Devastating floods, a school celebration and a doctor's desert challenge made for an eventful February 2004

River and watercourse levels rocketed, which led to homes and businesses being soddened, 15 schools closed and the emergency services at full stretch.

The transport system was disrupted by standing water and the entrances to Kendal became paralysed with gridlocked traffic. Trains were cancelled and farmers were left fearing for livestock as fields became lakes.

DISRUPTION: Police control the flow of traffic to get round the flood on the A591 at Bannerigg

From Grange-over-Sands to Holme, and from Windermere to Appleby, the deluge saw nearly a month’s rain fall over four days.

On the River Kent in Kendal, water reached its highest level since gauges were installed at Victoria Bridge 19 years before.

The Westmorland Gazette reported that the total number of homes and businesses flooded was unclear but, of those reported, more than 70 homes and commercial properties were in Burneside, Kendal and Appleby.

That month also saw short trousers back at Burton-in-Lonsdale primary as the school celebrated its 150th anniversary in true Victorian style.

Boys at Richard Thornton’s CE Primary School donned waistcoats and flat caps while the girls put on frilly shirts and shawls to set the scene for the celebrations of the school’s first day on January 30, 1854.

A special visitor was 80-year-old Kathleen Salrein, who started at the school in 1926.

REMEMBER: Kathleen Salrein, who started at Burton-in-Lonsdale’s school in 1926, shared memories of those days with pupils Abigail Rollinson (left) and Emily Mattinson

She took the opportunity to reflect on her time learning there and shared some of her memories with the school's pupils at the time, including Abigail Rollinson and Emily Mattinson.

TV viewers were also watching consultant rheumatologist Wendy Dodds that month as she faced extreme heat, humidity and a punishing SAS fitness regime in the baking Namibian desert.

The 52-year-old Milnthorpe doctor, who worked at Westmorland General Hospital and Lancaster hospitals, was one of 24 super-fit contenders selected to take part in new BBC 2 series SAS Desert – Are You Tough Enough?

CHALLENGE: Dr Wendy Dodds, of Milnthorpe, who was in the BBC 2 series SAS Desert – Are You Tough Enough?

Fell-running Dr Dodds, who specialised in Lakeland classic challenges, had been subjected to weeks of special forces training in a hostile environment.

In episode one, the contenders navigated a route march in searing 40 degrees heat through the desert.