January 1954

PATTERDALE - The death of Mr. Thomas Shaw, Deepdale Bridge, Patterdale, at the age of 76, came as a great shock to his many friends. A native of Coniston, he went to Patterdale as manager of the Candale Green Slate Company, which re-opened a long-closed slate quarry at Hartsop. Later, as manager of the Hartsop Hall Mining Syndicate, he re-opened disused lead mines above Hartsop Hall, later retiring on medical advice.

March 1954

KESWICK - The death took place, at the age of 77, of Mr. Denis Marshall, the last of the male side of the Marshall family, three generations of whom had played a leading part in the life of Keswick and district, once owning Derwent Island and St. Herbert's Island, on Derwentwater. Denis, a former housemaster at Sedbergh School, gave the islands to the National Trust. [I presume this is the same Marshall family as owned Patterdale Hall and Halsteads by the side of Ullswater - "Jake"]

May 1954

ULLSWATER - Miss Freda Ion, Bampton Grange, was chosen to be "Miss Ullswater" in a beauty competition held during the Ullswater Foxhounds' hunt ball in Penrith Drill Hall, with Miss Irene Robertson, Ormside, Appleby, as runner-up.  Other finalists had been selected at dances throughout the area.

June 1954

ULLSWATER - The possibility of Ullswater being used as a course for a world water speed record bid was raised by a visit of Donald Campbell, son of the late Sir Malcolm Campbell, one-time holder of both the land and water speed records.  Mr. Campbell, who had previously used Coniston Water for record attempts, said he was favourably impressed with Ullswater's possibilities as a course.  He was accompanied on his visit by Sir Wavell Wakefield, chairman of the Ullswater Navigation and Transit Company.

August 1954

ULLSWATER - Eight foxhounds of the Ullswater pack would soon be hunting over new ground, in Patagonia. They had been bought by the Argentine Southern Land Company to form the nucleus of a new pack to hunt down foxes which had been taking heavy toll of lambs on the company's estates in Patagonia. The hounds - Drummer, Rascal, Dazzler, Record, Ransome, Ranger, Cruel and Marvel - left Penrith railway station in a special van on the first "leg" of their long journey.

One of the pioneers of motor transport in Penrith died in the person of Mr Thomas William Fleming, Roper Place. Working for the Penrith District Motor Service Company in the early-1900s, he drove one of the open-sided charabancs which ran between Penrith and Ullswater, and was among the first men to drive over Kirkstone Pass. Later, when working for bus proprietor Ernest Hartness, he took Penrith Rugby Club teams to away matches for over 30 years.

PATTERDALE - It was a very wet day for the Ullswater "dog day" at Patterdale, causing a drop in gate receipts of £75. Mr. J. K. Gorst, Wennington, did not arrive on the field until 3 o'clock, as he had been attending his nephew's wedding, but he proceeded to take first and third places in the open sheepdog trials, with Queen and Bet. J. Robinson, Patterdale, won the local stakes.

October 1954

ULLSWATER - The opening meet of the Ullswater Foxhounds took place at the Brotherswater Hotel, in the presence of a good gathering, including the Master, Mr. A. B. Peck. Representatives of other Lakeland packs, together with members of the Airedale Beagles, attended to add colour to the scene. Hounds paraded, under Joe Wear (huntsman) and George Black (whip), before moving off, initially to Caudale Fell and Rough Sides.

February 1955

ULLSWATER - Ice covering Ullswater prevented Donald Campbell from making slow-speed trial runs with his jet speed boat, Bluebird, in which he hoped to capture the world water speed record later in the year.

ULLSWATER - The death took place suddenly at her home at Mossdale, Ullswater, of Mrs. Beatrice Sarah Moon, widow of Dr. Harold J. Moon. With her husband, she moved to Mossdale in 1923 and he practised from there until Dr. Byrd took over the practice in 1925. Mrs. Moon was president of Patterdale branch of the Liberal Association and of the choral and dramatic society. She left a son and a daughter.

PATTERDALE - Patterdale Choral and Dramatic Society presented John Galsworthy's play, Escape, in the Glenridding public hall. Taking part were John Scoon, Alec Santamera, Gerald Jenkinson, Brian Grisenthwaite, Harold Iredale, Dennis Stamper, Diane Scoon, Mary Iredale, John Allen, Archibald J. Berry, Kathleen Dawes, Richard Viney, Dorothy Stamper, Reuben Sleightholme, Brenda Teasdale, Betty Viney and Shirley Hamilton.

March 1955

GLENRIDDING - A dance and social took place at Glenridding to welcome speedboat ace Donald Campbell and wish him luck in his attempt on the world water-speed record on Ullswater. Little Susan Armstrong presented him with a lucky token, while Mrs. Campbell was given a box of chocolates by John Brown. Mr. J. V. Allen presided over the proceedings.

PATTERDALE - Gloom spread over the parish of Patterdale when inhabitants heard of the death in Cumberland Infirmary of Mr. Colin Blamire, elder son of Mr. and Mrs. Edward Blamire, Patterdale Hall Cottages. Aged only 28, he had been the conscientious and valued servant of Messrs. Allinson, Gowbarrow Hall, for eleven years. He was a keen follower of the Ullswater foxhounds and played cricket for Watermillock.

ULLSWATER - One of the effects of the blizzard on Ullswaterside was to bring down off the fells numbers of deer. Unable to find food on the snow-covered peaks, they had been searching for sustenance and devouring quantities of growing turnips to the annoyance of farmers at Howtown and Pooley Bridge. A deer had been shot at Roe Head.

March 1955

PATTERDALE - Mr. John Scoon, Patterdale, spoke of "the glorious uncertainty of village cricket" at the annual dinner of the Eastern Zone of the Cumberland and Westmorland County Cricket Club, held at the George Hotel, Penrith. At places like Threlkeld, Plumbland and Blennerhasset, the matches were closely contested, yet free from the strain of league cricket. The main speaker was Mr. Brian Close, the Yorkshire and England all-rounder, who presented the Eastern Zone Cup to Mr. J. Moor, secretary of the Staffield Club, who won the trophy in 1954.

GLENRIDDING - At a hunt ball at Glenridding, held by Ullswater Foxhounds, Miss Brenda Teasdale, Lanefoot, Deepdale, was chosen to be "Miss Patterdale" by water speed ace Donald Campbell and his wife.

May 1955

ULLSWATER - Donald Campbell's team of mechanics returned to Ullswater in order to prepare the jet speedboat, Bluebird, for further trials, prior to his attempt to break the world water speed record. A model of the boat had been undergoing tests in a wind tunnel at London University, which showed that modifications would have to be made. 

Artificial fly continued to pay the best dividends for Ullswater anglers, said "Water Hen" in his notes on fishing. Some excellent catches of trout had been reported. Black Spiders and Water Crickets were much in evidence along the boulder-strewn and rocky shores of Birkfell, Hallin and Stybarrow.

August 1955

ULLSWATER - Six months after taking his jet speedboat, Bluebird, to Ullswater, Donald Campbell broke the world water speed record, recording an average speed over the measured kilometre of 202.32mph. The previous record of 178.49mph was held by an American, Stanley Sayers. Donald said that Bluebird was never "flat out" in breaking the record. He might fit a new engine and then "show the flag" in America or Italy. No further bids on Ullswater were likely.

September 1955

ULLSWATER - Ullswater "dog day" was held at Patterdale, under the presidency of Mr. Laurie Harker, Penrith, a native of the village, having been born at Home Farm. Mr. J. J. Leak, Windermere, won the open sheepdog trials, with Vic, while the local singles resulted in a success for Mr. J. Jackson, Patterdale, with Sam. E. Harker, Sedbergh, won the championship for handmade crooks and sticks from the previous holder, F. Barker, Patterdale.

Fire broke out in the roof of the Patterdale Hotel. Local firemen were first on the scene and got the outbreak under control, the Penrith brigade arriving later to help in the removal of slates and get to the seat of the fire.

January 1956

KENTMERE- A competitor at Lake District sheepdog trials for almost 60 years and a former huntsman of the Ullswater foxhounds, Mr. George Salkeld, died at his home at Kentmere, aged 77. He was a native of Patterdale, moving to Kentmere in 1916. His whole life revolved around sheep farming, sheepdogs, foxhounds and terriers.

PATTERDALE - The Ullswater United FC reserve team for a match with Troutbeck included two fathers and sons - veterans Alex Santamera and George Teasdale and sons Alex and Sidney. The match was abandoned because of worsening weather.

 April 1956

PATTERDALE - The three-act comedy, A Spell of Virtue, was presented by Patterdale Choral and Dramatic Society in Glenridding public hall. Taking part were Anne Coulston, Harold Iredale, Laurence Pattinson, Sheena Allen, Barbara Moon, Kenneth Dobell and Dennis and Dorothy Stamper.

June 1956

HARTSOP - Residents of Hartsop, at the head of Ullswater, put away their oil lamps and switched on electric lights for the first time. The official switching-on of power for the valley was performed by the chairman of Lakes Urban Council, Mr. G. E. Jackson. The manager of the Lake District sub-area, Mr. J. F. Shepherd, paid a tribute to Penrith district engineer Mr. L. A. V. Packham and his staff, who had done a “marvellous job” in providing Hartsop with electricity. The scheme, first prepared in 1939, had been delayed by financial restrictions and objections by amenity societies, he said.

July 1956

PATTERDALE - Patterdale's sportsman of the year was Mike Beaty, Dockray, Matterdale, who was centre half and captain of the Ullswater United team who were runners-up for the Westmorland County Cup. The Campbell Trophy was presented to him by international footballer Ivor Broadis, at a dance in Glenridding public hall. Medals were also presented to other members of the football team - W. Jackson, D. Blamire, D. Pollard, A. Pitchford, G. Jenkinson, N. Wilson, W. Jameson, A. Santamera, jun., C. Pattinson, G. Ellwood, D. Brown and D. Johnson.

September 1956

PATTERDALE - One of Ullswaterside’s oldest residents, Mrs. Esther Pattinson, Broadhow, Patterdale, died at the age of 85. Formerly Miss Bowman, Matterdale, she hailed from a noted hunting family — her uncle was the celebrated Joe Bowman, huntsman of the Ullswater foxhounds for 42 years, while her great-grandfather, Joe Dawson, was for many years huntsman of the one-time Matterdale foxhounds. Mrs. Pattinson was only 13 years of age when she was hired as a farm girl, later working at Lyulph’s Tower for Mr. James Wood, who was agent for Lady Mabel Howard, Greystoke Castle.

March 1957

PENRITH - Celebrating his 98th birthday was Penrith’s oldest inhabitant Mr. John Pattinson Crossthwaite, of Brentfield Way. Though not as “lish” as he used to be, Mr. Pattinson still enjoyed the use of his faculties. A native of Patterdale, he came to live in Penrith about 60 years ago, working latterly as a member of the staff of Lowther Estates.

December 1957

GLENRIDDING - Two Glenridding men sustained facial burns from molten zinc in a mishap at the Greenside lead mine. The men, Mr. T. Hodgson, Stybarrow Terrace, a fitter and welder, and Mr. H. Oglethorpe, Rowhead, a mechanical engineer, were carrying out maintenance work on a crusher when the accident happened. After receiving treatment from the mine’s first aid team, the injured men were attended by Dr. Armstrong, Glenridding. Mr. Hodgson was taken to hospital but both men are making a good recovery.