EASTER in South Cumbria has developed into a glorious mix of religious festival and public holiday with plenty of groups organising events at a time of year with very uncertain weather.

The Hoad at Ulverston must have witnessed generations of youngsters rolling their pace eggs down the slope at Easter.

The Mail, on April 6 in 1988, noted: "Ulverston mayor Cllr Alan Bramall and mayoress Ann Hood were guests of honour as a Welfare State International brass band — colourfully decked out in red and yellow — led a procession to the top of the hill.

"A crowd of several hundred watched the mayor and mayoress judge the children's decorated pace eggs."

Ulverston town crier Alf Jarvis bellowed out the names of the winners — Liane Lamb, Melanie Tyson and Amanda McKevitt.

In 1990 the annual egg rolling at Ulverston provided extra fun as it marked a special date linked to the town's most famous son — the Hollywood movie star Stan Laurel.

The Mail, on April 23, noted: "This year's event was organised by Bill Cubin, the Grand Sheik of the Birth Mark Tent, the local branch of the Laurel and Hardy appreciation society and was held to mark the 100th anniversary of Stan Laurel's birth."

It included egg jarping — a game once played by the young Stan Laurel.

The Friends of Dalton Castle held an egg rolling contest and encouraged youngsters to design decorated eggs.

The 1994 event attracted 40 entrants to the grounds of the nearby St Mary's Parish Church

In 1994 more than 100 worshippers gathered at Ulverston Market Cross to mark Good Friday with a service of witness organised by Churches Together in Ulverston.

The Mail, on April 2, noted: "Colourful pennants representing many of the participating churches were part of the event on Good Friday morning, which was cold, dry and bright."

In 1990 St George's churchwarden Joe Watson bore the wooden cross at the head of a procession through Millom's Market Square on Good Friday.

Making decorated bonnets has long been a feature of Easter celebrations and in 1993 Ulverston mayor Colin Hodgson got into the spirit of the event.

He wore the winning entry by Marjorie Bertram in a contest organised by Ulverston Good Companions.

There was a chance to design Easter Cards in 1996 for a contest held by the children's ward at Barrow's Furness General hospital.

It was open to both patients and members of the wider public and produced 79 entries which were judged by hospital play specialist Sheila Price and nursery nurse Alison Gill.

The winners were Connor Raven, Nicola White and Kayleigh Dodd.

In 1993 the prospect of buried Easter treasure brought hundreds of eager youngsters to Earnse Bay, Walney, to take part in The Mail's grand egg beach hunt.

The Mail, on April 12, noted: "Within minutes the sand was packed with frantic diggers.

"The children, ranging from tots to 12-year-olds were in search of hidden marked stones which they could exchange for an Easter egg.

"And such was their diligence that only five stones remained undiscovered.

"The search had to be called off after just over an hour, as the tide began to creep over the sands."

Nearly 400 children hunted for eggs which had been provided by Asda, Tesco, Woolworths and The Mail.