Looking back through the archives of the Cumberland & Westmorland Herald.
25 years ago — 1998
Penrith
A new day room was officially opened at Penrith Hospital by retired general practitioner Dr. Hugh Barr. Dr. Barr is also a member of the League of Friends of Penrith and Eden Community Hospital who raised £30,000 towards the cost of the Carleton Ward day room and an occupational therapy and speech therapy department.
Former Penrith and Netherfield cricketer Dale Iniff has signed for Northamptonshire and is hopeful of playing first-class cricket within the next couple of years. The 20-year-old medium pace left arm bowler played for Glamorgan second XI last year but was also invited to attend a trial at Northants at which he impressed coaching staff.
Eden Valley
Dr. David Horrobin, a pharmaceuticals developer who has a home in the Eden Valley, is one of the richest people in Britain, according to the Sunday Times. Dr. Horrobin and his family are worth £60 million, placing them in equal 357th place in the “Rich List 1998”. Dr. Horrobin, son of Eden Valley resident Mrs. Betty Horrobin and the late Fred Horrobin, whose photography used to appear regularly in the Herald, founded Scotia Pharmaceuticals in 1979.
Alston
Age Concern Eden and the clients of Alston Day Centre held a surprise tea party to mark the retirement of day care co-ordinator Margaret Duck, after 18 years of service in Alston. Mrs. Duck’s kindness and generosity are well known throughout the district.
Brough
William “Lance” Steel, who has died aged 84, was one of the most friendly and popular residents of Brough, having spent his entire life there. Brought up by his grandmother in Brough, he attended the local school. He began working for Frank Allison, becoming foreman fitter, and later was employed in the same capacity by both Watson Sayer and Ben Sayer.
50 years ago — 1973
Appleby
An international business finance expert who hit the headlines in the national press last year when imprisoned in Uganda by General Amin is the new owner of Appleby’s Tufton Arms Hotel. He is Mr. Donald B. Stewart, who moved into the Tufton Arms on Wednesday with his family from Langport, near Taunton, in Somerset, where he has owned the Langport Arms Hotel for the past four years.
Cumberland
Attention to the vastly improved accident record of the A.6-M.6 in Cumberland compared with the A.6 five years ago was drawn by the Clerk to Penrith Rural Council (Mr. A. D. Brown)) at the meeting of the Rural Road Safety Committee. He said that, whereas there had been 83 serious or fatal accidents on the A.6 in 1967, the A.6-M.6 total for 1972 was down to 43, a drop of almost 50 per cent.
Barras
The well-known Stainmore farmer, magistrate and former county councillor Mr. Christopher Beckwith, Manor House, Barras, has died at the age of 49. Mr. Beckwith had been in indifferent health for about six months but had recently resumed his activities, including the chairmanship of the Kirkby Stephen magistrates, and the news of his death came as a big shock.
Penrith
Penrith soccer club’s appeal for funds to erect floodlights on the Southend Road ground should receive a boost when the club promotes a match between a Penrith F.C. XI and a Northern All-stars XI who have been formed into a side by Carlisle United’s physiotherapist, Mr. Herbert Nicholson, himself a former Penrithian. The All-stars will include Joe Dean, former Carlisle and Bolton goalkeeper; Ron (“Ginger”) Thompson, who made a record number of appearances for Carlisle United; and Geoff Allen, ex-Newcastle United.
100 years ago — 1923
Penrith
Mr. T. Edmondson, pioneer of the Castle Park scheme, has been chosen as the new Chairman of Penrith Urban Council. He is Chairman of the Castle Acquisition Committee. The retiring Chairman is Mr. John Richardson.
Kirkby Stephen
There was a good entry at the Kirkby Stephen stallion show for one of the five premiums offered by the Board of Agriculture. The premium was awarded to Mr. T. H. Relph, Drybarrows, Bampton, with Walthwaite Ranger, and reserve was Mrs. Metcalfe, Moor Riggs, Mallerstang, with Pendragon Comet.
