THE weather held off as crowds gathered in Barrow for a lifeboat station’s popular gala day.

Families hopped aboard a park and ride bus to make their way to the Barrow RNLI gala, where trusty mascot Stormy Stan was waiting to greet everyone.

The gala, which was held at Marine Terrace on Roa Island, has been running for the past 26 years and always attracts big crowds.

As the gala got under way, officially opened by mayor Ann Thomson, Nathan Woodburn, 13, Joseph I’Anson, 11, Sam Charnley, 11 and Cameron Holmes, 13, decked out in their uniforms, played a bugle fanfare.

Raising money and awareness for the lifeboat charity which has been saving lives at sea since 1824, an exciting afternoon was planned for all.

RNLI vice chairman Beryl Coles, who has been a member for the past 28 years, said: “It has been a really good day. The weather looked up and we had the sea cadets in attendance.

“A lot of work goes into preparing the day. We make all the sandwiches and all the cakes so there is a lot to do.”

Committee member Ann Wells said: “It is so important to raise money for the RNLI.

“Unfortunately it is just all volunteers so we need all the help we can get. It’s such a worthwhile cause.”

With stalls dotted around selling books, cakes and calendars, families spent the day milling around, chatting to locals and eating some delicious-looking cakes.

The highlight of the day was the action-packed live lifeboat show where numerous RNLI lifeboats were brought out to bring to life what a real call-out would look like.

Crewmen appeared in lifeboats, flares were shot up into the sky and people were saved from the water in a simulated accident, which was finished off with some impressive stunts with the lifeboats.

Also in attendance at the gala was Barrow’s deputy mayor, Anita Husband.

She said: “It is such an important charity. We all need lifeboats and it is a great service.

“It is a local event especially for the community and it is just a really lovely day out.”

This year’s gala queen was nine-year-old Phoebe Lamb, who looked pretty as a princess in her white dress and tiara.

Deputy launching authority, John Falvey, said: “This is the main fundraising day at Barrow which is organised by the Ladies Lifeboat Guild.

“We are all volunteers in the service and we rely entirely on contributions from the public and it just goes towards helping us to stay afloat.

“Without the community and days like this, we wouldn’t be able to operate.”