January 2009 Archives

ON January 26, Agnes Campbell will be remembering her father, who enlisted to fight in the Boer War on this day in 1900.
Harry Goulbourne, who was from Formby, joined up with brother Bill and friend Percy Evans in Southport's drill hall.
The trio then sailed to southern Africa, where they took part in the second Boer War.
The Boer War came to an end in 1902, but Harry also saw action in the Great War of 1914.
Agnes, who lives on Royal Crescent in Formby, asked Times Past to look for a poem called Boots by Rudyard Kipling on the war. So we have:
"We're foot-slog-slog-slog-sloggin' over Africa -
Foot-foot-foot-foot-sloggin' over Africa -
(Boots-boots-boots-boots-movin' up an' down again!)
There's no discharge in the war!"
Kipling, who is often referred to as the Empire's poet, wrote the poem in 1903.
If you have a Formby family member who fought in a war, please get in touch so we can tell their story.
Harry Goulbourne achieved the rank of Sergeant Major and also fought in World War I; (inset) Harry in his Boer War uniform Codes NA Recognise any faces and what was this particular medical occasion?Code NA Were you part of this tuneful ensemble?Code NA

Was Formby a Nazi target? Was Formby a Nazi target?
Tom Duffy times past, reg yorke, world war 2, loc:L37 4 2009-01-30T11:42:20
THE threat posed by Nazi Germany to Formby is the theme of this week's Times Past, ahead of Reg Yorke's talk tonight at St Luke's Church.
THE threat posed by Nazi Germany to Formby is the theme of this week's Times Past, ahead of Reg Yorke's talk tonight at St Luke's Church.
Although the thought of Nazis on Brows Lane seems closer to The Eagle Has Landed than real life, it was once a distinct possibility. We know that Hitler wanted to invade Britain at the start of the war, and many feared Formby's beach was the ideal landing stage for the Nazi war machine.
Formby's coast was particularly well defended, and some of the crumbling ruins from this lost world are still standing. The pillboxes that surround the village are a concrete reminder of the threat posed by Hitler and chums, and the structure that stands where Downholland Brook meets the Alt is a good example. It is a 'Type 28a' pillbox, which would have been used by British infantry to blast anti-tank shells at the advancing German armour.
Dr Reg Yorke will tonight present 'The Coast at War', looking at our coastline during wartime Britain.
The event will begin at 7pm in St Luke's Church Meeting Room. To book a free place, call 0151 934 2967.
Those attending are urged to go equipped with photographs, memorabilia and memories.
Meanwhile, Ann Batchelor has been in touch with some charming memories of Formby School of Dancing. The eagle-eyed reader spotted her photograph in our bumper Times Past Extra from January 14, and has identified the full line-up - from the right; Jill Hunt, Marjorie Townsend, Ann and daughters Hayley and Tracey.
Ann remembers the big day as a Christmas sale in aid of Formby's elderly community. Sadly, Marjorie Townsend has now passed away.
Although Jill Hunt founded the dancing school, Ann took charge in 1971. And Ann's daughters have inherited their mother's passion for the performing arts. Hayley now runs the school, and sister Tracey teaches drama. Although Ann has now retired from the school, she still designs costumes and teaches the occasional class.
We have more snaps for readers to identify - email us at newsdesk@formbytimes.co.uk or call Tom Duffy on 398002.
Were you in this photograph? Code NA Recognise this famous Formby sculptor? Do you perhaps own some of his work? Code NA

Cells once held a German PoW Fascinating history of Formby Police Station in focus
Tom Duffy times past, loc:L37 4 2009-02-06T11:35:31
THIS week Times Past delves into the history of Formby Police Station. The police station, on the corner of Church Road, dates back to 1894.
THIS week Times Past delves into the history of Formby Police Station. The police station, on the corner of Church Road, dates back to 1894.
The land which used to be owned by Reverend Lonsdale Formby and John Formby esquire of Formby, was purchased by the County Council in 1892 for £100.
By the end of the 19th century, seven officers were based there serving a population of approximately 5,524.
In 1974, with the local government reorganisation, the station and its officers fell under Merseyside.
During the Second World War an anti-aircraft gun was positioned in the back yard, and gun slits were carved in its southern perimeter wall. The front of the station was sandbagged, and armed guards patrolled the site for the duration of the war. Officers were issued with guns during air raids.
A booklet, issued to mark the station's centenary, recalls how a German pilot was captured after parachuting to safety in Altcar. He was kept in the cells until collected by the authorities.
Formby Times old boy Pat O'Neil has been back in touch. Pat, who edited the title during the 1950s, now lives in Australia. Pat would love to track down the film of the Queen Mother's trip to Formby in 1954. Apparently it was recorded by Liverpool University staff - can you help? Call Tom on 01704-398002.

NEW life has been breathed in to the past, thanks to Tony Bonney and Formby Civic Society.

The society has now completed the digitisation of the a vast collection of scrapbooks, sketches, newspaper cuttings and photographs of Formby. And Tony Bonney gave a presentation on the subject to the public last week at Ravenmeols Community Centre on Park Lane.
The collection includes thousands of Formby Times cuttings, from the 1890s to the 1980s, which will be of huge interest to researchers and local people. And Times Past is now planning to use this wonderful resource in the coming months.
Tony Bonney, who coordinated the project, has now created a database, and can carry out specific searches on the people, places and stories that all contributed to the history of the village by the sea. Speaking to the Formby Times, Tony said: "Yes, I came across some lovely images and fascinating stories while scanning the collection and working on the database. I remember one in particular about a raid on a pet shop in Formby in the 1970s, when the animals were all let loose. And I particularly enjoyed archiving Muriel Sibley's art work. I would also like to thank BT, who donated a computer toward the project."

TOTAL war is on Times Past's mind this week, asThe National Archive records reveal the hopes and fears of Prime Minister James Callaghan from 1978.
It seem that Mr Callaghan had little confidence in Britain's ability to fight a war with the Soviet Union, and described the country's arsenal as a "scandal." Each year the National Archives reveal a little of Britain's modern history, and the 2008 contribution is no exception.The declassified documents tell us that Britain's air defence munitions would have expired after 3 days of war, and that the Royal Air Force would have fought 200 Soviet bombers with 98 fighters.The state of affairs led the Prime Minister to declare "Heaven help us if there is a war."
Ironically, Britain's defences were tested four years later by Argentina in the Falklands, and not by the Soviet Union. And Times Past would of course love to see some snaps of Formby from the late 1970s.

THIS week Times Past hopes to rejuvenate popular interest in the work of Lilian Rushton and the Formby Tapestry.

The work has been on display in Formby Library for decades now, yet its name is mentioned infrequently. However, Formby Civic Society and the Yorkes have contacted Times Past with a view to restoring the profile of Miss Rushton and her work.

Lilian Rushton, a school teacher, lived on Marina Road, Formby. She drew inspiration from the work of her friend Muriel Sibley. Lilian chose to embroider what Muriel sketched and photographed.

Sadly, Lilian died in 1982, before her life's work was complete. However, the Formby Tapestry was completed by the Liverpool Guild of Embroiders in 1984. Reg Yorke, vice-chair of Formby Civic Society, said: "The tapestry is a remarkable record of Formby at that time of rapid change."

Last week Times Past wrote about Pat O'Neill, the legendary Formby Times editor. Joan Rimmer, the Formby author and historian, remembers him well. She said:"Pat was actually called John.

"He married a local girl called Frances Lovelady, who lived on Church Road. Pat and Frances moved to School Lane, and went on to raise a large family. Although the family emigrated to Melbourne, Frances returned to Formby for a holiday in 1984. I remember her saying 'I love life down under but Formby will always be home.'"

TIMES PAST this week caught up Pat O'Neill, who edited the Formby Times in the halcyon days of the 1950s.

Pat started work for the paper in 1952, in 'an attic above an office in the village.' He was already an experienced journalist, having working as a freelance in London and across the south coast of England.

Pat was asked by Major Willie Stephenson, who owned the Southport Visiter, to develop the Formby Times into a successful community newspaper.

The venture began in 'an attic above an office in the village,' but the title soon moved to a new office at 2 School Lane, with a counter lady, four reporters, an advertising rep and a circulation of nearly 4,000.

He remembers the 12 Conservative Party councillors on the Formby Urban District Council, and the day the Queen Mother visited the village. And he spent time advising local people on how to set up the community groups that today contribute so much to village life.

In the 1960s, the Daily Post bought out Major Stephenson.

Pat left the title in 1968, and spent the next year working for the Kirkby Reporter. He emigrated to Australia in 1969, and spent the next stage of his career working for The Herald in Melbourne, until 'it was axed by Rupert Murdoch.' Today, the 81-year-old is living out his retirement in Victoria, Australia.

Do you remember Pat O'Neill and the Formby Times in the 1950s?