastle and, before beginning farming on his own account, was a lecturer at the then Cumberland and Westmorland Farm School at Newton Rigg.
HAWESWATER
The Water Resources Board, following investigations, has come to the conclusion that it would be feasible to enlarge Manchester Corporation’s reservoir at Haweswater by building a new 300ft. high dam and to construct new reservoirs at Borrow Beck (on the Shap Fells) at Killington and at Hellifield.
LANGWATHBY
A Langwathby lady received the best Christmas present any mother could have when her oldest son turned up on a surprise visit from Australia.
He was Mr. Tom Cleator, son of Mr. and Mrs. T. Cleator, White House, who emigrated nearly nine years ago. Mr. Cleator fully intended just turning up on the doorstep for Christmas, but when he reached Carlisle thought he had better warn his mother by telegram, with the message: “In Carlisle. Home today. Very merry Christmas, Tom.”
KESWICK
A plaque bearing the names of employees of the old Cockermouth, Keswick and Penrith Railway Company, and affixed to Keswick Station, has been offered to Keswick Urban Council by British Rail following the decision to close the Keswick-Penrith line.
It had been intended to transfer the plaque to Penrith. As Keswick had been the headquarters of the old company, however, it seemed more appropriate to allow it to remain.
100 YEARS AGO — 1921
LOWTHER
The Earl and Countess of Lonsdale distributed 30 blankets and the beef of two cattle to workmen and others at Lowther and Askham on St. Thomas’s Day.
150 YEARS AGO — 1871
PENRITH
A little boy appeared at the Petty Sessions to answer a charge of making a “slide” in Sandgate. Inspector Bertram said there were upward of 50 or 60 boys engaged in making the slide, which was between 50 and 60 yards in length, right down the middle of the thoroughfare.
If the practice was not stopped, it would not be possible for traffic to get into the street.
The boy was fined one shilling and two other “very small specimens of humanity” were also fined one shilling for making a similar “slide” in Brunswick Square.
