Friends have reunited to mark half a century since they broke a world record in a boat on Lancaster Canal.
David Whitaker, John Siddle, Philip Gregory, Steve Colling and Ruth Colling punted for 101 miles along the canal in August 1972 to set an official Guinness world record.
The quintet met at the Water Witch pub in Lancaster, 51 years on, for a special reunion lunch.
David, John, Philip and Steve are all originally from Morecambe and all attended the old Morecambe Grammar School (now Morecambe Bay Academy).
In 1970, the four friends decided to go punting, a method of water travel in a long, narrow boat, propelled by a long pole.
"David noticed punts were for hire on Lancaster Canal and suggested we have a day's punting," said John, explaining the story to Beyond Radio.
"The Water Witch pub was then a workshop, and a chap called David Vause lived there, made punts and hired them out. So we punted from Tewitfield to Preston.
"Afterwards I wrote to Norris McWhirter at Guinness World Records and said 'we've just punted 42 miles, is that a record?'
"Norris wrote back and said there was talk of Oxford students punting 98 miles down to London Bridge. This wasn't authenticated but he couldn't regard 42 miles as a record. So I said 'if we do 100 miles does that count?'"
So between August 28 and 31 1972, the four friends, joined by Steve's wife Ruth, punted for over 53 hours and 40 minutes starting and finishing at The Water Witch.
Then more than 50 years later, while all living in different parts of the country, they decided to meet up again at the same place where they'd broken the world record all those years before.
"I said if it's going to be a proper reunion it needs to be on Lancaster Canal," said John, who now lives in South Leicestershire.
"And the Water Witch is where the boat was made, and where it all started and finished. So we met and had a nice lunch.
"Rachel (Wright, from The Water Witch) made us very welcome and we presented a photograph to her to put on the pub wall."
The punters were joined by a friend, John Woods, whose house at Bolton-le-Sands backed onto the canal.
They'd met him during the world record-breaking punt 51 years ago when, according to John Siddle, "he kept inviting us in for cups of coffee!"


UPDATE: Two men charged with robbery and burglary offences at Morecambe and Lancaster shops
LISTEN: Community garden taking shape in memory of Heysham toddler
Second earthquake in two days hits Silverdale as tremors felt across Morecambe Bay
£2.5m funding boost for Eden Project Morecambe will help create new visitor zone
British Transport Police office returns to Lancaster Railway Station
Ryelands Community Connect scheme aims to bring together locals
Twenty vehicles caught speeding during police crackdown in Lancaster
Councillors call for halt to demolition of vandalised Morecambe 'youth hut'
Coastal pollution clean-up training to be held on Morecambe beach
Man seriously injured at Morecambe pub "making excellent progress" as investigation continues
Vandals target tractors used by King's Guide to Sands of Morecambe Bay to keep walkers safe
MP hopes for improved mobile signal at last as new mast installed in Lancaster
Maternity services at the Royal Lancaster Infirmary officially exit national special measures
Crews tackle kitchen fire in Lancaster
Opening date announced for animal rescue charity's new Morecambe home
Lancaster MP takes on Morecambe 10K in aid of new children's playground
Tributes paid to twice-Lancaster mayor who served on council for 56 years
Dancing Eric Morecambe Statue part of police campaign to warn about AI deepfakes
PHOTOS: Great Wall of China trek raises more than £300K for Lancaster hospice
Another earthquake hits Silverdale as tremors felt across Lancaster and Morecambe Bay

