`I KNOW WHAT IT IS LIKE TO BE THE DUKE OF EDINBURGH`

 

When Penrith held a `mini royal election`

The death of the Queen gives us an opportunity to look back to the start of her reign and  an election in  Penrith around the year 1952 -  an election that had an uncanny similarity to the  Queen`s accession in that year.

The Penrith election also threw up much debated issues  that followed the accession. The election  was very minor indeed compared to the royal accession. But in its small way  the Penrith election was notable and caused a great deal of debate in the town..

Penrith town centre

The election was for a new “leader” for  Penrith … a new chairman of the town`s Urban District Council which was the local authority running  the town at that time.

For the first time in its history, the council chose a woman chairman. There was also another first time: the council chose a Labour chairman.

These two “first times” pleased  the majority of people, particularly  the choice of a woman .It was seen as not so very unusual alongside the  royal  accession of a woman which took place about the same time..

 The new chairman was a Mrs Elizabeth Watson who was a very popular and well-respected  councillor.

Also equally popular and respected was her husband, George. Like most people at the time, he was very curious about how the new Queen`s husband would fit in with the day to day running of the monarchy and  how the new Queen would fit in with her role as a wife and mother.

These “unresolved problems” for the royal couple were also widely debated by the public . So, the curiosity of the new chairman`s husband  was very understandable

No double he gave  these “problems” a lot of thought.Probably more thought than most people.

Because what he did say was this:”Now that I am the husband of  a woman  council chairman, I know exactly what it is like to be the Duke of Edinburgh”

Community Voice Carlisle is the blog of Carlisle Tenants` and Residents`Federation. Information about the Federation is available on 01228 522277.

 

DARKNESS AT NOON ON WASHING DAY

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When Hasell Street  got the hassle

Washing day disasters- in fact, more than a century of washing day disasters- became a regular feature in Upperby, Carlisle, after the Lancaster to Carlisle railway line was built.

A spewing monster? The Duchess of Hamilton all steamed up at Upperby

 It was not long after Queen Victoria came to the throne. Had she heard about these disasters she would, surely, not have been amused.

 The railway line and its link with the Hasell family is currently being commemorated  in an exhibition at Dalemain near Penrith , historic home of the Hasells.But another link –to the washing day disasters- may have been overlooked by the exhibition organisers.

Washing day disasters were a serious problem for housewives when in 1846 the first train arrived in Carlisle and a massive depot was built at Upperby in the city to house the line`s steam locomotives.Local people called  the depot, the Lancky.

These locomotives with their belching steam and smoke are not the cleanest machines. The Upperby depot, full of the spewing monsters made life hell for housewives putting their clothes out to dry on washing days in the street next to the depot.

Dense smoke clouds from the depot often created darkness  at  noon.

Sometimes Persil did its stuff and the washed clothes were spotless.More often than not however, all the Persil in the world could not shift a thick pattern of coal stains.

Salvation did eventually come for washing days.Steam locos became obsolete in the 1960`s, about 120 years after the line opened.Electric-powered locos took their place.

But surprisingly, the street next door continued to suffer. The street had been named Hasell Street to commemorate the Dalemain family link. But Carlisle people, it seems for a very good reason, never got round to pronouncing the name Hasell correctly.

They always pronounced Hasell Street wrongly. Everyone called it Hassle Street. That presumably was because of some hassle- in other words, an irritating inconvenience.And what was that hassle?

There seems to me no doubt what it was. It was the belching locomotives, the clouds of smoke and the washing day disasters that followed.

  Community Voice Carlisle is the blog of Carlisle Tenants` and Residents`Federation. Information about the Federation is available on 01228 522277.

PRAISE AND SUPPORT FROM LOCAL MP

 

Confident Rishi goes round for votes

 

Rishi Sunak (pictured) got  a warm welcome when he addressed  Conservative Party members in Carlisle yesterday as part of his   leadership election campaign against  Liz Truss, the other  candidate.

 

 

     Afterwards, Mr John Stevenson MP for Carlisle and a Rishi supporter told party members:”I thought Rishi spoke confidently, knowledgeably and enthusiastically and was pleased to see him go round the room talking to members once the event had concluded.

 

“I reiterate the points from my welcome address to Rishi. I believe whoever you choose as the next Prime Minister and Leader of our party must restore confidence in Government, champion sound economic policies that will tackle current challenges and stimulate growth, and be able to take us to a  fifth win in a row at the next general election. 

 

“To my mind Rishi has the necessary experience, ability and attitude to do just that, and has earned my vote.

 

“I’ve made my decision, now it’s down to you to make yours.”

 

.  Community Voice Carlisle is the blog of Carlisle Tenants` and Residents`Federation. Information about the Federation is available on 01228 522277.