25 Years Ago -September 16, 1977:THOUGH amounts of rain in the area varied considerably during August, there was a noteworthy absence of sunshine.

In every way the month was disappointing for those who had to spend time out of doors, especially holiday makers.

Recordings at the Lakes and Lune Water Boards Fisher Tarn Reservoir, Kendal, show a total rainfall of 92.2mm.

The highest fall of 55.4mm was on the 4th.

Ambleside had the wettest August for four years, according to Mr Bernard Tebay, of Loughrigg Park, with rainfall totalling 6.53 inches.

INDEPENDENT bakeries in South Lakeland have been working flat out this week to try to cope with the massive demand for bread.

Every day, long queues have formed outside bread shops at most bakeries and although output has more than doubled, there has been no way of supplying the demand.

The bakery workers' strike has dried up supplies to supermarkets and shops and, as a consequence, pressure has been put on the small, privately owned businesses.

Men at Nicholson's bakery, in Windermere, are working about an 80-hour week to produce four times the normal supply.

Three batches of bread are being baked each day and long queues form for each delivery.

At the moment, the bakery has enough flour to last for a few days but only half of what was ordered arrived on Tuesday.

Future production depends entirely on flour supplies, said managing director Mr K.

Gorton.

"We are trying to give a good service to the public and are not rationing bread at the present time," he told the Gazette.

"Most customers are buying a l

arge and small loaf but obviously if someone came in wanting six or seven loaves we would restrict them."

50 Years Ago -September 13, 1952:IDEAL weather favoured the eight cross-bay swimmers who started off from Grange to Morecambe on Saturday.

A big crowd gave them a cheer as they left and two yachts with bunting accompanied the competitors.

This should have been the final swim of the season but, as three events had been cancelled owing to the weather, the final will take place later.

WHEN Queen Mary visited the Furness district in 1937 she went to Cartmel Fell Church and showed considerable interest in the building and signed the visitors' book.

Sometime ago, the Rev.

J.

Sell, vicar, wrote to her informing her of the forthcoming sale towards the upkeep of the church.

Queen Mary has sent two embroidered tray cloths, a set of cocktail mats, an Indian cloth and two lavender bags.

These will be in a special stall at the sale and will be sold for the church funds.

100 Years Ago-September 13, 1902:A YOUNG man met with a nasty bicycle accident on Sunday.

It was his first ride and he was coming down the steep hill past the Albion Hotel, when he lost control over his machine.

It ran away with him and threw him with great force over the wheel.

When he was picked up, it was found he had sustained numerous nasty cuts and bruises.

He was taken into the Albion Hotel and Dr Grosvenor attended to his injuries.

THE tenant of Meathop Marsh Farm, Mr Forrester, found he had lost about 170 sheep through the breaking of the embankment.

This is a heavy loss but it is said that, owing to the clause in the lease, the landlord will be liable for the damage.

The clause provides that any damage done owing to the breaking of the embankment will fall onto the landlord.

150 Years Ago-September 11, 1852:DURING the past week we had pointed out to us a splendid lot of cabbages planted by Mr Wright, butler to George Wilson, Esq, of Dallam Tower, who has a small plot of land allotted to him in the kitchen garden for his vacant time.

One of the cabbages (not the largest) weighed 32 lbs.

There are many others that will exceed that weight when they are taken up.