25 years ago – 1995
Kirkby Stephen
Cumbria County Council’s bid for £1.72 million funding for the Kirkby Stephen bypass has been rejected by the Department of Transport.
The news brought dismay and disappointment to those who have campaigned long and hard for the scheme, but delight to some residents who favour a ban on heavy lorries.
The bypass scheme, which has divided the town, had been listed as the county council’s number one priority for next year and if the money had been available work could have started almost immediately.
Kirkby Stephen parish councillor Nick Pemberton, who has been awarded a Northern Arts bursary, was invited to London by the editors of Ambit, a prestigious poetry magazine, to read several of his original poems.
He was due to read with influential poet Gavin Ewart, who sadly died before the engagement could be carried out.
Mr. Pemberton said he read on the night of the recent Brixton riot, and was only a few miles away from the clashes.
Alston
An Alston school is the first in Cumbria to receive the prestigious Investors in People award.
It was decided that Samuel King’s School should win the award because of a high standard of management.
School staff are said to be trained to a high standard. Headteacher Mrs. Janice Moore said: “We are delighted to have received the award because it rewards the commitment and hard work of our highly motivated staff.”
Keswick
A visit to Cockermouth youth club turned into a celebration of 15 years of work for young people for a Keswick woman.
Sheila Hawkrigg stepped down this week and was thrown a surprise “This is your youth worker life” by her colleagues and club members from both Keswick and Cockermouth.
Described as an ‘exemplary youth worker”, Mrs. Hawkrigg was a voluntary worker before being trained for the full-time role.
One of Keswick’s longest-established shops is closing down in the new year, after providing a unique service in the town for more than three decades.
The Laura Hardy ladies’ clothes shop, in Bank Street, is to close by March, when the lease of the building runs out.
“The shop was so unique, because of the service it gave, that all the regular customers are devastated at the closure,” said Irene Davis, a close friend of the late Mrs. Hardy.
Penrith
There was an increased entry of 35 prime pigs for the Christmas prize show and sale at Penrith mart on Monday.
The judge was Teddy Clark, Penrith. He awarded the championship to a air of cutters show by D. and L. I. Pigg, Linewath, Hesket-new-Market.
They realised 131p per kg to Messrs. Hodgson, Keswick.
Langwathby
Former Langwathby resident Dr. Constance Fligg Tipper has died at Penrith Hospital at the age of 101.
Dr. Tipper was a distinguished scientist at the forefront of metallurgy and engineering research for half a century, paving the way for other women to enter the profession.
She played a leading role in discoveries which proved vital in ship design, aircraft engineering and bridge construction.
During the war she produced a solution to the problem of Liberty ships breaking up in heavy Atlantic seas while bringing supplies to Britain.
50 years ago – 1970
Penrith
After over 53 years with the Penrith chemists, Thomas Edmondson Ltd., in Cornmarket, Miss Georgina Wilson is retiring on New Year’s Eve but she does not expect her “work-rate” will drop.
Miss Wilson, better known as “Georgie”, is a youthful 69 with a livewire personality and she intends to involve herself more in the type of voluntary work she has been associated with all her life.
It was on 21st October, 1917, that Miss Wilson began work at Edmondson’s, then as a book-keeper at 8s a week.
Now she is the company secretary, a position she has held for 15 years.
Scottish-born Inspector Walter A. McMurdo is to move from Penrith to Appleby, to take the place of Inspector Robert Blackburn who has retired from the Cumbria Force.
Promoted Inspector is Detective Sergeant John Joseph Lee who will move to Penrith to replace Inspector McMurdo.
For the past three years he has been with Workington C.I.D.
The “Doherty and Grinbergs Show” – scoring and kicking for your entertainment – could well have been the billing for Saturday’s Cumberland “derby” at Winters Park, where Penrith overwhelmed visiting Cockermouth by 24 clear points.
Irishman Doherty, a Penrith insurance company inspector, who scored four extremely fine tries, and motor mechanic “Josie” Grinbergs, who kicked three conversions and a penalty goal, were the stars of the afternoon.
Shap
A well known resident of Shap, who had been actively concerned over the years in many of its activities, Mr. Morland Woof, died at his home, Elm Garth, at the age of 64 years.
He had run the Fell Garage at the Southern end of the village on the A.6 for nearly a quarter of a century.
It was in 1946 that he took up the Fe4ll Garage and four years later started his own haulage business there.
Latterly, the business has been carried on by his son-in-law.
Dunfel
With ski-ing becoming a popular sport in Britain, Dun Fell standing 2,780 feet high in the Pennines is attracting more and more enthusiasts each season.
The numbers have now grown to such proportions that it has become necessary to provide services and to see that skiers keep to the allotted area.
Skiers making for the fells this winter will have to pay for their sport – which up to now has been free – at the rate of 3s. per day or £1 per season.
100 years ago – 1920
Stainton
The Stainton Institute, which has recently opened, has proved a great boon, and there are now over 50 members of the reading room.
Mr. John Gill was at the head of the table at a special dinner and Mr. William Dawson, the senior member, was vice-chairman.
Mr. John Bell proposed a toast to the donors and Mr. John Mounsey to the success of the Institute.
Pooley Bridge
There are reports of a proposal for the National Trust to acquire Dunmallet, Pooley Bridge, for the public.
It is heavily wooded and Major Hasell, the owner, is preparing to have it cleared. On the summit are the remains of ancient buildings, the purpose of which is now known.
150 years ago
Appleby
The typhoid fever epidemic in Appleby is declining and no fresh cases have been reported. There is no doubt that a more effective system of drainage is very much needed in and about the town.
