25 years ago – 1995
Appleby
A native of Appleby is to become the first woman commandant of the Special Constabulary in Cumbria.
Mrs. Valerie Wallace will be one f only three female commandants in the country when she succeeds Penrithian George Veitch, who retires in December after 24 years’ service.
Mrs. Wallace, aged 55, is a retired teacher and lives at Houghton, near Carlisle, with her husband Neville.
She was born in Appleby when her father, Jimmy Hall, was stationed there as a policeman.
Temple Sowerby
The dream shared by millions to hold the FA Cup, one of football’s most prized trophies, came true for pupils of Temple Sowerby and Bolton schools.
The cup and the Charity Shield were brought to the school at Temple Sowerby courtesy of Everton FC, the holders of both pieces of soccer silverware.
This was made possible by the grandfather, Mr. Tamlin, of two Temple Sowerby pupils, Hannah and Becky Starr. Mr. Tamlin is one of the directors of the Everton club.
Ullswater
North West Water have won permission to begin abstracting emergency water supplies from Ullswater to make up for the shortfall from the drought-hit reservoir at Haweswater.
However, a water company spokesman said yesterday that this week’s heavy rain had given a badly-needed boost to supplies, meaning it was unlikely the emergency abstraction would be necessary.
Keswick
Keswick leisure pool has been closed for emergency repairs after it was discovered that bolts in the roof had sheared. It is the second time the pool has had to be closed by Allerdale Borough Council because of safety problems with the roof.
Penrith
Penrithian John Gordon Stordy, Fernleigh, Lowther Street, who died aged 50 last week, after a very short illness, was a devoted servant of football in the town, originally at junior level and latterly as a member of the committee of Penrith FC.
He did much work as a fund-raiser, at one time organising the drawings at home matches of the town team and also selling lottery tickets from a small kiosk in Devonshire Street.
A total of 5,424 people have signed a petition calling on John Gummer, the Secretary of State for the Environment, to take a tough line on the Wildriggs offal processing plant, near Penrith.
The petition was launched at a public meeting called by Eden District Labour Party in Penrith in September.
Bampton
Outside toilets at Bampton Primary School are to be replaced with indoor facilities, through an extension to one of the classrooms.
The governors of the school applied to the Lake District Planning Board to demolish the present toilet block and build new facilities in the lean-to extension.
50 years ago — 1970
Appleby
The church bells pealed, fanfares sounded and the stately black Phantom II Rolls-Royce purred sedately towards the Court carrying the bewigged and scarlet-robed Mr. Justice Brabin and his attendant officers — all for the final time, as the last Appleby Assizes began on Monday after more than 700 years.
Applebians, many with cameras and cine-cameras, turned out in their dozens to witness the impressive ceremonial and schoolchildren were taken along to witness what will now become a memory.
Penrith
Council officials in Cumberland and Westmorland are anxiously awaiting developments in the wages dispute which spread north this week with overtime bans and working to rule by manual employees.
Up to now only the large county authorities have been affected, although on Tuesday night in Penrith the strength of support for the National Union of Public Employees was indicated by sixty members of the town branch, some whom called for strike action.
Instead, the workers, all employees of Cumberland County Council, decided on a work-to-rule, which began on Thursday morning in support of the wage claim of an increase of £2 5s a week.
Keswick
“It will be a sorry day for Keswick if visitors have to walk down to Derwentwater through a tunnel, even if it is given the posh title of an underpass,” Sir Percy Hope, Keswick, told members of the Lake District Planning Board at Kendal on Tuesday.
Sir Percy was supporting the efforts of the Development Control Committee to have the design of the new road from Lake Road to Borrowdale Road, Keswick, amended.
Alston
Alston Rural Council is preparing its case against the proposal by British Railways to close the line to the town and members feel that not only is the railway a social necessity but that, properly managed, it could assist in promoting the area as a tourist attraction and could be run more economically.
Lazonby
A record price for the breed was created at Lazonby Auction Mart on Thursday when the eighth annual show and sale of registered Bluefaced Leicester rams was conducted by Penrith Farmers’ and Kidd’s on behalf of the Bluefaced Leicester Sheep Breeders’ Association.
The record was set when the champion ram, show by Messrs. Little, Cannerheugh, was bought for £520 by Mr. Robert Shadwick, Melbecks, Bassenthwaite.
100 years ago — 1920
Tebay
A signalman on the main railway line between Tebay and Lowgill saved the London express from crashing into the rear half of a goods train which had been derailed without the engine driver’s notice.
The signalman, noticing the absence of the tail light, sensed something was wrong and set the signals to stop the express. The passengers on the express presented the signalman with £20.
Alston
The Venerable Archdeacon Blackett-Ord distributed prizes at Alston School speech day, at which Mr. J. H. Millican presided. In his annual report, the headmaster, Mr. J. G. McIntosh, said that the school, which was originally built for 50 pupils, now had 79 and had practically reached its accommodation limit.
Councillor G. W. Storey proposed the vote of thanks to the Archdeacon, seconded by Mr. William Thompson, clerk to the school. The headmaster’s prize was won jointly by Mary Lee and Isabel Mordue.
