25 years ago – 1996
Penrith
Penrith sub-postmaster Colin Nineham has been rewarded for his recycling work over the past six years with a special Post Office award.
The people in the community award, which came as a result of nominations, came as a complete surprise to Mr. Nineham, of Scotland Road, who discovered in a Post Office magazine that he was one of the winners.
He began recycling paper when he worked for Penrith fire brigade.
He then moved on to cans, bottles and textiles which helped raise extra cash.
The Christmas freeze and New Year thaw wreaked havoc with water supplies this week as burst pipes and leaks caused thousands of pounds worth of damage.
North West Water described the situation as “extremely serious”, with Penrith among the regions badly affected by reduced water pressure and temporary loss of supply.
Mike Clementson, who works as an insurance loss adjuster for the Miller Knight Group in the Eden Valley, said it was the busiest time for insurance claims since the hurricane of 1987.
Two mini-roundabouts are to be installed at the junction of Fell Lane and Sandgate, Penrith, for a three-month trial period.
They will be built in January, weather permitting, and will operate for three months so that Cumbria County Council can assess the benefits.
“The main reason for the mini-roundabouts is to increase safety at these junctions,” said county highways engineer Rob Lawley.
Appleby
Appleby Golf Club members Andrew Morrison and Gillian Riley have both been elected county captains.
Andrew, who was a scratch golfer for many years and now plays off a handicap of two, succeeds John Lowthian, who held the position for four years.
Lady captain Gill took early retirement from her job as a teacher and moved to Cumbria, where she joined Appleby Golf Club in 1990 and became lady captain three years later.
Great Salkeld
Eden climber Simon Yates is hoping to scale new heights when he sets off on his latest expedition in August.
Simon, who lives at Kirkhouses, Great Salkeld, and his American-born companion Steve Sustad will attempt the first climb of Makrong Shhish’s east ridge, standing at 6,607 metres above sea level in Pakistan’s Karakorum range.
Simon said: “The mountain itself has been attempted many times, but not successfully, and this will be the first attempt along this ridge.”
Cumbria
Mountaineer Chris Bonington, who lives at Hesket-new-Market, says he feels “privileged and honoured” after receiving a knighthood in the New Year honours list.
Also honoured in the list were Cumberland & Westmorland Herald director George Veitch, who received an OBE for his work with Cumbria’s Special Constabulary; former Cumbria Chief Constable Leslie Sharp, who received a knighthood; Appleby charity fund-raiser Mrs. Doris Bainbridge, who received an MBE; and Bill Bentley, of Newby, who received an OBE for his work with the Prison Service.
50 years ago – 1976
Penrith
The Member of Parliament for Penrith and Border, Lord President of the Privy Council, and Leader of the House of Commons, Mr. William S. I. Whitelaw, paid a special visit to “No. 10” on Wednesday afternoon – when he stood outside the vacant premises and formally declared them open!
They were no. 10, Hanover Court, Brunswick Square, Penrith, one of twenty flats in Penrith’s newest two-storey development behind Brunswick Hall, built specially for elderly independent people by the Hanover Housing Association.
The completion of the £65,750 project marks a new departure in housing for Penrith.
Nandana, Penrith’s handsome Youth Hostel on the Beacon Edge, has been sold and will not open again as a hostel, it was announced this week.
The former mansion – which has been in use as a youth hostel since 1945 – has been bought by Mr. S. Pickering, builder, Arthur Street, Penrith, for £12,750. Mr. Pickering intends to revert it to a private house and erect two other dwellings in the grounds.
“Look after the place – You asked for it, you have been involved in its construction and now it’s yours,” declared Mr. P. G. Cross, Millom, Chairman of the Cumberland Education Youth Sub-Committee, opening Penrith’s new £15,000 Youth Centre on Monday evening.
Erection of the Centre, near Ullswater School, followed a protest meeting by Penrith teenagers, who later marched through the town carrying placards calling for better facilities.
Kirkby Stephen
Members of Kirkby Stephen Parish Council invited their Chairman, Mr. F. W Parrott, to a dinner in the Fountain Cafe on the eve of his 80th birthday.
Mr. Parrott has been a member of the council for over 31 years and its chairman for 12 years.
After a splendid meal, served by Mr. F. Lees and staff, Mr. Tom Simpson (vice-chairman) referred to the many activities of Mr. Parrott and stated that many younger people in the town had reason to thank him for his interest in their welfare.
Keswick
Plans are now being drawn up by the Ministry of Transport’s North-Western Road Unit for a long viaduct, which might be 100 feet high, to carry the A.66 road over rivers and low ground near Keswick.
The Ministry is planning improvements to the road which carries traffic between the M.6 at Penrith and West Cumberland and proposals were recently announced to make sections of the road near Bassenthwaite into dual carriageway.
100 years ago – 1921
Penrith
The New Year honours list contained a knighthood for Lieutenant-General M. F. Rimington, colonel of the Iniskilling Dragoons, a brother of Mr. G. A. Rimington, Tyenfield, and the Misses Rimington, Castle View.
He will long be remembered for his work in raising the famous “Rimington Tigers” or “Rimington’s Scouts” during the South African War.
150 years ago – 1871
Eamont Bridge
At the meeting of the West Ward Board of Guardians, the Clerk (Mr. J. F. Shepherd) read a letter from the Poor Law Board agreeing to the Guardians’ acceptance of Mr. Cowper’s offer to them of the workhouse buildings, gardens and yards at Eamont Bridge for £800.
