25 years ago – 1996
Orton
The Eden village of Orton is today bracing itself for an influx of some 1,500 visitors – three times its population – for the start of the UK’s only two-day mountain bike event, which will take place in the Howgills and North Pennines.
The Porelle-Polaris Challenge, recognised by many as the toughest mountain bike event in the world, has a maximum 1,200 competitors of all abilities.
The event is being co-ordinated locally by Michael Bonney, Orton.
Alston
A new cash machine has been installed at the Alston branch of the Midland Bank to help celebrate its centenary.
The Midland has been in Alston for 100 years since it took over Carlisle City and District Bank in 1896.
The first manager was Henry Whitfield and his great-nephew, also called Henry Whitfield, will officially unveil the new machine on Monday.
Keswick
Hundreds of messages of sympathy have been received by the family of popular former Keswick mayor George Hodgson, who died on Wednesday at the Cumberland Infirmary, Carlisle.
Mr Hodgson worked for more than 30 years for the Keswick Launch Company, eventually becoming secretary and manager.
He became a Keswick town councillor in 1974 and served as mayor in 1979.
Great Strickland
Nine-year-old Sonia Wright, of Great Strickland, has won a personal cassette player which is to be presented to her by a star of the children’s TV show Byker Grove.
Sonia is a pupil of Lowther Endowed School and this summer her class entered a competition to publicise National Asthma Week.
Sonia’s winning poster is to be displayed throughout school in north Cumbria in schools, doctors’ surgeries, hospitals, pharmacies and libraries.
Appleby
Building work on a new £200,000 multi-purpose hall at Appleby Primary School could begin in spring if those administering the National Lottery Sports Fund can be persuaded to provide cash for 40 per cent. of the cost.
Eric Wooff, chairman of the governors of the school, said that 60 per cent. of allocated community use for the hall had already been taken up by interested parties.
Mr. Wooff reported, however, that administrators at the National Lottery Sports Fund had suggested that the proposed scheme was not big enough and lacking in prestige, adding: “There is a misunderstanding of the needs of rural communities.”
Penrith
Eden councillors have given their backing for Penrith’s new traffic system to be made permanent.
The views of Eden’s works and leisure committee were sought as part of a consultation before a county council decision on the whether the scheme, which includes two-way traffic in Brunswick Road, should go ahead.
Many councillors felt that the aims of the scheme had been achieved, although Brian Metz (Penrith) felt the faster flow of traffic was hindering pedestrians.
50 years ago – 1971
Shap
Although Mr. C. Eric Arnison on Thursday conducted Shap Magistrates’ Court for the final time after 23 years as Clerk to the justices of West Westmorland, the 113-year-old tradition of members of the Arnison family holding the post is to carry on.
Only this week the Home Office confirmed the appointment of Eric Arnison’s son, Mr. Charles Arnison, as the next Clerk – the fifth member of the family to hold the position.
Cumberland
A “fantastic” transformation so far as accidents on a 10-mile stretch of the A.6 between Penrith and Carlisle are concerned is disclosed in a report just issued.
Sergt Matthew McMahon, police road safety officer at Penrith, reveals that during that during the quarter ended 30th September there were NO accidents on the A.6 stretch through the Penrith rural area.
During the previous quarter there were a total of 27 accidents on the road, in which four people died and a further 43 were injured.
Sergt. McMahon put the change down to the opening of the M.6 between Penrith and Carlisle.
Penrith
Competing under the experienced eye of one of the country’s leading horsewomen, Princess Anne, did not unsettle the steady hand of Mr. George Bowman, junior, Robinson Street, Penrith, who took the championship and second place in the double harness driving championship at the recent “Horse of the Year” show at the Wembley Stadium, London.
He achieved his success with two pais of atched greys, Pinky and Perky, and Bonnie and Clyde.
On Monday the first tenants moved into Newton House, Newton Road, Penrith, the former county maternity home, which has been converted by the Penrith Abbeyfield Society into accommodation for elderly people.
The building has been transformed into well-lighted, convenient units of accommodation, centrally heated and with all the corridors and common rooms luxuriously carpeted in cheerful colours.
Lowther Park
The development of a major caravan holiday centre at the Elysian Fields in Lowther Park is under way and should be in operation by the Easter of next year.
The Earl of Lonsdale is to be the Chairman of the directors of a new company, Lowther Caravan Park Ltd., which is in the process of formation.
100 years ago – 1921
Penrith
On the motion of Mr. F. Robinson, seconded by Mr. Branthwaite, the Penrith Homing Society has been revived and Mr. John Pattinson has been elected secretary.
Borrowdale
Messrs. E. Stanley and F. Jopson, Borrowdale, have taken up some large potatoes.
The former had six weighing 7lb and the latter had eight weighing 12lb.
Matterdale
The death took place of 95-year-old William Armstrong, The Lodge, Martindale, widely known as “lodge Willie”.
He had lost only one tooth, which he carried in his waistcoat pocket, and when asked how he had managed to keep his teeth, he replied: “By eating hard crusts and porridge.”
