February 1951
HOWTOWN - The Westmorland planning committee said that they would approve plans for electricity supplies to Waternook, Howtown, and three farms in Martindale - Dale Head, Thrang Crag and Winter Crag - on condition that the lines were placed underground "in order to preserve the amenities of the area".
April 1952
KESWICK - Keswick's oldest male resident, Mr. William Chapplow, Eskin Street, died at the age of 96. A native of Martindale, he began work at the age of nine as a wood cutter with his father, who was head forester at Greystoke Castle. He claimed to have seen the first train on the Keswick-Penrith line. In the latter part of his life he worked for Miss Spedding, Mirehouse.
MARTINDALE - North Westmorland Rural Council discussed suggestions for the future use of Martindale School, following its closure. It was decided to approach the Lord of the Manor, Major E. W. Hasell, on the matter.
November 1952
HOWTOWN - The death took place, at the age of 82, of Mr. William Marshall, Waternook, Howtown, a retired innkeeper and farmer. At one time he managed the Travellers' Rest Inn, Glenridding, before becoming licensee of the Beehive Inn, Eamont Bridge.
January 1953
VILLAGE LIFE - Public notices included 14 advertisements of village hall dances - at Plumpton, Lazonby, Dufton, Kings Meaburn, Shap, Penruddock, Sandford, Great Strickland, Crosby Ravensworth, Cliburn, Askham, Dacre and Threlkeld, plus hunt balls at Howtown, Appleby and Penruddock and a farmers' ball at Skelton. In addition, 14 whist drives were advertised, five concerts and Penrith Players were to present The Holly and the Ivy in Lazonby New Hall, in aid of Edenside United AFC. A travelling cinema was showing The Man who Lost Himself, with Brian Aherne and Kay Francis, at Brough and Kirkoswald.
April 1953
MARTINDALE - All ten telephone lines on the Martindale exchange were out of order because of a fault in an aerial cable between Howtown and Martindale. The repair work involved a two-mile climb up the boulder-strewn fell slope by Post Office engineers.
May 1953
HOWTOWN - While working in the roof space of a cottage near Howtown, two Penrith electricians, Mr. S. Rigby and Mr. G. Salkeld, came across a box which was found to contain £52 in silver coins. The tenant knew nothing of the money and it was presumed that it must have been left by an earlier occupant "for safe keeping".
August 1953
MARTINDALE - The property committee of Westmorland County Council recommended that the former Martindale School building should be offered for sale at £300.
June 1958
ULLSWATER - Tragedy struck a party visiting Ullswater for a picnic. With two members of the party aboard, a motor launch overturned about 30 yards off-shore on the Howtown side of the lake. Despite rescue efforts by others, the couple went overboard and are presumed drowned. They are believed to be Captain Michael Jaffray and his wife, Sheila, of Barnard Castle. Dragging operations have been taking place for some time, but the aid of frogmen may be requested to recover the bodies.
July 1958
ULLSWATER [HOWTOWN] - There was heavy rain and very little wind when the cruiser Sharko (Joe Harrison) took out the course markers for the first racing event of the newly-formed Ullswater Motor Boat and Yacht Club, which was held from the club shore at Howtown. Many visitors and friends gathered to see seven yachts cross the line and beat across winds to the first marker in Halsteads Bay. There was plenty of excitement — Ken Jones (crew Mrs. Jean Jones) had to retire early, Frank Allison’s boat (crew Mrs. Pat Allison) capsized after only 10 minutes on passage and John Snaith’s Enterprise class dinghy was dismasted but he and his young crew, Master Brian Overs, repaired the damage and did well to finish in third place. The clear winner was Bob Gibson, in the GP 14, followed closely by Selwyn Kirwood in his unclassified 18 footer. Last to complete was Brian Heath with his two young sons in their Burnham 14, a valiant effort after a rather late start.
September 1958
MARTINDALE - A good deal of the oak in Martindale Old Church — the ancient building dedicated to St. Martin which stands about half a mile up Howgrain valley — has been found to be affected by woodworm. The old church is not now in regular use, having been superseded by the more recent church of St. Peter, situated at the top of Martindale Hause which was consecrated in 1882, but it is still visited by hundreds of people every year. Experts from Carlisle have assessed the damage caused by the woodworm and recommended appropriate treatment.
January 1976
MARTINDALE - New windows were being installed in St. Peter's Church, Martindale, in memory of a former Bishop of Carlisle. They were to be dedicated by the present Bishop, the Right Rev. David Halsey, in memory of Bishop Diggle who died in 1920. He was described in the inscription as a "lover of this dale and an eloquent fisherman for the souls of men". They were the gift of his son, Major Philip Diggle, a one-time Border Regiment officer.
September 1983
MARTINDALE - A forthcoming documentary on the Church of England is to include footage of a service at the Old Church, Martindale. A London-based film company spent an afternoon filming a communion service in the church, taken by the Rev. Jim Radcliffe, priest-in-charge of Barton and Pooley Bridge. The choice of church to illustrate a rural community was an easy one for producer Hugh Newsam, nephew of former Martindale vicar the Rev. Rowland Newsam. The footage will be used as part of the opening sequence of a Channel 4 documentary to be screened late in the year [1983].
