Parachute jumps, motorbike displays and hot air ballooning - just a few of the attractions that made Barrow’s summer gala one of the highlights of the social calendar.

So stated The Mail in a feature about Barrow Rotary Club in 1995 to mark the 90th anniversary of the Rotary organisation.

Every June thousands of Barrovians descended on Furness Abbey for the gala. It was made possible thanks to the hard work and dedication of a band of volunteers - members of Barrow Rotary Club.

But as well as providing the smiles on gala day, the club was responsible for many other good deeds. Each year it raised thousands of pounds to support local, national and international charities. Club members also carried out essential care work in the community.

And in February 1995 the Barrow club had joined up with other branches of the organisation to celebrate 90 years of fund-raising.

The first club was founded in the United States in 1905. Within five years 16 clubs had been formed in the US and in the following year the idea crossed the Atlantic to Dublin, Belfast and London.

In 1912 the American Association became the International Association of Rotary Clubs. Its aim was to promote “the advancement of international understanding, goodwill and peace, through a world fellowship of business and professional men united in the ideal of service.”

In 1995 in the UK there were 65,000 people in 1,800 clubs across the country.

The Barrow branch of Rotary was founded in 1932 and had 59 members.

President Chris Heslop said: "Obviously our main event this year is the summer gala which we organise. That's where the bulk of our funds come from. We normally manage to raise about £5,000 a year and more than half of that comes from the gala."

Money raised by the group was donated to charities such as the Croft Centre for disabled people, the Citizens' Advice Bureau and Furness Drugs Concern.