25 years ago – 1996
KESWICK
A group of disabled adventurers have become the first to complete a descent of one of the world’s top white water rivers, thanks to the Calvert Trust in Keswick.
The group of 10, who included five wheelchair users with spinal injuries, made the descent of the Sun Kosi River in Nepal in 11 days. The party were totally self sufficient, camping on river beaches and carrying everything they needed on the rafts.
PENRITH
Sunday 1st December was very special in the lives of the members of Penrith Methodist Church, which reopened after a £760,000 redevelopment scheme.
The church they worship in Wordsworth Street was built in 1873 and underwent renovations in 1922 and 1972. But by the early 1990s it was becoming apparent that major repairs were needed to maintain the structure of the building. The newly refurbished building is a functional, accessible building with modern fittings, tasteful blending with the Victorian grandeur of the property.
The Penrith branch of Mind, the mental health charity is 10 years old this year and, to celebrate the occasion, volunteers have been honoured with the presentation of certificates.
Volunteers from the Befriending Scheme, Listening Ear Service and twice weekly drop-in centre were presented with certificated by county councillor Joan Robinson, Penrith, in recognition of their work.
Among the antics of Children in Need Charity fund-raisers in Eden on Friday, Barclays Bank Penrith branch staff member Wendy Lane sat in a bath of wallpaper paste to help raise money.
GREAT SALKELD
An emergency meeting of Great Salkeld Parish Council was held on Monday night to discuss urgent planning matters. There was animated debate over an application from the North Youth Moto Cross Club, which was accused of disturbing the peace of villagers. One councillor called it “a slap in the face” and the council opposed it by 4-1.
50 YEARS AGO – 1971
SOUTHWAITE
Detectives are investigating the disappearance of five manhole covers from the M.6 Motorway near Southwaite. Tools, worth £20, have been stolen from a County Council roadmen’s hut near Plumpton cross-roads.
SHAP
A beer lorry blaze was tackled on the M.6 Motorway. Firemen on Thursday spent over an hour in dealing with a fire which destroyed the nearside wheels of a six-wheel lorry on the M.6 near Shap. The lorry was loaded with twelve tons of beer.
GAMBLESBY
After receiving a letter from the Education Authority offering the school premises for use as a community centre, a meeting was held at Gamblesby in the Sunday school hall, on Tuesday. There was a good attendance and an almost unanimous vote was recorded to accept the Education Authority’s offer.
PENRITH
Penrith’s most regular time-keeper – the 84 year old clock on St. Andrew’s Churchtower -– “went on strike” on Monday, causing quite a headache for those attending the church’s “Chain of Prayer.”
Throughout Monday people visited the church to pray at quarter-hour intervals and from 3-15 p.m. onwards – the clock stopped – those without watches were presented with a problem.
“It couldn’t have happened at a more inconvenient time,” commented the Rev. T. H. M. Sampson, priest-in-charge at the church.
Rats are “a constant nuisance” at Ullswater School, Penrith Urban Council’s Health Committee was told recently by the Chief Public Health Inspector.
Committee members asked that the problem should be brought to the attention of the Director of Education, the Head of Ullswater School and the Head of the Rural Science Department.
100 YEARS AGO – 1921
KIRKBY STEPHEN
The oldest Oddfellow in England — he connected with the Order for about 72 years — Mr. Thomas Taylor has died in his 91st year. He was formerly a police sergeant at Kirkby Stephen.
APPLEBY
So few young players are coming on and there is such a lack of enthusiasm in the game that the Cricket Club, at their annual meeting, decided to engage a professional to coach the beginners.
For Appleby and District Fanciers’ Society’s annual poultry show in the Public Hall, entries were up by nearly 100 on the previous year. The award for the best pullet went to Mr. R. Fothergill, Milburn, while Mr. J. Doyles, Lancaster, had the best cockerel.
LOWTHER
It was decided to form a Women’s Institute at Lowther, under the presidency of the Countess of Lonsdale. Mrs. Woof and Mrs. Barnard were elected vice-presidents with Mrs. Bailey as secretary and treasurer.
150 years ago – 1871
HILTON
The eighth annual sheep meeting was held at the King’s Arms Inn and about 190 of the woolly tribe were penned, only one being un-claimed.
After the business, the company sat down to an excellent dinner prepared in Mr. and Mrs. Addison’s best style.
