EILEEN HEALEY DIARIES

© J A D Healey 2014

VOLUME 7: 1937B

SECTION 1

1937, AUGUST 20-SEPTEMBER 6:

NEWLANDS, via KESWICK, CUMBERLAND

1.1 1937, August 20 (Friday)

We were awakened at 4.45 a.m. and started at 6.15 a.m.

1.2 1937, August 21 (Saturday)

I was shown up to room 19, where I unpacked and then came down and saw the common room and passed the time watching people come in until 7.30. After supper we signed up to be in party 1 for the week, so that we would do Scafell Pike instead of Helvellyn; this was by far the most popular party. Later Percy led us along the road and by the beck to Little Braithwaite from where we returned by the foot of Barrow. In the common room we had a sing-song.

1.3 1937, August 22 (Sunday)

After breakfast a few people went up Cat Bells, but most of us put on our boots and went up Barrow 1494. We went straight up the steepest part, through the heather and it took us a good time to get up (longer than a few who had gone round by the path. We came down by the scree, but we got on the longest bit and it was not too good, for we could only get going for short patches; it would have been better to come down the shorter part.

After lunch nearly everyone went on the lake, but we did not and I spent the afternoon reading in the house. In the evening they came over from Derwent Bank and took us to see their house. It is a very beautiful place and its grounds go down to the lake; we then went up and saw Hawse End, but I did not like it nearly as much as Derwent Bank. They were both very different from Newlands, but I was not envious.

After supper, Sid thanked us for the shaving advertisements he had received and said that he had not yet thought of any 'cutting' remarks to say. He also informed us that he had no intention of shaving while he was away. In the common room we had a Hare and Hounds discussion; the first one that was drawn was "do people really want peace", which Percy had put in. We spent most of the time discussing this, but did not get anywhere. There were a few about shaving, but we did not have a discussion on those.

1.4 1937, August 23 (Monday)

At breakfast, only about a dozen said they were going for the extension over Maiden Moor, but in the end, they nearly all went and only about a dozen did not go. Arnold had gone to the station, so we were late starting. We sauntered to Little Town where the tea bags were left and waited there for Arnold. The extension people were waiting for us at the lunch place; they had gone over Cat Bells as well as Maiden Moor. After lunch we went on to Dale Head Tarn and on towards Dale Head. At one place we stopped to play about on some rocks and, while some were very seriously trying to climb on them, the rest had "The battle of the Moss". I think it started about Ernie's cap; the fight was like a fierce snow fight, but with filthy moss instead of snow. After nearly an hour we went on again to the top of Dale Head and along the ridge to Hindsgarth (we did not actually go to the top) and on to Robinson. We had some fair views, but it was not too clear. We descended via High Snab Bank to High Snab Farm for tea, from where we had to walk home along the road.

In the common room after dinner we had games. I was out the first time, in the game where we had to form groups of a certain number. In the game of 'balloons' the balloons lasted very well, considering how rough everyone was. We had most fun with 'Stirring-the-Porridge' (the same as 'Stick-in-the-Bucket' which we had had at Longshaw). Everyone seemed to go for Michael, but he got very artful. Other games were ‘Celebrities’, where we had to guess the celebrity pinned on our back, by asking people questions which they answered by yes, or no. In another, there were sketches of parts of animals pinned round the room and we had to name the animals.

1.5 1937, August 24 (Tuesday)

We had our only coach ride of the week, going along the road between Cat Bells and Derwentwater to Grange over the bridge and up the valley of the Derwent to Seatoller where we had to get out and start walking. We went along the road to Seathwaite and then up Grain Gill to the lunch place below Sprinkling Tarn.

Three men who had followed us up had lunch near us, but afterwards they went on (we wondered whether they would come all the way up with us). Several cyclists passed us, pushing their bikes, we did not envy them. Great End was in the clouds, so as we continued to ascend it became misty. We got to the first cairn and went on to the second, which was the summit of Great End, and Arnold produced a map and compass for everyone who asked if we were lost. With the help of the compass he took up due southwest until we struck the track up to the top of Scafell Pike.

At the top we found that the tablet which said that Scawfell had been given to the country in memory of the men of the lakes who fell in the war, faced due north. Once we thought the sun was going to come through, but it did not and at last we had to come down without having had any view at all. About half way down, we got out of the mist and had a good view to the north, seeing as far as Derwentwater where the sun was shining. We wondered whether it had been shining there all day and, when we got back, we found that it had.

The top of Gable was in mist, but enough of it showed for Arnold to point out the traverse and show us the Hellgate screes. Since after lunch until we got down to the Sty Head Pass it had been fine, as it was all scrambling over rocks. At one place Frank did a 'swallow dive' and those who saw him expected to have to pick up the pieces, but he managed to stop himself after going about ten feet. After walking down the road we had tea at Seatoller and rode home.

The entertainment for the evening was a trip round Derwentwater in a launch. The moon rose beautifully behind Friars Crag.

1.6 1937, August 25 (Wednesday)

I was orderly at breakfast, but did not have much to do as I served the table in the common room. We went to Keswick and then turned up a narrow lane to the Druids Circle. We went on through Threlkeld to Penrith, where we saw the castle. We were then in the flattish Eden Valley with the Pennines in front of us. Continuing on, we went over Eamont Bridge and through Askham, where we saw Lowther Castle to Hawes Water where we saw the new dam they are building which will make it into a reservoir for Manchester. Mardale was still being pulled down; the church had completely gone, except for a pile of stones.

There was a cyclist (Yostler) we spoke to; he had once lived at Brighton and gone to Varndean School. After lunch we went back to Askham and then down to Pooley Bridge from where we rode along to Ullswater to Aira Force. Near this in a wood of hazel trees, we watched two beautiful brown squirrels; they were running all over the place and jumping from tree to tree. When there was no traffic we could hear them eating nuts. One of them hung upside down, getting a nut. We continued on through Glenridding and Patterdale to Goldril House which T.A.L. has lent to the Y.H.A. We were shown over this. Afterwards, we passed Brotherswater and went up the Kirkstone Pass and down through Troutbeck to Ambleside, where we saw a Roman Camp. From here we went to Grasmere down Red Bank with a gradient of 1 in 4 where mummy got out and walked.

Next, we went over Dunmail Raise and went round the west side of Thirlmere and across the dam and into Keswick and back to Newlands. We took the car with us for we wanted to drive over to Buttermere the next day and save the 11 miles of road walking that we would otherwise have had.

In the evening there was a dance in the institute, for the use of which we had to pay 6d. each. The people from Hawse End were supposed to come as well, but we did not see much of them. Kay tried to organise 'Stripping the Willow' and 'Eightsome Reel', but no-one knew them and they all got into a muddle.

1.7 1937, August 26 (Thursday)

As many as possible of us rode to Buttermere, but we had to go a long way round, over the Whinlatter Pass and then along by Crummock Water. Arnold rode and he said it was the longest 'extension' he had ever done. When at last those who had walked arrived, about 30 'A's' set out. It was a steep ascent at first, through the woods by Ruddy Beck.

A few turned back, but not many and Arnold said there were a record number, for quite often there are only eight or nine. When we were about 1,500 ft. up, we had lunch. We could not finish all of it, and they would not let Arnold bury the rest, but took it down for tea.

After reaching the top of Red Pike and admiring the view (we could see Scotland, the Pennines, Scafell, Helvellyn, Blencathra Pillar, Grasmere, Ennerdale etc.), we continued along the ridge to High Stile and then on to High Crag. The first 500 or 600 ft. were down scree and it was quite good in places. The rest of the way down was over bigger rocks and bracken. We then followed the track along Buttermere Lake to Buttermere Village, where we had tea.

I did not want to ride back, so went with Irene up Sail Beck. At the top of the pass, Alf and Bill waited for us; they had taken a higher track and we ran down the other side by Rigg Beck (I had changed into shoes at tea time and I wished that I had not for the track was very stony in places). Where the track joined the road, Ron was waiting for us and he drove up home the last mile along the road.

In the evening there were play readings. I heard the first three and they were quite good, but I missed the last one because I went to the birthday party in G.H.9. There were two birthdays and 45 candles were arranged round on a shelf. Harry lit 23 of them and Robbie 22. Over 30 of us squeezed in the one small garden hut and we were given cider and birthday cake and then biscuits and plums etc. We amused ourselves by singing "The Darkies Sunday School" which lasted for a good time as several of them knew some verses.

1.8 1937, August 27 (Friday)

Several people did not come out on this excursion at all. There had been a few on Thursday who stayed at home, but there were more today. We started off up Stonycroft Beck and along a track, keeping to the south of High Moss. It was very hot and we went so slowly that we thought we would never get to the lunch place, but we did in the end after a fairly steep pull up.

After lunch we went on up Hopegill Head. Arnold did not want to do the extension so we left him there while we continued along the ridge to Whiteside and back the same way as we went. Arnold appointed Harry as Sec. and we mostly kept behind him.

We then went and, by Sand Hill, reached Grisedale Pike, from where we kept along the ridge (always taking the right hand track) and down Kinn into Braithwaite for tea. After tea, we walked home along the Beck (one or two tried horse riding).

In the evening there was the entertainment by the two parties. We had to begin, but we did not do much which was very original. No. 2 party had Newlands stories in the "Darkies Sunday School".

No. 2 party, go their hikes in cars,

But no. 1 only get (I could not read the writing)

They have lots of cripples who can hardly walk,

In fact all they do is talk and say 'nice work'

-------

Some of No. 1 party went to see the sea,

But instead of going there they had a good old spree,

It went to their heads and they got back very late,

And there was smiling Kay, waiting at the gate.

------

Graham, Robbie are two lads who strived to grow a beard,

Although at Sidney's nightly growth, they often scoffed and jeered,

They tried with hair restorer, but never a single hair

Appeared upon their downy chins and they are still quite bare.

------

Nat had several announcements to make in between items, one of the them was: would the girls of No. 1 party return even the shreds of Max's bathing costume, for he had to go home the next day and wanted to take it with him (Sid had announced at dinner that Max could not find his bathing costume).

1.9 1937, August 28 (Saturday)

After watching nearly everyone go, we went out for a ride, through Hawkshead, Newby Bridge and Ulverston to Furness Abbey, near which we had lunch. We then turned up north and went through Askham, Broughton, Whiteham to Eskdale, where we went up a gated lane through Boot to the G.H.A. centre.

The manageress showed us round and I can now understand people raving about it. Every room has a magnificent view and it is right away from all civilization. We did not have time to go further up the Esk Valley, but went on to Wast Water, where we saw the screes which come down to the water's edge. We then crossed the moor by a gated road to Ennerdale Bridge, from where we went on to Loweswater and home over the Whinlatter Pass.

Immediately after supper (or tea, or whatever it was) we went in the common room and started a sing-song round the piano. Later we had the game of 'Celebrities', the same as last Monday. Afterwards Kay taught some of the new ones 'Strip the Willow' and we had more songs.

1.10 1937, August 29 (Sunday)

In the morning Irene led some of the new ones up Cat Bells. I went as well for I had not yet been up.

In the afternoon we got a launch at Hawse End and were taken to Keswick, where we got a rowing boat with 'Faith, Hope and Charity, Len, Winkle and Margaret (in my room). We rowed across the lake and then up the river (it was very shallow) to 'Askews' for tea. Coming back we had to get out and push the boat off a stone in one place, as the river was so shallow. On the lake, I tried to drown everyone when I rowed. We only just reached Keswick in time to catch the 7 o'clock launch home.

In the evening, instead of the usual discussions, we had 'My Job', where people described their jobs and answered questions afterwards. We had 'Coal and Oil', a builders merchant, Margaret (room 19) in a printing factory. The last one was by Len (Harvey) on electrical supply, but I could not follow it and was half asleep.

1.11 1937, August 30 (Monday)

We had signed up for party 2 as we wanted to try Percy as a leader. Most of those who stayed on were in this party.

We started out along the track by Skelgill and then along the old road to the east of Cat Bells. We stopped in one place admiring the red setters which were frisking around us. At Grange the slabs of rock with glacial markings on them were pointed out to us, while Percy took the tea bags to Askew's. We continued across Grange Bridge and along a track to the east of the road, past the Bowder Stone, onto Grange Fell. On the way there were some fine pieces of rocks to practice climbing on (and to play about on).

We had lunch near the top of Brund Fell and then descended to Watendlath, passing the tarn and stopping at the Devil's Punchbowl. Percy left us before we entered the wood and went straight down to get tea ready. The rest of us followed Sid who took us (by a cross-country route) by Gowder Crag and down to see the falls at Lodore. Afterwards, as we crossed a bridge, we were charged 1d. each. We got onto the road at the Lodore Hotel and walked up to the tea place.

After tea it became very dark and there were a few spots of rain, and everyone got out their macs, but we missed the storm, although there was much thunder and lightning. As we were under the trees, we could see the rain on the water.

At Newlands they had a heavy shower. It did one good thing, for the drying room fire was lit for the only time in the whole fortnight. Some of our party went into Keswick (getting drenched), but most of us followed Percy, across the footbridge over the Derwent and then through the Brandelhow Woods to Hawse End and then back the usual way to Newlands.

In the evening we had games, the same as the week before. When we had team races with the girls against the fellows, we won the first ones, so the fellows started cheating. 'Stirring the porridge' was again very popular, but when Frank was in the middle he was picked up bodily and hit; this went on until someone got the remains of the stick and put it inside the braces of the one who had picked Frank up, so that he could not get at it. We finished up with 'nursery rhymes'.

1.12 1937, August 31 (Tuesday)

We started out in the coach to Keswick, passing mummy on the way and then went on to Scales from where we ascended to the lunch place which was just below Scales Tarn. Percy had walked as slowly as he could to the lunch place, but we got there before 11.30 and we were not very hungry. The sandwiches that we could not eat were given to a sheep that ate them very eagerly.

After lunch we went onto the tarn and then up Sharp Edge. Percy said it was the sharpest edge in the lakes and from his description it seemed quite good, but I was very disappointed in it. We went on up to the top of Blencathra, where we met those who had gone straight up and avoided the edge. We ran down the other side, but had two or three long rests on the way.

From the sanatorium we went on to Derwent-folds, across a bridge over Glenderaterra Beck, by stones over Whit Beck and on to a lane. We followed this through the Brundholm Woods, under the station and into Keswick. Tea was not ready when we arrived, so we (room 19 and Faith, Hope and Charity) had iced drinks. After tea, I followed Percy home; we had a few spots of rain, but not much. It had been misty all day and we had hardly any views at all.

In the evening there was the launch trip on Derwentwater, but it was the same as the week before, except that it was not such a good evening, so we did not go.

1.13 1937, September 1 (Wednesday)

It poured with rain during the night and it was still pouring in the morning, so we stayed in for lunch. In the afternoon, we went through Braithwaite, over the Whinlatter Pass and along Crummock Water to Buttermere. From there we walked along the track to Scale Force. It was very wet getting there and, in one place, I had to take off my shoes and paddle across a stream. To see the actual force it was necessary to climb up the rocks up the first part and again I had to go barefoot as my shoes had rubber soles and the rocks were slippery.

After returning to Buttermere, we rode on to Cockermouth, where we saw the castle. In the evening it was a dance in the institute again and I decided not to go. I read first of all, but then went out in the road where I met Faith, Hope and Charity and the rest of room 19 and, after a little while, followed them into the dance (without paying). I was in time to see the final of the ping-pong tournament which had been organised in the morning.

1.14 1937, September 2 (Thursday)

We again had a coach ride; this time I was in the bigger one and we had to go right through Keswick and along the other side of Derwentwater and on to Seatoller. When we started walking, we kept to the left hand side of the Derwent except in one place where there was a large boulder Percy took us to. We had lunch at the top of Sty Head Pass (beyond the tarn).

After lunch Percy asked who wanted to do the traverse. Only twelve are allowed to go and if more want to, they have to draw lots. Thirteen of us wanted to go and Percy took us all. It was very windy and cold (I had to keep my mac on for warmth). We went along a route which had a little scrambling over rocks (not much) and over Great Hellgate scree and then along below the Needle, Eagle's Nest, Arrowhead and the other places where there is rock climbing. We saw two men half way up Arrowhead.

When we first set out, we passed Kern Knotts Crag and the Innominate Crack (however, they are spelt!). We continued on to the Sphinx and then up the Sphinx Ridge and finally up a gully (where the wind was whistling up) to the top of Great Gable. We were in the mist, but it occasionally cleared and we had fair views. On the top we stopped at the tablet to the memory of the Fell Club who fell in the war. There is a relief map of the lakes showing the parts given to the National Trust. We were half an hour early getting up, but it was too cold to spend much time at the top.

We came down via Green Gable, Brandreth and Grey Knotts. On the way we had fine views towards Pillar Mountain, down Ennerdale, High Crag, Buttermere and Robinson. All the way down we could see the other party, not very far in front of us. We stopped at one patch of rocks, where Percy showed us two ascents. At the bottom of the hill, we caught up the other party and all went into tea together.

We were very early and, while we were waiting for the coach, some of us went to see Glaramara, the C.H.A. Borrowdale centre. It was specially built for them and is a really beautiful place. The dining room has polished tables and chairs to match. Every bedroom is the same, with two beds, one on top of the other, and instead of numbers, they have names such as 'High Stile' or 'Helvellyn'.

After dinner, we had a scrounge hunt; we had to find as many things as possible beginning with ST or S. Those beginning with ST counted three points and those with S one point. Some of my group must have nearly pulled a car to pieces, for they produced sparking plug, starting handle etc. We had a good number such as smoker, self starter that Jack demonstrated; he had to be silly one moment and sensible the next (at others such as stretch-her, strike, stifle, I suffered as they were demonstrated on me).

1.15 1937, September 3 (Friday)

We set out for our last excursion along by Rigg Beck, the same as Irene and I had done the Thursday before, but towards the top we kept to a higher track, and ascended to Wandope, having lunch on the way. It was very windy and cold on top, so we hurried along the ridge to Whiteless Pike and back the same way. Percy was so cold that he did not want to go on to Grasmoor, so about a dozen of us went on to Grasmoor by ourselves and back the same way. We then continued on, over Eel Crag, Sail and Scar Crags to Causey Pike, from where we ran down to Newlands for tea at the Guest House. I got down at about 3.30 p.m. and, as tea was not until 4.30, I went in the beck with Nat and Winnie. It was the first bathe I had had since the last Friday at Harlech last year.

After tea we tried the 'Newlands traverse' in the common room. Percy gave a demonstration of a monkey up a pole. At about 6 o'clock, as I had nothing to do, I went down to Derwent Bank to see if we could not possibly stay on longer, but it was no use (the reason given was that Frank's boots were coming to pieces). Mummy had not arrived home when I first got there, so I started looking at the books in their common room. I read the chapter on 'Arran' in one book about Scotland. Just as I started back, I met Grace, Ruth and Lucy and went back with them to see over the house again.

In the evening, firstly, Party 1 entertained us. They had people dressing up to represent characters in the bible and the titles of books and films. Two dressed up in bracken, instead of fig leaves to represent Adam and Eve. They had Lady Macbeth and Romeo and Juliet from Shakespeare, and two of their films were 'Aren't Men Beasts' and 'Pennies from Heaven'. Party 2's entertainment began and ended with 'Faith, Hope and Charity' and Margaret (room 19) dressed in white dresses with elaborate red and black ruffs singing (?) The rest of our entertainment was mostly singing; we had a quartet part of the time.

This lasted about an hour and for the rest of the time we had a 'living newspaper'. It was Nat's idea and he was the editor and had been worrying for articles all the week. We had a detailed account of the excursions of Party 1 and a special account of the Gable Traverse. When they first started and compared their track with Arnold's descriptions, they thought Arnold would make a good newspaper reporter, but they were not so sure when they got to one place where there was 'space above them, space below them, space on three sides of them', and they had to swing their legs round to some legendary foothold that they could not see.

One popular item was 'Auntie Fanny's Corner', to which everyone had sent their problems. Auntie Fanny answered all their questions most helpfully (?) and even gave advice on 'scanties' (they had been produced in the scrounge hunt the night before). We had a weather forecast where we learned that there would be a deep depression over Newlands on Saturday, but it would clear as the new guests arrived. The further outlook was - work on Monday.

There was an account of the Earthquake at Newlands, or the arrival of Horace at the Guest House at 2 o'clock in the morning. It had been in Keswick at 11 o'clock and then taken 3 hours to come the next 3½ miles as it had called on all the farms in between. There was also an article about Colonel Horace from Poonah. Arnold read us an article on the very popular subject 'Inferiority Complex' and the people who get in front of the Sec. He described the cure in detail and it was to let those in front get lost. He had been trying it all the season, either by letting them go wrong or altering the route, but he had not succeeded in really losing anyone and he had had his last excursion that day.

Nat read us the Ten Commandments of Newlands; they were very good, but I cannot remember any of them. Another feature of the newspaper was its advertisements, but I have forgotten those as well. The last item of the newspaper was a play reading.

Immediately after dinner, we had cheered our Sec., staff, host and hostess; the hostess had been given a branch of willow to practice 'Stripping the Willow' as she was so fond of it. Jack had a piece of stone which he had found on an excursion and taken to one of the leading archaeologists in the country and had been assured that it was a Neolithic razor; this he gave to Sid.

That night there was a binge in room 19; about 20, including Kay, came to it. My bed was turned round so that we sat round three sides of a square. We had a fine time, using candles after the lights had been turned out. We did not have to be quiet as the men were making enough noise downstairs to drown the row we made. We were late getting to bed, for, after the binge, Winkle and Margaret had to take out of their beds the holly put in by room 21.

1.16 1937, September 4 (Saturday)

I was absolutely miserable at the thought of going, for once a paper had been right, for there was a deep depression over Newlands. The breakfast was livened up by the Broom Hill Rowdies' who played an accompaniment to the grace. After breakfast Sid (as usual) collected pennies from those who had been late; he also said that those who had made a noise last night were also to pay up as much as their conscience demanded.

We watched most of the others go before we were called for at 9.55.

1.17 1937, September 5 (Sunday)

We read in the paper that some rock had fallen down near the Castle, but we neither saw nor heard anything of it.

1.1 1937, August 20 (Friday)

1.2 1937, August 21 (Saturday)

1.3 1937, August 22 (Sunday)

1.4 1937, August 23 (Monday)

1.5 1937, August 24 (Tuesday)

1.6 1937, August 25 (Wednesday)

1.7 1937, August 26 (Thursday)

1.8 1937, August 27 (Friday)

1.9 1937, August 28 (Saturday)

1.10 1937, August 29 (Sunday)

1.11 1937, August 30 (Monday)

1.12 1937, August 31 (Tuesday)

1.13 1937, September 1 (Wednesday)

1.14 1937, September 2 (Thursday)

1.15 1937, September 3 (Friday)

1.16 1937, September 4 (Saturday)

1.17 1937, September 5 (Sunday)