Last updated 15:53, Wednesday, 30 April 2008

RALPH Lewthwaite is an eminently able presenter of a documentary about Whitehaven’s life during the second decade of the last century, once known as the Roaring Twenties.

Painlessly supported by a judicious injection of a dash or two of history, facts tumbled headlong from the lips. A shot of the peace parade reminded one of the dense housing in a town where the only green spaces were Castle Park and St Nicholas church yard, hardly a place for a frolic.

Views of the tiny, crowded New Houses with their few stand pipes and shared privies raised thoughts about health and hygiene for the miners and their families who dwelt there. Sadly they were not alone. Coal was the life-blood of the town. Screen lasses worked on the surface, sorting coal with their bare hands. Others hunted for scraps of coal on spoil heaps for heating in the home or to augment the weekly income.

Much is heard today about the perils of alcohol. In 1921 there were 65 pubs in the town – and temperance campaigns. People found employment in a plethora of commercial enterprises, four pawnbrokers and a workhouse.

Cinemas were set up. The Whitehaven News cost tuppence. The Castle was purchased anonymously and presented to the town for a hospital. Council houses appeared. Miners went on strike. There was rioting and looting.

The War Memorial was erected. The Loop Road was built. Bransty Arch was demolished. The ‘Clearway’ dredger arrived and there were explosions in the mines.

SPEAKING to the club at short notice, Bootle-born John Williams, now of Millom, motored north to display an impressive range of walking sticks, thumbsticks and shepherd’s crooks he has made.

A chance request from a farmer friend 30 years ago, to transform a ram’s horn, provided the springboard for what has become John’s hobby, which has earned admiration far and near.

In winter he seeks, with permission, up to 70 suitable sticks, mainly of hazel or blackthorn, during forays into local woods. About 10 will be shown at agricultural events.

Water buffalo horn is hard and jet black. Antlers are not malleable. Herdwick horns are judged the best material for shaping. Swaledales tend to have cracks allowing rainwater to soften the core.

Boiling the horn for about an hour is the first step. Then it is straightened with weights, even boulders, ropes, string, brute force, time and patience, filing, cutting, smoothing and decorative etching with dentist’s drills, follows.

John presented an example of this ancient form of recycling for a raffle which raised £82 for the Air Ambulance Service.