October 2008 Archives

THIS week Times Past celebrates the life of Joan Rimmer, one of Formby's leading lights.
Joan, who was a regular visitor to the Formby Times office, is well known to many as the 'Formby Historian.' Her latest book, The Village That Was Formby, is a composite of three earlier titles; My Formby, Formby Remembered and Formby Today. However, as Joan is keen to emphasise, 'none of the books were planned, and this fuss is a mystery to me.'
Sadly, it was the death of Joan's mother that led to the world of books, drawings and local history. Joan said: "My mother became very ill in 1986, and died in January 1987. During this period of time I started writing poems, and this led to the books."
And local artist Muriel Sibley took an early interest in Joan's poetry. Muriel encouraged Joan to do more, and later provided the art work for Joan's books. She said:"Yes, Muriel was a dear friend, and her beautful art work appears in all of my books." Joan remembers Muriel as a remarkable woman, who began photographing Formby in the 1950s with her 35 mm camera.
Today Joan Rimmer has sold 10,000 books, and raised over £20,000 for charity. She said:"I just can't believe it. It's all a bit of mystery to me." However, Joan's achievements are not confined to her books. She has organised 14 slide shows since 1996, and also writes a column for the St Luke's church parish magazine.She said, teasingly:"Yes, I can thank John Nelson for that one."
Although Joan has no plans for any more books, the slideshows, column and charity work will all continue. She intimates that Formby's golden age is now a memory, but takes huge pleasure from the family home she lives in on Priesthouse Lane. Asked where her favourite place in Formby was, she replied:"My house on Priesthouse Lane. I sleep in the room I was born in. I love my house for its memories."
And finally, thanks to Shirley Childs, who has put some names to the chess awards photograph at Ravenmeols School. She remembers Margaret Young, Catherine Young, Raymond Young, who all appear at the front of the photograph on the right, and lived on Chapel House Walk.

THE life-blood of Times Past is our readers' response, and this week is no exception.
S.G. Mclardy, who is one of the column's best friends, has provided some lovely background information to a photograph we ran on October 8.
Mr Mclardy remembers the snap as a chess players award ceremony in the PE hall at Ravenmeols School. And he spotted his brother, Ian David, third from right on the top row, holding on to the rope net. The second face he recognised was that of Peter Baden, his best friend, fifth from left on the bottom row.
And Mr Mclardy has not stopped there. He has told us that Ian, who is now nearly 50 years of age, became a civil servant in the health and safety department at Bootle Town Hall, and now works in the Formby branch of Waitrose.

And his school pal Peter, who lived on Castle Drive, was a good chess player and bird watcher. The Baden family, who were apparently very musical, later moved to Oxfordshire, and the friends lost touch.
And finally, thanks to John K. Rowlands, who has helped resolve a reader's 'Cairnie House' mystery. John spent a little time searching the records in Formby Library, and discovered the site of the old house, on Victoria Way.
He said: "All that is left of Cairnie House today is the original front wall. This site is now called Victoria Way, which is a group of private houses built around 20 years ago."