SOME 4,000 south Cumbrians were treated to an entertainment extravaganza at the Rotary Club of Barrow’s Gala at the amphitheatre at Furness Abbey in 1994.

The event included daredevil stuntmen, parachutes, side-shows and attractions galore.

Mark Stannage celebrated his birthday by jumping through hoops of fire on his motorbike in a heart-stopping new addition to the annual gala.

But that was nothing compared with being the last man on the end of an 80ft jump performed by his Stunt World colleague Fiona Beale.

With hearty claps and cheers ringing in her ears, Fiona, 23, cleared the jump with unerring ease, flying through the air at about 60mph on her Cr Honda 250cc trials bike.

Afterwards she said: “If you haven’t ridden a bike before it looks drastically hard, but you get used to it.”

Asked who should feel more nervous, her or the 21 brave volunteers below, she replied: “I would have to say them because they don’t know what to expect.”

Head of the Stunt World team was world-record holder James Dylan,45.

Also at the gala was display of 13 classic motorbikes, on show courtesy of the Furness British Motorcycle Club.

On hand was 70-year-old Ulverston lollipop man and club member Arthur Cottiss.

He had one of the newer bikes on display – his very own Kawazaki GPZ 500cc.

“I’m the fastest lollipop man in the West,” he laughed.

All of the bikes belonged to club members, who met fortnightly at the Bay Horse in Ireleth.

Other entertainments at the gala included the Karelles acrobatic team.

There was also an amazing dog agility display from the Barrow dog training class.

Glynis Murray was just one of the members leading the 15 pets around a series of obstacles.

Heads turned skywards as the Lancaster-based Black Knights skydiving team prepared to jump from a Cessna aircraft. Colin Whittaker, 37, completed his 1,000th jump in 45 seconds.