Last updated 15:26, Thursday, 05 June 2008

From the Whitehaven News files

THE LOST BOY: The boy who was lost in the snowstorm on the 5th of April, on the fells of the neighbourhood of Keswick, has not been found, although very diligent search has been made for him and his master, Mr Bennett, has bid a reward of £5 to any person who may discover him, dead or alive.

A story got afloat that the boy had been seen at a great distance from the place he was supposed to have been lost; but it appears that he had an impediment in his speech and that impediment was of so serious a nature as to render him quite unintelligible except to those who were used to him, for, not been able to call anything by its proper name, he had invented a kind of jargon of his own by which he could make himself understood to those immediately connected with him; but asd he had strayed away from the neighbourhood he would not have been able to ask a person whom he met the way back to Matterdale. The cur dog which went out with the boy on the morning he was lost did not return till 7 o’clock at night; no doubt the faithful beast had remained with him till he was dead.

– May 27, 1858

SIR, – In perusing the Whitehaven papers lent me by a Cumberland friend staying here, I observe that the question of sewer ventilation in your town is causing a good deal of discussion.

We have here no street-open ventilators, and, I trust, never shall, as they are, in my opinion, more injurious than beneficial.

I have noted that the medical officer to the town has recommended the use of iron pipes, to be placed a few inches above the eaves of the houses, and I can bear testimony to the efficacy of this recommendation. The system, as he suggests, is rightly carried out with us, and no new house is allowed to be occupied without being first fitted up with such a ventilator. Here the sewage matter is carried out of the town and applied to a farm belonging to the Commissioners, but I am not aware if such a plan could be beneficially adopted by your authorities - I am &c A Reader.

– May 31, 1883

SIR – I think it cannot be gainsaid that the Bill before the House of Commons – the Licensing Bill – is one of the most important measures, bearing on the well-being of the nation, that has been introduced during the past century. For years past we have had the churches and the temperance organisations calling out for an alliteration in the existing licensing laws, and now when a strong blow is being struck, we in Whitehaven are being left by these institutions to practically work out our own salvation True we have had pious resolutions passed and petitions signed but for active work, for the bearing of the lion and its den we have had to look in vain. Where are the temperance friendly societies, where the free will of the Church Council where the Bands of Hope, where the Church of England Temperance Society, are questions that are being freely asked, and echo answers “Where?” Might I remind these leaders of thought of the words of the Home Secretary to a deputation who waited upon him on behalf of the Bill? He said, “He hoped the deputation would remember that it would require more than petitions and resolutions to enable the Bill to become law, it would require work and that they (the deputation) would not have to confine their preaching to the converted but to the unconverted. That the various organisations may not quibble over pettifogging trifles such as why the Bill doesn’t include this, that or the other and allow the privilege to help in lifting the human race onto a higher platform of morality and let the opportunity of removing some of the snares out of the path of the rising generation do be thwarted by the liquor trade is the wish of - Yours, &c S.

– May 28th 1908.

75 years ago

A WONDERFUL transformation has taken place in The Beehive shop in Whitehaven.

Between closing on Saturday night and the opening on Monday morning, wholesale changes have been made to the layout of the store.

A new lift has been installed but workmen are still busy on the pneumatic tube system, which will carry the cash to a central office on the first floor, the recipient of which looks like a very complicated organ.

THE Cleator Moor gas works are to close after months of negotiations. Consumers will now obtain their gas service from Whitehaven.

OPENING a garden fete for the YMCA, Mrs Lacy Thompson, a well-known figure in the public life of Cumberland, advised young men to choose “nice, honest, straightforward girls” as wives.

“I have no time for the painted and powdered type, who wear men’s clothes,” she said.

– June 1 1933.

MAGISTRATES have refused to grant permission for a Whitehaven couple to marry because the man, 19, is of Roman Catholic faith and his 18-year-old fiancee is not.

The boys parents were not prepared to grant consent to the marriage as the girl would not become a Catholic, and town magistrates have seconded the refusal.

WHILE search parties were out on the Cumberland fell around Cleator Moor and Frizington looking for two young schoolboys reported missing, the lads were stowed away on a coal boat from Whitehaven and slipped ashore in Northern Ireland undiscovered.

The two boys, aged 12 and 11, slipped under a sheet of canvas when the SS Hullgate was docked at Whitehaven.

ALD W Stephenson, a former mayor of Whitehaven, a Freemason of the borough and, at the age of 75 a “father” of the town council, has cut the first sod on the site for the new RC infants school. The site is near the Corkickle estate and the new school will replace the old St Gregory and St Patrick’s School in Quay Street.

– June 5 1958.

THIS year’s Summer Exhibition of the Royal Academy includes a 6ft by 5ft painting of Whitehaven Harbour by Whitehaven artist Raymond Cowern.

Mr Cowern moved to Irish Street some years ago because he finds the town fascinating and productive for his painting.

THE Greenpeace Group has criticised the way approval is being given for a highly active waste store at Sellafield without a full public inquiry.

Cumbria County Council has raised no objection to the plans for the giant storage warehouse, and Copeland council are to vote on the issue in July.

LOWCA hooker George ‘Smiler’ Allen had plenty to beam about after being instrumental in clinching his team a place in the Matthew Brown League Cup final.

Allen starved visitors Egremont of the ball in the last quarter of the game and scored the winning try as Lowca recovered from 10-3 down to win 11-10.

Allen also scored a drop-goal, Trevor Ennis scored a try and goals came from Alan Bone and Stephen Hodgson. For Egremont, David Lightfoot and Gary Smith scored tries and John Taylor scored two goals.

– June 2 1983.