Looking back through the archives of the Cumberland & Westmorland Herald.
25 years ago – 1998
Penrith
Penrith’s Topper nightclub — the biggest in the North West outside Blackpool — has been sold for an undisclosed sum. Norman Higgins and his wife Jean bow out on 1st April from their Penrith Entertainment Centre, which incorporates Toppers and Caesars restaurant, but they will continue with their development companies, ARK Industries and ARK Rentals. Approaching 60, Mr. Higgins holds the record as the Penrith licensee with the longest record of service in one premises, having taken over at what was then the Red Coach in 1972.
Kirkby Stephen
The people of Kirkby Stephen were told this week to “get it into their heads” that the town’s bypass was not a priority of the county council — and would not be so for some time. Alf Horne, Labour councillor for Walney South, Barrow, reaffirmed at a meeting of the council’s economy and environment committee that the Labour group had made their decision on the matter.
Appleby
Wagon driver Derek Powell, Appleby, has retired after working for a total of 49 years for haulage firm Northern Foods Transport Distribution, Penrith, and their predecessor companies, the Express Dairy Company and Express Distribution. Mr. Powell started work in 1949 at the age of 16 at the Express Dairy’s milk processing plant at Appleby and became a driver a few years later, after National Service.
Calthwaite
The Four Seasons Farm Experience at Calthwaite will not reopen to visitors this spring because former proprietors Clive and Mandy Pattinson are retiring from farming. The 55-acre holding was originally used as part of the Pattinson family’s dairy enterprise, mainly for dry cows and young stock from their famed Jersey herd. The visitor centre opened four years ago.
Cumbria
Cumbrians formed a significant proportion of the 250,000 or more people — most of them from rural areas — who travelled to London to take part in the Countryside March. About 50 coachloads of farmers, field sports enthusiasts and others with rural interests travelled from the county to get over their message that the Government should take account of countryside opinions and needs when formulating policy.
50 years ago – 1973
Penrith
Two doctors’ wives, an artist and a forestry expert have drawn up a scheme for the re-design and layout of Penrith’s Corn Market after underground toilets in the centre of the area go out of use in a few weeks’ time. The scheme has been designed by artist Mrs. Patricia Winn, Wordsworth Street, Penrith, and trees for it have been selected by her husband, Mr. Michael Winn, lecturer at the Cumberland and Westmorland College of Forestry and Horticulture at Newton Rigg. Mrs. F. C. Edington, Graham Street, Penrith, and Mrs. K. Todd, Sockbridge, conducted consultations with traders in the area.
Lazonby
The Lazonby Village Hall Committee has decided not to continue with the organisation of the village May Day celebrations. The committee has decided to inform the people of the village of the decision as soon as possible in case any other interested people or organisations might like to make their own arrangements for the continuation of the May Day tradition.
Cumbria
The final run-in to the first election of 82 councillors to serve on the new Cumbria County Council began this week — the election, on Thursday, 12th April, will cost £30,000 and involve up to 1,000 council staff if fully contested. A total of 348,862 people will be eligible to vote.
Kirkby Stephen
A Kirkby Stephen man who has served many organisations in an unobtrusive and dependable manner was honoured by one of them — the Royal British Legion — on Wednesday. Mr. Harold Parkin, North Road, and his wife were guests at the at a function in the Fountain Cafe at which Mr. G. B. Harker presided and presented Mr. Parkin with the second highest award of the Legion — a gold badge.
Crackenthorpe
The little corrugated iron building which has served the hamlet of Crackenthorpe as a chapel since 1901 officially ceased to be a place of worship last week following the cancellation of the registration certificate by the Registrar General. It has stood neglected since 1971 and now, under a condition of the purchase of the site, reverts to the present owner of the land.
100 year ago – 1923
Penrith
Penrith Urban Council, as lessees of the racecourse, have refused to allow their tenants, the Golf Club, to play golf on Sundays. However, golf is played on that day on the portion of the links over which the Council has no control. At the Council meeting, Mr. I. G. Sim remarked: “It is a serious innovation. Nobody asked for Sunday football and we are evidently in for Sunday golf.”
Ullswater
Negotiations between the National Trust and the Greystoke Estate for the purchase of Glencoin Wood, on the shores of Ullswater, have fallen through, the Trust thinking that the asking price of £5,000 was more than it could raise. The property includes 200 acres of well-timbered fell and the cottages known as Seldom Seen.
