The usually calm waters of the River Trent were buzzing with activity in July 1980 as Burton held its 125th annual regatta and riverside show.
The anniversary year attracted a record crowd, with an estimated 18,000 turning up for the big day – which was a rise of 3,000 on the 1979 event.
The downside to the day was that Burton’s rowing crews left without as many trophies as usual.
The regatta kicked off in the morning with race after race churning up the river. But for visitors who weren’t rowing enthusiasts, it was only a few paces to reach the amusements.
The afternoon fun began with a display by the Band of the Staffordshire Regiment. They were quickly followed by Tiswas television star Chris Tarrant, who was a big hit with the crowd.
The Capital Radio DJ was happy to chat to the crowd – and several "lucky" ladies found themselves being covered in yellow slime. After Tarrant came the Avril Lennox gymnastic team and the eccentric clown, Ben Lester.
The ladies' five-a-side football was won by a team from TL Darby, who beat Pirelli in the final, while the title of Miss Burton Regatta went to 19-year-old Sharon Edwards.
Miss Edwards added to her list of accolades as she was already Miss Burton Albion and the South Derbyshire Coal Queen. The runners-up were Dawn Thompson, of Willington, and Cindy Holden, from Burton.
Those were the days....
Other contests saw Graham Shelley walk away with the title of Mr Regatta, with Paul Thomas in second and Colin Lathbury in third.
Mrs Hermione Smedley, of Repton, won the raffle and was delighted with an eight-day holiday in Paris.
