A TEAM dedicated to protecting lives from the dangers of the Duddon Estuary is marking its 50th anniversary with an open day on Saturday so we are taking a look at its history and development.

The Askam-based Duddon Inshore Rescue was formed at a public meeting arranged in the village in November 1969 as the result of three lives being lost.

Since then, the team has been involved in more than 400 incidents in and around the Duddon Estuary.

The rescue team and its dedicated group of supporters will open the doors of the boathouse, off Sharp Street, on Saturday to give members of the public an insight into what it does.

You can see equipment used by the rescuers and have a try at CPR techniques on a resuscitation doll.

There are refreshments available and a raffle, with proceeds helping support the vital work of Duddon Inshore Rescue.

The Mail, on June 29 in 2009, looked back on the first 40 years and noted that the team was just the second voluntary sea rescue group to be set up in the United Kingdom.

Many of the founding members were at the rescue base in November 1989 when a special cake was cut to mark the 20th anniversary.

They included Dr Robert MacGranthin, Dennis Brown, Bill Jinks, Jim Bell and Bernard McNamee.

Auxiliary coastguard Albert Johnson organised a surprise presentation of a silver plaque to each of the founder members.

Back in 1988 a new £5,000 rescue boat wrapped in plastic arrived at Askam.

The Mail, on August 16, noted: “The inflatable boat is the third since the rescue organisation was launched 19 years ago and is expected to make its debut soon in the Duddon Estuary.”

In September 2008 Bethany Doran, a pupil at St Peter’s School, Ireleth, won a contest to name the Askam team’s new £42,000 rescue craft as Duddon Guardian.

It was officially unveiled at a ceremony attended by Lord Lieutenant of Cumbria James Cropper.