BY ANDREW THOMAS

For many years people in Windermere marked the coming of the New Year with a fancy dress pram race around the town’s streets.

It was a fun and colourful event that always drew the crowds on New Year’s Day.

That was certainly the case in 1993 when unusually dry and mild weather attracted many people to line the streets to watch the spectacular race.

The 18th pram race was organised by Windermere Lions Club. Twenty-three teams turned out in colourful perambulators of all shapes and sizes for the event, which was firmly fixed in Windermere’s social calendar.

Some £2,000 was raised for local charities and Lions Club members were hoping to expand the event to include a four-legged race involving teams from local pubs along the four-mile pram race rote.

First passing the finishing post on January 1 1993 were the Watford Harriers in a time of 38 minutes 20 seconds. They picked up the Major T.W.I. Headley Trophy for the fastest time.

Two years later the event celebrated its 20th anniversary. Organisers were expecting bumper funds for charity. “It’s not all come in yet. But with the sponsorship money, it should be in excess of £2,500,” said Ray Ellis, of Windermere Lions, shortly after the event ended.

He said people had put a lot of effort into their entries and there had been an increase in the junior section since the previous year.

“One of the more original entries was four lady school teachers who came as the anonymous lottery winner. Another clever one was London’s Burning,” said Mr Ellis.

One participant, Peter Lever, had run in every pram race since it began. This year he was with the Discharged and Demobilised Soldiers and Sailors Club.

“It’s a major event – people come from all over to watch the four-and-a-half- mile race,” said Mr Ellis.

The fastest team in 1993 was Windermere Boxing Club Girls.