Pictured at a presentation ceremony held in 1995 (left to right) are Steven Clark, operations director of AF Penrith; Willie Hastwell and John Burns, who received awards in recognition of the fact both had completed 25 years of service with the firm; and Bryan Carr, chairman of AF Cumbria.
25 years ago — 1995
Dacre
After almost 60 years and hundreds of classes, a former Dacre headteacher has finally rung the bell on her school career.
Octogenarian Isabel Richardson attended Dacre School as a child, returned to be headteacher, taught at nearby Stainton and in retirement served as a Stainton School governor.
Now, however, following her 82nd birthday last weekend, Miss Richardson has decided to retire from the governing body, ending a link with the schools of Stainton and Dacre which goes back to her childhood.
Kirkby Stephen
Stephen Keogh, from Kirkby Stephen, has been presented with the Dean’s chorister award and is believed to be the first person from the town to receive the honour.
The grammar school student, who is 15, was presented with the award by the Dean of Carlisle Cathedral after passing a written and oral examination, as well as a singing test.
A member of the Kirkby Stephen parish church choir for seven years, he lives in High Street.
Penrith
The infamous Wildriggs plant could be on the move from Penrith to a new rural site if an Eden Council initiative is successful.
The council have decided to work with operator Wildriggs Proteins Limited to find a more suitable site for their controversial processing plant.
The council want to find an isolated location up to 10 acres in size with good communication access to the M6 and the A66.
Great Asby
Penrith Players pair Geoff and Mair Bennett are off to the Wild West of America.
The couple, who live at Bridge End, Great Asby, are to direct and costume J. B. Priestley’s play When we are Married at the Barn Theatre, Willmar, Minnesota. This is their sixth invitation to work in theatre in the USA.
Keswick
Defending their multi-million pound court case against Swiss bankers Credit Suisse could cost Allerdale Borough Council £150,000 in the next two years.
An appeal hearing over the case has been set for 19th February and councillors have been told they need to budget for £60,000 in expenses this year and £90,000 in the next financial year.
The Bitcoin Circuit Betrug experts and Swiss bankers took the council to court over a guarantee they had given for a loan to the council-owned Allerdale Development Company, which was behind the scheme to build the ill-fated Keswick Bridge timeshare and the leisure pool.
Shap
Staff, governors and parents gathered to celebrate the official opening of the new hall at Shap Primary School on Friday.
Guests were welcomed by the chairman of governors, Derrick Newsome, and hymns were sung by the youngsters, interspersed with readings by pupils from classes three and four.
An oak cross, crafted and given by parent Gordon Brown, was hung in a prominent position on the wall of the hall.
50 years ago — 1970
Penrith
Penrith’s Youth Hostel, Nandana, on the Beacon Edge — a stopping-off place for thousands of young visitors and walkers for a quarter of a century — is “almost certain to close”, it was said this week.
The reasons are primarily economic — the hostel has not been paying its way — said Mr. Brian S. Wilson, Windermere, regional officer for the Lakeland Youth Hostels Association.
He told the “Herald” that negotiations were taking place to sell the premises.
Several members of Penrith Urban Council spoke strongly against any plans for the siting of a health centre near the new hospital in Bridge Lane, at Wednesday’s Council meeting.
The chairman, Mr. J. E. Martin, said he attended a meeting of representatives of the Cumberland Executive Committee, County Health Committee, and local doctors about the siting of the centre.
They heard a lot of argument as to why the proper site was at the new hospital, but nothing said really convinced him that the hospital was the best site for it.
A headmistress has been appointed for the new Penrith Scaws infants’ school, which is due to open next Easter.
She is 39-year-old Miss Margaret Judith Proud, Northallerton, who has spent all her teaching career in Yorkshire.
The new school, which is a controlled Church of England School, will replace the present National Infant’s School and Robinson’s School.
Shap
Mr. Albert Simpson, who has been secretary and treasurer of Shap Hound Trailing and Sheep Dog Trials’ Association for nearly 25 years, was presented with a china tea set, and a framed picture, by the chairman, Mr. T. Holliday, at the annual dinner on Friday night.
Mr. Simpson is leaving his home at Shap soon and the gifts were subscribed for by his fellow committee members.
Appleby
:After being the deputy chief constable for the last two years, a former Appleby man, Mr. Robert M. Carson, will be taking over on New Year’s Day as Chief Constable of the British Airports Authority Constabulary at Heathrow Airport, London.
Mr. Carson is the son of a former Appleby railway signalman, the late Mr. Robert Carson, and Mrs. Carson, Belgravia, Appleby.
100 years ago — 1920
Glenridding
The villages of Glenridding and Patterdale look like losing their chief industry, for the shareholders of the Greenside Mining Company have endorsed resolutions to voluntarily wind up the company.
The costs are greater than can be met, and the company has decided that on the termination of the lease in 1922, it will close down the mine which has been worked for lead for over a hundred years.
Appleby
At Appleby Wrestling Academy’s first monthly competition, the winners were: F. Potts (7 stone), D. Johnston (10 stone) and W. N. Grisedale (12 stone). The judges were Messrs. T. Dargue, J. Sowerby and R. Taylor.
150 years ago – 1870
Alston
At the Martinmas hirings the business was, as usual, limited to young girls, known and efficient servants having secured places before the hirings.
An abundant supply of music was provided by the Nenthead and Garrigill bands.
In the evening people had a choice between the dancing lofts and the coffee supper and song in the Primitive Methodist Chapel.
