April 9
25 years ago – 1997
Cumbria
Two long-serving county councillors in Eden, Raven Frankland and Joan Robinson, have decided not to seek re-election after a combined total of 39 years’ service. Mr Frankland, of Bowberhead, Ravenstonedale, has been the Conservative representative for Kirkby Stephen on the county council since it was formed in 1974 and before that he represented the Ravenstonedale division on Westmorland County Council for four years. Joan Robinson is a former Liberal Democrat group leader on the county council for almost 10 years and has represented Penrith North West.
Appleby
One of Cumbria’s oldest residents, Margaret Stamper, celebrates her 106th birthday today. Mrs Stamper, who was born on 5th April, 1891, at Heather Hall, near Berwick, in Northumberland, but moved to Appleby in 1913. She still has her own home in the town’s Bongate. Her first work was as a nanny, before moving to Appleby to work for Lord and Lady Hothfield in the Appleby Castle laundry.
Three Appleby Grammar School teachers are retiring after having together served more than 50 years at the school. Dave Padgett, who was appointed head of the intake centre at the school in 1972, is now teaching the children of some of his original pupils. Also retiring is Judith St Ruth, who joined the school staff in 1977, initially specialising as a needlework teacher but rising to become head of the home economics department. The third staff member, Chris Reed, joined the school in 1987 and quickly established himself as an integral part of the craft, design and technology department.
Alston
After a span of 129 years (1868-1997), St Paul’s Methodist Church, Alston, closed its doors at the weekend. Saturday was a day of thanksgiving and remembrance and began with a sumptuous tea in the afternoon, which was attended by a large crowd, including members from years gone by. Among them were Mr and Mrs Ralph Carr, who lived in Alston from 1947 until 1974 and were leading figures at St Paul’s.
Bampton
The running of the post office in an Eden village is proving to be a real family affair. Bampton postmistress Maureen Barber is retiring and handing over the reins to her future daughter-in-law, Lynn Langdale. Mrs Barber and her husband Colin have had the post office in their house for 11 years. The plan is to transfer the post office to Norbrook House, Bampton, where Miss Langdale, aged 26, is also hoping to run a tea room.
Stainton
Equestrian enthusiast Elaine Richardson, from Stainton, won her first major Arab horse championship on Sunday with her 11-year-old gelding Sea Warrior. Elaine, aged 17, was exhibiting Sea Warrior at the Northern Horse and Pony Society’s show at Blackburn, Lancashire – an event which attracted about 400 entries.
50 years ago – 1972
Penrith
With the opening of Penrith’s long awaited swimming pool drawing closer, the appointment of the two men who will play a major part in launching the new venture was announced this week. The first manager of the new pool, nearing completion on the Southend playing field, is 47-year-old James D. Muir, a man whose working life has been devoted almost exclusively to swimming and swimming pools. Deputy manager is 42-year-old Thomas Noel Wharton, who has played a large part in the development and management of the open-air pool in his native village of Lazonby.
Ernest Bain, aged 49, sales manager, Netherend Road, Penrith, is the new Cumberland County Councillor for the town’s Western Division. An Independent, Mr Bain on Thursday won a straight fight with Labour’s Joe Morgan for the seat made vacant by Mr M. A. Wilson’s recent election as an alderman.
Thanks to Penrith Rugby Club, Penrith Gala has overcome the crisis of not being able to use the picturesque field at Pooley Bridge where the sports have taken place since 1950. The event will now be held, in a slightly shortened form, on Winters Park Rugby ground, on the southern outskirts of the town, on the traditional Spring Bank Holiday date, 29th May.
Troutbeck
Weeks of running up and down hills with a sack of potatoes on his back, together with regular sauna baths and massage, helped Tony Nicholson, farm manager, to become the new world coal-carrying champion. In the race at Gawthorpe, near Wakefield, on Monday, he covered the five-sixths of a mile course with a 1 cwt. bag of coal on his back in a record time of 4 minutes 34 seconds – six seconds faster than the previous best. Mr. Nicholson, 26, a fell runner from Troutbeck, Penrith, was competing for the first time.
Cumberland
Postcodes for addressing mail in Cumberland and North Westmorland are being introduced next week as part of the Post Office mechanisation program and every address will have a series of letters and numbers. The code will indicate not only the town but also the street and, in some cases, particular premises.
100 years ago – 1922
Caldbeck
Gateshead Watch Committee has appointed Inspector James Forsyth, second son of Mr Stamper Forsyth, Height Farm, Caldbeck, as Superintendent of the Borough Police Force. Inspector Forsyth joined the Force 21 years ago.
150 years ago – 1872
Alston
The railway line connecting Foxfold iron mines with Alston has now been opened. The line is about two miles long and the wagons are drawn by horses. There is a depot by the side of the road from which the metal is carted to the railway station. The line’s terminus is on the summit of Hartside, at a point where the range is crossed by the Penrith to Alston road and such has been the mildness of the weather that construction work has only stopped three times on account of snow.
