Haverigg Inshore rescue team celebrate their 21st anniversary in 1994

Townspeople and crew members past and present gathered at the boat house on the morning of Saturday, November 12, to see the commissioning and blessing of the latest boat, Haverigg Rescue Four.

The ceremonies were carried out by mayor of Millom Cllr Reg Heathcote and the Rev Sam Burrows.

A special guest was builder of the boat Ralph Whitham from Wigan.

Brian Hampson, chair of the inshore rescue, said the organisation started its twenty-second year with the proud record that no-one, visitor or local resident, had lost their life in the 21 years the rescue team had been patrolling the waters.

He said that 140 to 150 people had been “assisted” since the service was established in 1973.

Crew members Frank Eccles and Chris Singleton had been with the rescue team from the start and many of the 32-strong team had served for many years.

Mr Hampson said an encouraging sign for the future was the recent recruitment of six new crew members who were being trained.

The anniversary celebrations ended with a ceilidh and dinner at Millom Palladium.

Also in November 1994, Urswick parish church officials decided sheep might safely graze in their churchyard.

Officials from the historic parish church had to turn to nature to help them in their hour of need.

Unable to find anyone to keep the churchyard need and trim, church officials had enlisted the help of a flock of sheep to keep the grass cut.

Church warden Thea Stubbs said: "We've not been able to get anyone to cut the grass in the churchyard. Someone came up with the idea of using sheep.

"It's the first time we've ever done it and it's been a success."

The sheep would only be grazing in the churchyard until the end of November

Mrs Stubbs said the sheep were kept to certain areas of the churchyard by fencing.

She said that people wanting to place flowers on graves where the sheep were grazing should label the flowers and leave them in the church.