AS Friday is Valentine’s Day we have turned the clock back to events held in South Cumbria to celebrate this traditional celebration of love and romance.

There was plenty going on to promote products and events, or raise money for good causes, in the approach to Valentine’s Day in 2000.

Nurses from Ward seven and the medical admissions unit at Furness General Hospital got our the hearts and red balloons to helping to promote The Mail’s Heartsaver Appeal to provide defibrillators for the hospital.

There was a special event at the Safeway supermarket in Millom when Rachael Johns received a surprise present when she went for her regular weekly shop.

She was the first customer to enter the store after a pre-set alarm went off and was presented with a Valentine bouquet by staff member Sue Steele.

Store manager Claire Wilson also had champagne, flowers, balloons and a candlelit dinner for two to present to contest winner Tony Atkinson.

In Barrow, hairdresser Jack Ryan, of the Barrow firm Ken Riley, adding his finishing touches to a special cut for gym instructor Dave Brodie, of Cannons Health Club.

The Valentine’s haircut was to help raise money for the Furness Heart Appeal

Denise and Shaun O’Leary, from Barrow, won The Mail and Coombs Valentine competition and had the choice of flowers or chocolates from the store on Dalton Road.

In 2001 Roose and Walney were among libraries offering workshops for youngsters to adesign and make their own Valentine cards.

The oldest known Valentine’s card is thought to be in the form of a poem in French sent in 1415by Charles Duke of Orleans to his wife - sent while he was a prisoner in the Tower of London.

Sending decorated,homemade cards became a tradition in the 18th century and commercial examples were available to buy in shops in the Victorian era.

Confectioner Richard Cadbury is the man behind promoting the giving of chocolates by Victorians as a token of love.