25 years ago – 1996
Penrith
Penrith councillor Joan Robinson was forced to leave Cumbria County Council’s policy meeting after requesting information on an internal audit about the Carlisle highways agency.
Mrs. Robinson, the Liberal Democrat leader on the county council, was ordered to leave by chairman Bill Minto after he ignored her repeated protestations that he was suppressing public debate on an issue of importance
The annual meetings of Penrith RAFA club and branch were held in the branch premises, when members were told of one of the best years in the history of the club. Mr. R. Bulman, reporting on the accounts on behalf of auditors, indicated that the club had made a profit of £16,000, with expenditure having been kept to a minimum, as in previous years.
Chairman Mr B. P. Reay said work is now in progress to improve the surroundings within the club — this being part of the committee’s way of thanking supporters.
Temple Sowerby
Three generations of the Cleasby family were invited to Temple Sowerby School to be interviewed by the pupils about life in the village and the school in past decades.
Jim Cleasby, the oldest member of the family, who is 93 this year, gave an enlightening and lively account of his life as a boy at the school. He even remembered his first day as a pupil, when his father took him to school and he wore clogs.
Other family members present were Michael, aged 52, and 16-year-old William.
Ravenstonedale
The vicar of Ravenstonedale, Tebay and Orton, Canon Colin Levey, has braved ice, snow and biting winds to undertake a fund-raising walk around the boundary of his three parishes. Canon Levey decided to do the walk during Lent.
The money raised is going to Victim Support.
Culgaith
Budding shepherd Austin Holmes, aged five, has suddenly seen the size of his flock increase fourfold — after his Jacob ewe gave birth to triplets.
Austin, who is a pupil at Culgaith School, is helped with his small “flock” by his grandfather, retired farmer Arthur Holmes, Holme Croft, Culgaith.
Austin takes his role as shepherd seriously and bottle-fed the triplets after they were born to give them a good start in life.
Appleby
Appleby Grammar School teacher Judy Gray has returned to the town after spending one year teaching in New Zealand.
Miss Gray, a mathematics teacher, came to the area in 1989 to teach at the grammar school and lives at Appleby.
In New Zealand, she taught mathematics at a college in a small rural town called Pahiatua, in the Taraua district.
50 years ago — 1971
Penrith
The move by Penrith Urban Council at a special meeting to compulsorily purchase Hartness’s bus station in Sandgate brought a strong reaction from Mr. A. D. Hewetson, managing director of Messrs. Barnett and Graham, the Catterlen firm of haulage contractors who bought the property and bus services a week previously.
Mr. Hewetson described the Council’s action as “little Hitlerism” and announced his intention to fight the compulsory purchase order.
Cumberland and Westmorland
A number of Westmoralnd villages and others on the East Fellside of Cumberland lose their bus services after next week.
These include Ravenstonedale, Newbiggin-on-Lune, Dufton, Knock, Milburn, Blencarn, Newbiggin (Temple Sowerby) and Kings Meaburn.
These routes are all run by Ribble Motor Services and the company state that this pruning of services brings them into line with the changing pattern of public demand.
Lakeland
The effects of the recent postal strike were described as “disastrous” for hoteliers in Lakeland whose booking plans, especially for the Easter holidays, have been disrupted.
Mr. James W. Huddart, proprietor of the Crown Hotel, Pooley Bridge, said: “The repercussions are bound to be disastrous for most hoteliers in the area.”
Mr Huddart said many people would now be banking on a good summer and the hope that the recently-opened M.6, which passes very close to the Lakes, would bring in more tourists.
Dacre
Her family’s move from the hustle of London to the tranquility of a 13th Century castle in Cumberland is the subject of a book written by Mrs. Bunty Kinsman, wife of Mr. Anthony Kinsman, Dacre Castle, which will be published in May.
Written mainly for her own benefit from countless diaries “Pawn Takes Castle” deals with the contrast between the hectic social life of the capital and the quiet of the countryside; the multitude of problems arising from living in a mediaeval home; and the activities of her four children and the veritable zoo of pets which they have since amassed.
100 years ago — 1921
Appleby
Mr. Walter Bertwistle, Preston, a frequent visitor who takes a great interest in Appleby, has offered a gift of two halberds to be handed to each successive mayor and to be in his personal custody during his year in office. The Mayor (Mr. J. Parkin) received the gift.
Patterdale
After her performance at a concert in the Glenridding Public Hall, 9-year-old Clarice Kemp is to be known as the “Patterdale Nightingale”.
The concert was held to help Mr. A. Curnow (who is in ill-health) and his family go back to the more genial climate of their native Cornwall. Mr. Ewert Richards was the organiser and Mr. W. H. Marshall presided.
150 years ago — 1871
Appleby
The first stone has been laid at the tunnel at Helm, on the new Carlisle and Settle branch of the Midland Railway.
The tunnel is about four miles from Appleby near a farmhouse known as the Helm, where the contractor, Mr. Joseph Firbank, has erected a large number of temporary cottages.
