Keswick Reminder newspaper marks 125th anniversary

Emily Atherton will combine editing the Reminder with overseeing The Herald in Penrith

A newspaper, known for its "quirky" design and being run by the same family for generations, is celebrating its 125th anniversary.

The Keswick Reminder was first published on 26 February, 1896, with editor George Watson McKane at the helm until 1940.

His great-granddaughter, Jane Grave, edited it from 2006 until last year when the business was sold.

For many years the Reminder's front page was made up completely of adverts.

Ms Grave said its strength had been its focus on the areas it serves.

"The Keswick Reminder has always tried to give the communities of Keswick and the north lakes a fair crack of the whip.

"It's all about the people and the issues that matter to them.

"Whenever there's a crisis or there's something to be backed, everybody in the community rallies and pulls together."

The paper's front page was for decades made up of adverts rather than news stories

Ms Grave became the fifth member of her family to edit the paper when she took over the job from her mother, Pat Branthwaite, who had been in charge from 1970.

She pointed to successful campaigns to save Keswick's hospital as well as the paper's coverage of three major floods and the coronavirus pandemic as high points.

Having left in December, she has guest edited a supplement in its latest edition looking back at its history.

The publication was initially called the Keswick Weekly Reminder, and until the late 1980s its front page did not contain any news stories.

Current editor Emily Atherton said the paper was "a rural broadsheet with a long and proud tradition".

"The Reminder has its own unique character that's treasured by its readers. It's almost that quirky quality that's valued.

"There will be little changes perhaps [made in the future], but on the whole the idea is to keep as much of that character as possible."

The paper was sold to Barrnon Media Ltd last year.