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Our 'Stories Behind The Pictures' pages continue to be added to. Here Peter Seddon considers an unusual photograph of a lifeboat progressing through the centre of Derby.

Many forms of transport have been seen in and around the streets of Derby over the years - horses and carts, bicycles, trams, buses, lorries, cars, and above the streets trains. Barges once plied the Derby Canal while small craft navigated the Derwent. And in times of flood even the streets themselves became waterways for rowing boats and dinghies.

But what of seafaring vessels? Few places in Britain are as far distant from the coast as Derby. So the sight of this lifeboat making its stately progress along a Derby thoroughfare might appear a little incongruous. Yet scenes like this had became an annual event eagerly attended by watching crowds.

The picture was taken in 1905 outside the Green Dragon public house in St. Peter's Street, Derby. And the explanation is a ready one.

Since at least the 1860s the good citizens of Derby had subscribed generously towards the town's own 'sponsored' lifeboat, usually one stationed on the east coast. In order to boost the appeal it had become usual for a lifeboat crew to bring their boat to show the townsfolk and collect money. The event was known as 'Lifeboat Saturday' and similar processions were held in many towns throughout the country.

It must have been quite a task getting it there - no high-speed lorries at their disposal then. Either it must have arrived courtesy of horse-power or more likely was transported via the canal system.

On the picture itself, the lifeboat is being pulled on wheels by a team of four horses smartly accoutred for the occasion. Another horse pulling a cart of some kind follows behind, so it seems the lifeboat formed part of a larger procession of 'floats' and exhibitors. Something akin to the Derby Carnival perhaps.

At any rate the large crowd seems eager to see what is going on - some have taken to the balconies and upper floor windows for a better view.

The lifeboat crew have dressed for the occasion in oilskins, sou-wester headgear and cork lifejackets. A sign invites the onlookers to 'Please throw a penny into the lifeboat'. But not wishing to miss anyone the crew are adopting back-up tactics by extending small fishing nets on the end of long poles right into the crowd. Several people can be seen placing their donation into a net.

It is not known precisely how long the tradition continued in the same fashion, but certainly there was a 'Derby lifeboat' for many years - one was called the Florence Nightingale.

Although 'Lifeboat Saturday' is no longer part of Derby's annual calendar, the RNLI have occasionally collected in Derby Market Place in more recent years. And to good effect, for the town and county have continued to support the vital cause to such an extent that a relatively new Derbyshire lifeboat is now in service.

When the Mersey class fast-carriage vessel was launched in Ilfracombe in 1990 it was named 'Spirit of Derbyshire' in honour of the county which helped to provide it. The boat continues to serve Ilfracombe today.

If anyone knows more about 'Lifeboat Saturday' or can add to this story in another way, just click on 'edit' or 'discussion' and begin writing.

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County:  Derbyshire