LAUNCHING your model boat was a serious business back in 1937.

This wonderfully evocative photograph shows two model boat builders at Barrow Bridge boating lake about to see if their latest creations were seaworthy.

Building models was a very popular pre-war hobby with a number of magazines being published offering plans and tips and public boating lakes were in great demand.

This pair, possibly a father and son, had rowed out to the middle of the lake to launch their boats - note the absence of any lifejackets, not something that would be allowed these days.

The lake was a popular destination for families at weekends when rowing boats were available to hire.