25 years ago – 1971
Penrith
Eden Council are to spend almost £30,000 on employing consultants to look into the possibilities of redeveloping the Southend Road area of Penrith.
Controversial plans for the redevelopment of the area, possibly by a large supermarket chain, were leaked to the Herald after councillors discussed the scheme behind closed doors.
Skirwith
Time has finally been called on a planning debate over whether an Eden village should be allowed to keep its public house.
A 120-name petition had been gathered in protest at plans to convert the former Sun Inn at Skirwith into a house.
Villagers argued that the community needed a public house.
However, members of Eden Council’s planning committee were recommended to approve the application after officers said it was considered unlikely that the premises would ever reopen as a pub.
A letter from brewery company Whitbread stated that the Sun Inn had been run by a tenant for 25 years, until he left in 1993.
After that it suffered a large decline in business until it reached the stage the brewery felt it was no longer commercially viable.
Alston
Children from Alston Moor excelled in an art competition which formed part of the North Pennines festival.
Winner in the 13-plus age group was Clair Pattinson, of Samuel King’s School, Alston, with her drawing of the town’s Barclays Bank. In the 8-12 age group, third place went to Adam Mounsey, of Samuel King’s School, for his study of Alston Church from The Butts.
Third prize in the youngest age group section went to Josie Goodwin, of Nenthead Primary School, for a colourful picture of a picnic and a rainbow.
Penruddock
Three members of a tiny Eden karate club have returned from the sport’s national championships with trophies.
The Blencathra Shotokan Karate Club, based at Penruddock, was set up in January, 1995, by its secretary and coach Ron Jones.
Members Michael Jones, of Penruddock, and Iain Ridehalgh, of Mungrisdale, both aged 12, returned from the SKKIF national championships, held near London, with third places in junior events.
Michael’s father, 50-year-old Ron, won a third place trophy in a senior men’s event after a break from competition of 22 years!
Greystoke
Most people find the Eden Valley a relatively relaxing place, but mechanic Nigel Blenkharn is finding the pace of life in the area much faster than he has become used to.
Nigel, aged 24, has just returned to his home at Greystoke from an 18-month stay at the Faraday base on the Antarctic peninsula, where he worked as a mechanic with the British Antarctic Survey.
50 years ago– 1971
Mosedale
Tiny, a four-year-old Border Lakeland cross terrier, was quite literally swept off her feet this week.
She had been near Harrop Pike, Mosedale, with her master, gamekeeper Mr. John George Hodgson, of Kemp How, Shap, when she was lifted about ten feet into the air by a golden eagle.
Mr. Hodgson said: “Just to scare the bird I fired my 12-bore shotgun and the eagle at once dropped the dog.”
Tiny, whose body bore signs of talon marks, was seen by a Penrith veterinary surgeon who advised Mr. Hodgson to give it plenty of rest.
Penrith
Well-known through her long association with the Alhambra Theatre, in Middlegate, Penrith, Mrs. Janet May Wilson, of Howard Terrace, died in the Cumberland Infirmary at the age of 42 years.
Mrs. Wilson, who first worked at the Alhambra as a cashier on the pay-box 26 years ago, had only in recent months been appointed manageress of the premises, now used for bingo.
North Westmorland
Increases in the price of coal for North Westmorland householders could follow an announcement that British Rail intend to stop coal deliveries to Appleby and Kirkby Stephen in September.
At the moment, coal merchants in the two towns are investigating alternative methods of getting supplies, but Col. Alexander Tomlinson, Chairman of the Westmorland Coal Merchants’ Association, assured the “Herald” this week that there would be no question of any shortage of supplies.
Appleby
Appleby-born goalkeeper John Simpson was given a night to remember when 9,000 Gillingham fans attended his testimonial match.
Tributes poured in from all parts of the football world for John — remembered as Sonny by friends in Appleby — who has played 609 games for Gillingham and looks certain to beat the record of 613 appearances set by Charlton Athletic goalkeeper Sam Bartram.
Arsenal ‘keeper Bob Wilson said: “To have completed 14 seasons and over 600 games is one of the most remarkable achievements I know of and I salute a fellow ‘keeper.”
Kirkoswald
If bungalows can be built for £3,160 each at Kirkoswald, why is it that homes cannot be provided for under £4,000 at Watermillock and Stainton?
This was the question asked by the vice-chairman of Penrith Rural Council, Mr. J. C. Monkhouse, Langwathby, at a meeting.
The council accepted a tender of £18,997 submitted by Todd Bros., Kirkoswald, for the erection of the six Kirkoswald bungalows.
100 years ago – 1921
Penrith
Sir Cecil Lowther has taken his seat in the House of Commons as the new coalition-unionist member for the Penrith and Cockermouth division.
Sleagill
At a meeting of the Guardians and Rural Council of the West Ward, it was reported that the cost of the election at Sleagill was £11 0s 6d.
As there were only 54 votes recorded, it worked out at 4s 2d per vote. The Chairman, Mr. J. C. Dent, welcomed the new member, Mr. T. B. Geldart.
150 years ago – 1871
Penrith
The Penrith Board of Health has had special sittings to consider the most effective means of arresting a smallpox outbreak.
It was decided to build a modern hospital for the reception of patients, and doctors are requested to report fresh outbreaks in order to prevent infection.
The town was believed to be generally in a pure condition and it was hoped that by due care on the part of the inhabitants, the disease would not assume alarming proportions.
