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Formula One Fish and Chips |
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Written by Ann Sandell
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Wednesday, 19 September 2007 |
I went to see the man who owns and runs the Coast to Coast fish and
chip shop in North Road, I had heard that he was a long jumper
(athletics not woollens) and thought there should be an interesting
story.
That was only the beginning.
Paul Richardson has been frying at the Coast to Coast for four years now but part-time when he is not at Appleby gym training, he is an athletics coach at the Kirkby Stephen Grammar School and Sports College.
Paul considers himself to be primarily a sprinter but a good club athlete and he was the Northampton Triple Jump Champion in 2001.
He loves helping both the talented youngster and finding a sport for any child to enjoy. Paul has also tried some martial arts, a good training exercise for hurdling, he says.
He is looking forward to the day when the school has more facilities, a 400m track and new sports hall.
After leaving Warcop School, Paul went to Kirkby Stephen Grammar and then Kendal College to do a BTEC in Engineering, then on to a degree in engineering at Sheffield University.
Racing to a dream
All this led to his dream job. He was employed designing, developing and testing engines for Formula 1. Unfortunately, it ended with redundancy.
He decided to move back to his roots and bought the Coast to Coast while he decided what else to do. He is still here and making a good job of selling fish and chips as well.Paul has renovated the dining area, installing a disabled ramp and door to the side as well as on the front.
The room is bright, clean and cheerful with some interesting pictures on the Coast to Coast theme, Nine Standards, Grand Canyon (to confuse the walkers!) and, in pride of place over the slate fireplace, Mr Alfred Wainwright.The Coast to Coast chippy is featured in Wainwright’s books and video as well appearing on the Songs of Praise programme.
Clog makers
There is also an old photograph of the premises taken between 1900, when the building was built, and the 1920s, when it was still Alderson’s boot and clog makers. In 1928 the Tattersall’s changed the premises to a fish and chip shop. Petefield, Millburn and Pollitt followed before Richardson.
Another picture is a copy of Tom Fawcett’s old drawing of Tinkler Hill showing the town stocks standing in the space before the building was built.Groups and children’s parties up to 20-ish are catered for now. Wonder if they were then?
Ann Sandell
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Last Updated ( Wednesday, 19 September 2007 )
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