25 years ago — 1997
Penrith
There were some red faces at Penrith Conservative Club when it was left without a registration certificate — and no alcohol.
The certificate expired and members have this week been offered soft drinks or coffee from the bar instead of their more usual beer or spirits.
The licensing justices have agreed to an emergency application for renewal of the certificate.
Penrith-based rugby star Gordon Maclelland is on standby for a place in the England Colts team.
The 18-year-old prop forward played in an England trial at Wolverhampton and was put on standby for the side to play in the forthcoming Colts five nations competition.
He plays his club rugby for Waterloo, training at least three times a week with them, as well as his other rugby and college commitments.
Glassonby
Glassonby farmer George Hogarth took the championship at the Candlemas prize show and sale of prime sheep for the third year in a row at Lazonby mart this week.
Mr. Hogarth, Town End, took the championship and a silver cup given by the late Norman Little and his widow, Mrs. Winifred Little, with a pen of Texel cross hoggs.
They were purchased by Cranstons Quality Butchers, Kirkoswald, for £68.50 per head.
Newbiggin-on-Lune
The 10th annual concert of Newbiggin-on-Lune and Ravenstonedale was held in the Newbiggin-on-Lune public hall.
Originally the brainchild of Kate Lafferty and Vera Norman-Ballantyne, the concert is unique because it brings together all sections of the community and contains something for everybody.
Two members of the cast, Hilary Mirrey and Derek Boustead, have been involved from the beginning and have never missed a show.
50 years ago — 1972
Murton
A Murton couple — representing the Appleby team — carried off the £260 jackpot on Border Television’s “Mr. and Mrs.” program.
Mr. Gideon Booth and his wife, Marie, who live at Garth House, had got five of the six questions right and everything rested on whether Mr. Booth agreed with his wife’s belief that he did not know who painted the Mona Lisa.
He didn’t know the painter and the couple carried off the prize!
Mr. Booth, who runs an Appleby garage in partnership with his brother, Richard, entered the game because Border Television were appealing for contestants from Appleby.
Kirkby Thore
The jobs of 600 men employed by British Gypsum at their huge plaster board factory at Kirkby Thore and at the firm’s Birks and Newbiggin gypsum mines could be affected by the power crisis.
Yesterday the firm received Government directions that from next week the Birks and Newbiggin mines have to close down on four days a week and that electricity consumption at the factory must be reduced by fifty per cent.
Penrith
Medical authorities and doctors at Penrith are not yet relaxing the emergency measures introduced almost two weeks ago following the discovery of a case of smallpox involving a local boy — but the week-end sees a ray of optimism emanating from the special centre set up early last week in the Youth Centre, just a short distance from the Ullswater and Tynefield schools.
The Penrith Medical Officer of Health, Dr. John Connolly, told a “Herald” reporter: “We cannot afford to relax our efforts just yet — but I hope that after the week-end we may be able to end the daily surveillance so far as a great number of the 250 people now undergoing regular examinations are concerned.”
Appleby
Appleby Borough Council is to hold a special meeting to discuss making Alderman Donald Macdonald a Freeman of the Borough, it was decided at the Council meeting.
At present there are only two Freemen — Mr. J. F. Whitehead, who was Mayor six times during his Council service, and the King’s Own Royal Border Regiment.
Twice Mayor during his 25 years’ service on the Council — in 1952 and 1970 — Alderman Macdonald is the present Chairman of the Properties Committee.
Winton
An East Cumberland sporting personality, with a particular flair for the game of hockey — which he played for over 40 years — Mr. Kenneth W. Hope, Sunny Villa, Winton, has died suddenly.
He was 59. Mr. Hope had worked for many years at Messrs. Thompson’s Board Mills at Little Salkeld, latterly as shift foreman.
100 years ago — 1922
Penrith
Because of the serious spread of the influenza epidemic, the Cumberland Medical Officer, Dr. Morrison, has closed all schools in the county for a fortnight.
Foot and mouth disease is also still virulent in the two counties and auction marts have suspended sales while the Ullswater Foxhounds will not hunt again until the outbreak is over.
Appleby
Mrs. Amy H. Wilson, Cartmel, and formerly of Appleby, has sent Princess Mary a wedding present — a pair of white suede gloves with gauntlets, embroidered with grey silk and cut beads.
150 years ago — 1872
Great Salkeld
Edgar, the grand old bull whose enormous body could be covered with the prize cards it has won, has been sold by Mr. Thompson, Maiden Hill, to Sir Tatton Sykes, Yorkshire, for 300gns.
Mr. Thompson bought the animal from Mr. Saunders, Nunwick Hall, for 110gns.
