OUR LOOK back into the Formby of the 60s continues thanks to the discovery of more carefully saved Formby Times copies.
Starting with a feature that appeared in 1966, the average “Mr Formby” at this time had 1.2 children, owned his own home and commuted to a “white collar” job outside of Formby. A third of households had no car, but there were many one and two-car families already about.
Formby’s Mr Average had a home equipped with “a garage, a hot water tap, a fixed bath, an inside water closet and six rooms.”
The population had grown by 50% between 1961 and 1966 and this had resulted in some huge changes to the face of Formby.
According to one article, a long-awaited new school opened on Wicks Lane in September 1966, just in time for the new school year.
However the name of this school goes unmentioned. The article only tells us that builders and plumbers were still on site clearing up and the name of the school’s first headmaster.
When the article was written, headteacher Eric Kenyon had been in the job a week at the new school, working with his staff on administration and beginning to teach their new pupils.
If you know the name of the school, taught there or were a pupil, please get in touch with Times Past and tell us your memories.
A few years on, another newspaper article tells us that Formby’s population had boomed to the point where two comprehensive schools would soon be needed. The Divisional Education Officer for the area, told the Formby Times of their plans to provide a 10-form-entry school “together with provision for Roman Catholic pupils” by also providing a four-form-entry RC secondary school.
Farmers in the area were also extremely concerned about foot-and-mouth disease around this time. The local branch of the National Farmers’ Union postponed their annual ball and banquet so as to concentrate their efforts on stamping out the infection. The Milk Marketing Board were advising farmers to wash all milk churns with hot water and soda and to lay disinfected straw at all farm entrances.
In the same week as new school shoes entered the brand new school on Wicks Lane, a small business planned to clean up Formby. A small news article tells us that planning permission had been granted for a coin-operated launderette at 9a Duke Street.
If you have a tale for Times Past call Emma on 872 237, email newsdesk@formbytimes.co.uk or write to Formby Times, 17 Elbow Lane, Formby L37 4AD.

The lady holding the tray has been identified as Audrey Davis by a reader who is curious to know more. She guesses the people on this picture could be parents campaigning for a pool at Redgate or Woodlands School. Can you tell us more?

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