25 years ago – 1997
EDEN
Three Eden yachtsmen had to battle with 20ft waves when unexpected 60mph winds battered their boat during a race around the Isle of Man. Chris Ritson, of Appleby, and Penrithians Gary Sewell and Richard Griffiths were left without sails or an engine on their yacht when the wind defied weather forecasts during Monday’s Round Island Yacht Race. All three men got back to shore safely thanks to the Ramsey lifeboat.
BURNBANKS
A decision on a controversial scheme to rebuild a number of bungalows at an isolated site near Haweswater has been deferred. Members of the Lake District National Park Authority’s development control committee agreed on Monday to visit the site at Burnbanks, at the foot of Haweswater dam. North West Water wants to rebuild 12 semi-detached bungalows which were initially constructed as temporary accommodation for workers on the dam.
KESWICK
The head of Keswick police station has been appointed to a post with the Home Office in London. Inspector Julie McFee is being promoted to Chief Inspector and given a transfer to London for two years, to work on management changes. She will be joining the Police Information Technology Organisation, which is undergoing restructuring.
PENRITH
Former Penrith licensee Sylvia Ingham is to take part in an international “Tour of Hope” to publicise the work of the Roy Castle Cause for Hope Foundation, of which she is now chief executive. Mrs Ingham, who formerly ran the Gloucester Arms Hotel with husband Peter, will be accompanied by Fiona Castle, widow of the showbusiness star and entertainer Roy Castle, who launched the foundation a year before he died from lung cancer.
Conductor Ronald Emerson has twirled his baton for the last time for the Eden Singers, bringing to a crescendo a musical career spanning some 66 years. Mr Emerson, of Brent Gardens, Fell Lane, Penrith, founded the town-based choir and has been the conductor for 20 years. A boy soprano, tenor soloist, chorister and choirmaster, he has also played instruments in orchestra, dance and military bands.
Penrith professional Raj Hans made his former Vickers club suffer as they slumped to a nine-wicket defeat at Tynefield Park. The visitors were always struggling after opener Stephen Boyde fell for 0 in the first over to a good diving catch by wicket-keeper Richard Ostle off the bowling of Steve Peruzza. With Vickers all out for 96, Hans rattled up 54 as Penrith reached their target for the loss of just one wicket.
50 years ago — 1972
WARCOP
Members of Warcop Wesleyan Chapel held their centenary celebration service on Thursday — and will continue tomorrow — even though the chapel will not be a hundred until 1973! As no-one knew for sure when the chapel was officially opened, they had to go by the date on the building and that was the date of the laying of the corner stones. However, research by the Herald into its files of past issues solved the mystery only this week — the date of the opening ceremony was 19th June, 1873.
ALSTON
The death has occurred at her daughter’s residence at Penrith of Mildred Ethel Wright, Church Road, Alston, who was 75 years of age. Mrs Wright had been a widow for 33 years. Her husband, William Wright, came to Nenthead along with his brothers when they established Wright Bros. Coach Services Ltd.
PENRITH
Penrith branch of the National Farmers’ Union brought the past up to the present when it held a jubilee dinner-dance in the George Hotel where the inaugural meeting was held 50 years ago to the day. The only toast of the evening was proposed by Mr R. E. Burne, a director the the Herald, who as a young reporter recorded the foundation of the branch 50 years ago. Nearly 150 farmers and farmers’ wives attended, and the branch chairman, Mr G. H. W. Storey, Bampton, presided.
On Tuesday Penrith Farmers’ and Kidd’s had forward 60 newly calved dairy cattle, comprising 47 cows and 13 heifers, including 20 from accredited herds. A good quality show of accredited animals was on offer with prices reaching an all-time high with a top of £288 for a black and white cow from J. C. Bainbridge and Sons, Syke Side, Soulby.
CROSS FELL
On Saturday a bothy (a mountain shelter) was opened about a mile due north of the summit of Cross Fell near the site of an old mine. The bothy (map reference 691 354 on Penrith Sheet 83) is a memorial to a Midlands climber, John Gregory, who died as a result of an accident in the Alps on 6th April, 1968. It will in future be known as Greg’s Hut and will, with the kind permission of the owners, remain an open shelter for all to use.
100 years ago — 1922
ALSTON
The first cricket match to be played in Alston for about 10 years aroused considerable interest. It was between married and single members of the club on the Golden Lion field resulting in a win for the bachelors.
150 years ago — 1872
GAMBLESBY
The Gamblesby Fell Mining Company have cut and are now working what has the appearance of being an excellent and valuable deposit of ironstone. It is expected that they will soon employ a good number of hands which is very desirable in view of the numbers that are leaving the neighbourhood for want of remunerative employment.
MALLERSTANG
Sports were held in connection with Isaac Thwaites’s cellar opening when prizes were given for certain feats. Mr Murray of Mallerstang was the first man in the wrestling ring and Mr Purchas of Kirkby Stephen outstripped all other competitors in the foot race. Mr Parker, Sandbed, won a riding saddle for district trotting horses and Mr Hunter, Ravenstonedale, the all-comers prize for trotting. The principal event was a ride for ladies on horseback. The competitors took the one-mile course at a rattling pace and the winner of the handsome side-saddle was Mrs Carter on her mare Brown Fly.
