THE Lake Windermere Festival was battling on and providing plenty to enjoy in 1994, despite some poor weather and some proposed events not receiving enough support.
A barn dance had to be cancelled, while insufficient floats were promised for the street parade so that, too, was withdrawn.
And chairman Roger Brownhill was warning that, unless support was forthcoming, the 1994 event would be the last.
LAKES: One of the floats at the Lake Windermere Festival parade in 1989
However, there was still a packed programme of events on offer and they were finding appeal among visitors, especially those who planned holidays to coincide with the festival.
Trips to the lake to see a 50-year-old Catalina flying boat touch down proved a major attraction.
And to brighten up a dull Saturday afternoon, the egg-catching contest was a hilarious, if messy, diversion.
However, thick clouds and heavy rain put paid to hot air balloon rides on the Sunday.
While crowd numbers had generally been down on previous years, those who turned up to see a six-ton wagon pulled along the Glebe cheered Kirkstone Car Pull Team’s success.
For the first time, a model and hobby exhibition ran in tandem with the flower show and, throughout the week, there had been something to suit everything, from a Wordsworth evening to Cumberland and Westmorland wrestling, a blues gig and a rowing race.
Mid-way through the festival, with a better weekend forecast and the start of Scottish holidays, Mr Brownill was optimistic festivities would flourish.
CHURCH: Proceeds from the Windermere Festival in 1989 paid for a Nimbus Computer for Windermere Church of England Junior School and a VHS Video Recorder for Applethwaite Green Old Folks’ Home. Festival chair David Smith is pictured handing the
On the coming Saturday, the county's rescue services would be out in force, showing their skills, while Bowness Bay would see bike jumping and a grand boat parade. A highlight was expected to be the 10.30pm Glebe festival firework display.
In 1987 the newly formed Lake Windermere Festival Theatre Company was putting the finishing touches to its first production, Alan Ayckbourn's comedy Confusions, which was set to open for a five-week run at the Ladyholme Centre, Bowness.
PARADE: A float at the Lake Windermere Festival parade in 1989
The professional production had been designed to coincide with the Lake Windermere Festival, but would run for a total of 21 nights.
During the Windermere Festival in 1988 an exhibition by members of the Windermere Scale Model Society raised £200 for the local branch of the Royal British Legion.
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