Produce sold at Ulverston’s weekly Women’s Institute market was so popular that holiday-makers ended up writing for the recipes when they returned home, said market organisers in March 1995.

Held at Ulverston’s Coronation Hall every Thursday, the WI market was firmly installed as one of the town’s top market day attractions.

After a short winter’s break, the market had re-opened its doors to shoppers at the start of its Silver Jubilee year.

The market first opened for business in 1970 and one of the WI stalwarts who had stayed the course to help make it such a success was market chairman Peggy Lawrence, of Ulverston.

She said: “I have been involved right from the beginning and it’s very popular with townsfolk.”

WI colleague and market controller Mary Burrow added: “We even have people here from Barrow and outlying districts as it’s market day in Ulverston.”

Mrs Lawrence added that the WI market day also attracted holidaymakers: “We often get letters of appreciation from holidaymakers after they have returned home.

“And some even ask for recipes because they have enjoyed some produce sold at the market.”

Organisers were planning to celebrate their Silver Jubilee by holding a special WI market in the main hall of the Coro on May 25 with an anniversary cake and glasses of sherry.

Two Swarthmoor women won the area’s Women’s Institute reading aloud competition in 1997.

Irene Wright, from Park Side and Kathleen Holmes, of Park Road, represented Pennington and Swarthmoor WI.

And they beat competitors from 16 WI teams from throughout Furness.

Each team had to read aloud poems of their choice and excerpts from stories to an Ulverton Parish Centre audience.

Mrs Wright chose a Miss Read story and Mrs Holmes read It Couldn't Be Done, a favourite poem of a former Archbishop of Canterbury.

Mrs Wright said: "You always hope for success but it was a real surprise when we won.

"We take part every year and the last time Pennington and Swarthmoor WI won the competition was 16 years ago, so we are delighted."