The 150th anniversary of the port of Barrow was celebrated in style on Sunday, July 16 with a parade through the town and events on the town quay.
The celebrations were opened with the lifting of Michaelson Road Bridge by Gavin Andrews and Sonja Foster, two fundraisers rewarded for their community work after winning a local community competition.
Mr Andrews, deputy operations manager at Dong Energy, has raised more than £40,000 for the North West Air Ambulance charity after the death of his son, Joe, four years ago, while Mrs Foster has raised funds for the Brathay Trust by running 10 marathons in 10 days for three years in a row.
A special plaque commemorating the occasion was unveiled by the town’s Mayor, Councillor Tony Callister. The parade marched across the bridge through the town to the quay, where spectators were able to enjoy live music, bouncy castles and docked vessels.
Carl Bevan, divisional port manager for the owners, Associated British Ports (ABP), said: “We are proud to have played a key role in the economic prosperity of the town for the past 150 years and are committed to supporting Barrow’s vibrant local community.
“Together with our sister port of Silloth, ABP and its customers contribute around £100mn to the regions economy and support more than 5,000 jobs.”