BACK in 1994 we had never heard the word Brexit and many South Cumbrian schools were playing their part in explaining Britain's role as a long-standing partner in the European Community.

Among them was George Romney School at Dalton which held a special day to celebrate how things were done on the other side of the English Channel.

The Mail, on May 2 in 1994 noted: "Dalton took on a continental flavour when pupils from Dowdales School and eight neighbouring primary schools held a European Awareness Day.

"They set up a European cafe, Italian shop and bureau du change and held a boules competition. Parents saw a display of European dancing and inspected the children's project work."

It was opened by Cumbrian Euro MP Lord Inglewood.

The article noted: "Teachers hope the event will help pupils understand Britain's role in Europe."

Lord Inglewood, from Hutton-in-the Forest, Cumbria, was Member of the European Parliament for Cumbria and North Lancashire from 1989 to 1994 and was succeeded by Workington's Tony Cunningham until 1999.