150 YEARS AGO

STREET BEGGING

Thomas McKay was charged by PC Cassidy with begging at Oak Bank Terrace on Saturday afternoon. The prisoner stated that he was a native of Belfast, and was travelling to Wigton in search of employment, and had only asked for some bread at the houses. He was sent to prison for 14 days.

NEW LIFEBOAT FOR WHITEHAVEN

A certain sum of money was offered to the institution by a lady, whose name is not mentioned, but who has offered that sum for the purpose of providing a lifeboat for Whitehaven. What is wanted to be known is whether the trustees would like to exchange their present boat for a new one, in accordance with the offer of this lady.

July 25, 1865

125 YEARS AGO

LAMPLUGH SCHOOL CONCERT

This annual concert was held in the Parish School last Friday. The room was densely crowded. The way in which the scholars acquitted themselves must have given the highest satisfaction to Mr Walker. Praise must also be given to those friends who kindly came forward to help in making up the programme. The proceeds of the concert and tea are higher than on any previous occasion, being a little over £10.

KESWICK CONVENTION

More people have arrived in Keswick to attend the Convention this year than on any previous occasion. All the hotels, private lodging houses, farm houses and cottages in the town and for a radius of eight or 10 miles, are filled with people.

The convention has always taken place in wet weather, so much so that wet weather in Keswick and district has come to be called “Convention weather”.

July 24, 1890

100 YEARS AGO

FOUR MEN WOUNDED BY A GRENADE

Private Robert Haughin, son of Mr William Haughin, of Watch Hill, Aspatria, writes: “Four of our fellows were wounded on Sunday night. They were just standing in the trench underneath an iron sheeting when a German rifle grenade came right through and wounded all.”

July 22, 1915

75 YEARS AGO

CALDERBRIDGE PICNIC AND SPORTS

On account of the war, only the children’s events of these popular sports were held on Saturday. There was also a tea in the afternoon, and two hound trails in the evening, which proved to be great successes.

The arrangements were carried out by Mr J Stewart, secretary, and his committee. The children’s sports were conducted by Mr H Dougherty, headmaster, assisted by the teachers. Mrs Barker provided the tea, and a successful dance was held in the Gosforth Public Hall in the evening.

YOUNG EVACUEES TRY TO RETURN HOME

Six of the South Shields boys evacuated to St Bees last week soon sought to return home. They left their new homes on Tuesday about 2.30pm and headed for Whitehaven.

They were not missed, naturally, until after tea time. Three of them were interrogated by police in Whitehaven and returned to St Bees by bus.

July 18, 1940.

50 YEARS AGO

RUSSIAN VISITORS TO SELLAFIELD

Visitors to the UK Atomic Energy Authority’s Windscale Works and Calder Hall yesterday were five members of the USSR’s state committee for the utilisation of atomic energy led by the committee’s chairman Mr A M Petrosgants.

The visit was the sequel to an invitation extended by a former chairman of the UK atomic authority, Sir Roger Makins, now Lord Sheffield, during a visit to Moscow at the invitation of the USSR state committee in November 1962.

SCHOOLGIRL MODELS

Girls of St Begh’s Secondary School, Whitehaven, staged their first fashion show on Friday when they modelled clothes they had made during the past year.

Part of the school’s end-of- term activities, the parade was held in the school hall and watched by other girl students and members of staff.

July 29, 1965.

25 YEARS AGO

MAYOR TAKES TEA WITH THE QUEEN

Copeland’s mayor Coun Andrew Benson attended the Royal Garden Party at Buckingham Palace yesterday.

“I feel great,” said Mr Benson, before setting off. “I think it’s a great honour to go down to the Royal Garden Party on behalf of the borough council.” He was being accompanied by his wife, Mrs Brenda Benson, instead of their daughter, Susan Ann Lewis, who is Copeland’s mayoress.

POLYSTYRENE ISLAND:

Wildlife on Cleator’s Longlands Lake has a new home – an island made of polystyrene!

Cumbria Wildlife Trust received a £400 grant from Shell’s ‘Better Britain’ fund for the scheme. Trust officer Lee Robinson designed the island, which was built by four 15-year-old pupils from Wyndham School. David Harrison, Craig Jackson, Paul Fussell and Stephen Long have been working on the project since Christmas.

July 26, 1990.