Civic News

The Newsletter of the Formby Civic Society

www.formbycivicsociety.org.uk

Sand-winning Project - digging things up! February 2008

(Left), One of the Inside this issue: first large-scale extractions was here at ‘Death-duty Planning Mat- 2 Hill”, Lifeboat ters Road. Wildlife Notes 3

Dickensian 6 Day

The Flying 7 Governess (Right), On the South side of Red Squirrel 9 Lifeboat Road another area Report was left level for the Formby Point caravan site. Professor 10 Gray

History Group 11

(Left), To the west of the Art Group 11 Power Station a ramp brought huge quantities of sand from Cabin Hill to the railway (Photo T. Bonney) Annual Dinner

Saturday 15th March , at Tree- Tops Resaurant, Old The Story now to be revealed…... Road. Menu and Booking Form This important project was the subject of Pat McGrehgor on searches through enclosed. a History Group meeting on Thursday Formby Times newspaper files by The Guest of Honour is to 13th December when after a brief intro- Anthea Royden and herself. John Hous- be Philip Love duction by Reg Yorke, further details of ton expressed his pleasure at the useful Feel free to bring your current research were provided by Jack contribution of Society members to this own guest(s) to this Gore, (interviews), Phil Smith, (wildlife, important on-going project. Further in- pleasant Social Event! Jennifer Lewis, ( landscape changes) and formation is in our special supplement- Planning Matters by Desmond Brennan

than confirmation solid/perforated shutters were in- that the refurbished stalled without planning permission station would be at Living Doll, 58 Brows Lane, we entirely electric, no referred the matter to the Council‟s significant infor- Enforcement Unit. As a result, the mation was dis- Council required that planning per- closed – not even mission be applied for retrospectively the maximum and when the application was made, pumping capacity we opposed it; we are pleased to re- of the station. port that the application has been There was con- refused. This has been a crucial case, certed questioning because, had it become known that by the Chairman of solid external, frontage covering, the Committee and shutters were permissible, it would Altmouth Pumping Station, 1975, one of the most from the floor, es- have been open season for their in- powerful in Europe pecially on the cru- stallation more widely in Formby cial issue of Village. We also referred to the En- There has been disappointing pro- backup, but no progress was made. forcement Unit the recent unauthor- gress in obtaining information about After the meeting, Jack Gore (who ised installation of external, frontage- the intentions of the Environment recently joined the Amenities and covering, solid/perforated unpainted Agency (EA) for the refurbishment of Planning Subgroup) and I had a con- galvanised steel shutters at Uni- the Altmouth pumping station. My structive conversation with formby, 45 Piercefield Road and, in enquiries made in October and No- Mr. Rowlands, as a result of which the same parade of shops, the rather vember last year never received a we are hopeful that we shall receive older similar shutters at Prestige response. However, Cllr. Mike Coles, at least some of the sought for infor- Comforts, 53 Piercefield Road. In of Formby Parish Council, fared mation. both these cases, because the prem- rather better, in that his enquiry, ises are in a Conservation Area, ex- made in November, did receive a We are concerned by the prolifera- ternal shutters of any kind are prohib- reply which, regrettably, did not con- tion in Formby of external ited. It is regrettable that the Embassy tain any significant new information. solid/perforated shutters covering the Building, which is also in the Conser- The present situation is that the entire frontage of shops. Such shut- vation Area, does not conform to pumping station is and will remain Conservation Area standards and we for the next several years, if not are anxious that this adjacent parade longer, our sole defence against “The pumping station is and will of shops should not also be allowed flooding by the lower Alt. We know remain for the next several years, to decline visually without regard for that the EA has approved and funded if not longer, our sole defence the aspirations that the Conservation the refurbishment project and that it against flooding by the lower Alt”. Area status implies. The Council has is anticipated the work will be com- ordered in both cases that either retro- pleted in December, 2010. We know spective planning permission be ap- also that the Halcrow Group has com- ters create a depressing and alienating plied for or the shutters be removed pleted its comprehensive revisiting of ambience to an area and for this rea- within two months. (Contd. P5) the issues that will determine the final son they are contrary stages of designing the details of the to planning policy as Prohibited shutters in Piercefield Rd. new installation (the first review of set out in the Coun- these issues was carried out by Atkins cil‟s Unitary Devel- in connection with the EA‟s planning opment Plan and in application for a flood control basin its Supplementary at Lunt Meadows in August, 2006, Planning Guidance, which was approved by the Council, which require that but the scheme failed to obtain ap- shutters, preferably proval within the EA itself and is internal, should be now in limbo). It was, therefore, with of the open linked considerable anticipation that we variety so as to al- looked forward to the presentation to low visibility into Formby Area Committee on the premises and 10th January by Mr. Ian Rowlands, light from the prem- the EA‟s NW Central Area Flood ises to brighten the Risk Manager. In the event, other street scene. When

Page 2 Formby Civic News Wildlife Notes Winter 2007/8 by Dr. Phil Smith

November catkins in spring. It would make help them get through a cold snap, quite a decorative garden plant. not that we have many of those these Always reluctant to give up plant- days. I was reminded how mild the hunting as the autumn progresses, I Bird-watching tends to replace bot- autumn has been so far by hearing a spent the first half of November re- any in the winter. At this season we Song Thrush in full song just outside cording hybrid willows on the sand- see lots of species from Arctic breed- my window while writing these notes dunes. “Get a life” I hear you say, but ing areas, such as the 1400 Common on 26th November. actually willows are one of the most Scoters and 45 Red-throated Divers interesting groups of plants on the counted on the sea off Formby Point The new “Birds of ” book th Sefton Coast. We have around 30 on 12 November. A Pale-belled is soon going to print and can be or- different kinds compared with about Brent Goose from northern Canada dered for a pre-publication saving of 26 lowland willows in the whole of was spotted on shore and a £10 by free-phoning 0870 0100700. , a county said to be particu- Little Auk, perhaps originating in larly rich in these trees and shrubs. Spitsbergen, was picked up dead at December Crosby Marina, while up to six Snow Willows are well known for their Buntings were an attraction on Ains- The last month of the year is also one promiscuity, producing lots of hy- dale beach. of the least productive for the wildlife brids that can be a challenge to iden- enthusiast, the sand-dunes in particu- tify, several of them being very rare. Derek Forshaw tells me the lar being quiet. However, time can th In total, we have four nationally rare “Lancashire” goose count on 11 now be found to write-up those sum- hybrids in the sand-dunes, all involv- November totalled 38,478 Pinkfeet, mer observations and submit the data ing the abundant Creeping Willow the third highest November total. On to the various regional and national (Salix repens) as one of the parents. the mosslands east of Formby, large recording schemes. This is a vital The rarest of the lot, found in only flocks can often be watched at fairly task, providing the necessary back- about six places in the British Isles, is close-range using a car as a hide. But ground information for effective Salix x doniana (no English name), these wary birds, hunted over most of wildlife conservation programmes. which is Creeping Willow crossed their range, will not tolerate a person with Purple Willow (Salix pur- on foot within several hundred yards, John Edmondson of World Museum purea). I was very pleased to find so it is important to stay in the vehi- kindly sent me a copy of his paper on the nature diaries of the two new bushes at Lifeboat Road, cle. A particular skill is to find the great Southport Naturalist, Fred W. one at Cabin Hill and nine at occasional fellow-traveller with the Holder (1891-1963). The diaries Hightown dunes to add to the ten or Pinkfeet. I searched a flock of about so already known for the coast. The 4000 geese at Downholland Moss on comprise over 70 notebooks with th hybrids keep their leaves longer than 17 November but failed to find a detailed records of natural history observations covering almost 51 the parents, so they become easier to Tundra Bean Goose from Siberia years, on which the Museum has spot amongst the dense stands of reported with the same flock that day. compiled an important database. I Creeping Willow. Doniana is a par- In my defence, Bean Geese are hard never met Fred Holder but, having ticularly attractive small shrub with to spot, their plumage being very similar to a Pinkfoot. They have or- read some of his diaries, I feel a good bright red stems, bluish leaves that th turn yellow in autumn and red-tinged ange legs, often hidden in the vegeta- deal of empathy with him. On 11 tion, and an orange band on the bill May 1913, he wrote: “There is no instead of a pink one. pleasure so entertaining as a day Derek reported a spent on the sand dunes; here to the Ross’s Goose with eye of the casual observer nothing Pinkfeet on Plex Moss but a barren waste of sand can be on 11th November. seen, but to the naturalist the hills Being mostly white, teem with life and your senses must this species is not go- be keenly on the alert to see and be- ing to be missed but it hold everything.” Spot on, Fred! is more likely to be an Has anyone with garden feeders no- escape from captivity ticed more Blackbirds than usual? than a truly wild bird Our garden birds are often supple- from the Canadian mented by overseas visitors and this Arctic. month a big influx of Blackbirds has Feeding garden birds been reported, probably from Scandi- is a popular pastime navia and other parts of northern Salix x doniana photographed at Lifeboat Road in winter and can Europe.

Page 3 Wildlife Notes (Continued)

mals. A similar outbreak affected Devon is said to support about 500. National Nature Reserve last year and seems to have caused a Sands Lake at Ainsdale is usually fall in the population there. How- worth a visit at this time of year. ever, according to the Red Squirrel The wintering flock of Tufted Duck th Monitoring Report 2007, numbers for peaked at 144 on 9 January after a the Red Squirrel Refuge as a whole gale, when the 39 Shovelers present show only a small reduction this year. was probably a record count. Two Despite what has been written in the Water Rails were occasionally seen local press, there is little doubt that or more usually heard squealing away the disease is being spread to the in the reeds, but the best bird was a st Reds by invading Grey Squirrels and Yellow-legged Gull on the 1 Janu- that measures to control the latter are ary. This is the western Mediterra- key to the future survival of our local nean version of our Herring Gull, Red Squirrel distinguishing features including its dark mantle colour and yellowish Wildlife Notes January 2008 legs. It has been reported twice on the beach since then. As usual, numbers Formby Sand Dunes - teeming Inclement weather meant few oppor- of Coot on Southport Marine Lake with life! tunities to get out into the field this began to decline from their December month. Instead, I spent some time th th Marshside saw another, more pre- peak, with 1100 on 5 and 860 on 9 updating the Inventory of Vascular dictable, invasion as the reserve‟s January. Marshside was good value, Plants for the Sefton Coast. This is a grazing marshes began to flood at the with regular sightings of raptors such sort of “Domesday Book” of all the start of December. Duck counts in- as Hen Harrier, Merlin, Peregrine cluded 17,500 Wigeon and 1150 Pin- higher plants (flowering plants, coni- and even Marsh Harrier, while Lit- tail, while wader numbers rose to fers and ferns) identified on the tle Egrets were ever present. The Sefton Coast as a whole and in the 2600 Lapwings, 2100 Golden Plovers much rarer Great White Egret was sand-dune system since people began and 2200 Black-tailed Godwits. reported a couple of times and three to write down their discoveries about These are impressive figures, testa- Greenland Whitefronts were spot- 200 years ago. You might think that ment to the way the marshes are be- ted with the regular Pink-footed all the plants would have been found ing managed by the RSPB. Geese. Martin Mere had its usual by now, but actually new ones are spectacular flock of wintering Other winter-visitors to Marshside still being added most years; for ex- Whooper Swans – peaking at around and the adjacent Ribble Estuary Na- ample as many as 25 in 2005/06 and 1600, with Buzzards and other rap- tional Nature Reserve included Hen 18 more in 2007. Research for the tors usually on view. I counted an and Marsh Harriers, Merlins, Pere- New Flora of has impressive number of 775 Shelduck grines and a rare American Green- also contributed historical records of there on 12th January. Finding Snow- winged Teal, presumably the same about 50 plants previously over- drops, already in flower before the individual that wintered here last looked. The latest Inventory lists end of the month, whets the appetite year. Meanwhile, the Wildfowl & 1265 different plants, 1129 of which for riches yet to come. I noticed Wetlands Trust‟s Martin Mere refuge were recorded in the duneland. Common Snowdrop (Galanthus attracted 1400 Whooper Swans, a few Around two-thirds of them are native nivalis) and much rarer, broader- Bewick‟s Swans and, briefly, a Cattle to Britain, the rest having been intro- leaved Green Snowdrop (G. Egret from southern Europe. As duced, including a growing number woronowii) at Hesketh Road, usual, Southport Marine Lake had of garden-escapes. The good news is Marshside on 30th January. Many impressive numbers of Coot. My that, unlike most of the countryside, different spring-flowering bulbs can highest count was 1278 (just below we seem to be gaining more flowers be found in the next few months on the record), but nearly all of them than we are losing; indeed, only patches of waste ground and on the disappeared for about a week when about 50 kinds have become extinct inner parts of the sand-dunes, where the lake froze – an unusual event in here since records began. Certainly, they have escaped from gardens. recent winters. our coast is exceptionally rich botani- cally, perhaps the richest of its kind It is sad and worrying to hear about in Britain. It is difficult to make the outbreak of parapox disease in the comparisons because few other areas Red Squirrels at the National Trust‟s have been studied in such detail. But, Formby Point property. About a for example, Newborough Warren in dozen dead or dying squirrels have Anglesey, a dune area about the same been found so far and volunteers are size as ours, has around 600 vascular out searching for other infected ani- plants, while Braunton Burrows in Green Snowdrop

Page 4 Formby Civic News Planning Matters—continued

provision for the rehearing of a case. If none of the Society‟s members lives in the relevant vicinity, but non- members who do ask the Society to represent them, we may do so, but now merely as their agent, not as an interested party in our own right. We are disappointed by this interpretation of the Act, because we have always sought to represent the interest of the wider community rather than that of individuals; however, where these interests coincide, we are prepared to act as an agent if necessary. We have learnt from the secretary of the Na- tional Organisation of Residents As- sociations that some LLAs recognize Residents Associations which draw their membership from a wide area, while others do not; this is consistent Flame’s Licence application causes much disagreement. with the Minister‟s statement to us that, when the meaning of the Act is There have been significant develop- sponsible minister, Mr. Gerry Sut- unclear, its interpretation is a matter ments concerning the Society‟s posi- cliffe, MP; both give essentially the for the LLA. Unfortunately, on the tion with respect to its right to com- same interpretation of the law. They issue whether a Civic Society quali- ment on licence applications (see the state that the Society is an interested fies as an interested party in the ge- last issue of Newsletter). When the party if it has one or more members neric sense, as we argue it should, Local Licensing Authority (LLA) living in the relevant vicinity and that contention will continue until the declined to accept our submission it is then entitled to make representa- matter is settled in the courts. How- concerning the recent application by tions to the LLA in that capacity ever, courtesy of Grass Roots Online, the proprietor of Flames, 35 Brows which is e-mailed to every Civic soci- Lane for an extension to his licensed ety registered with the Civic Trust, opening hours on the grounds that we “we have always sought to we are in the process of trying to find are not an interested party within the represent the interest of the wider out how other Civic Societies have meaning of the Licensing Act 2003, community rather than that of fared in their dealings with their and when the Council‟s Legal & Ad- individuals” LLAs. ministrative Department rejected our legal arguments as to why the deci- We learnt of the threatened closure of sion was unsound, we complained to without further formality. The Coun- the post office on the same the Chief Executive and, through the cil has conceded that it was in error morning as the official notification agency of Mrs. Claire Curtis-Thomas when it refused the Society‟s submis- was received by its proprietor, so we MP, we asked the Department of Cul- sion, because the Society satisfied were able discuss with him without ture Media and Sport (DCMS) to this condition. The Council has also any delay the available options for comment on the Council‟s decision. conceded that it was mistaken in re- resisting closure, thus enabling him In response, the Council sought fusing the submission of the Formby successfully to engage with the Counsel‟s Opinion and the DCMS Parish Council (FPC) concerning the Formby Parish Council, which met referred the matter to its lawyers. We application, although, in that case, the that evening, and with also sought legal advice from the published official Guidance of the through the concern of the Borough Civic Trust, knowing that its Chair- DCMS clearly specifies that a Parish Councillors who were in attendance man, Mr. Philip Kolvin, is a leading Council is intrinsically an interested at the meeting. We made a submis- barrister specializing in licensing law, party. Because of these errors by the sion to the Post Office arguing that only to discover he was otherwise LLA, both we and the FPC requested their geographical coverage criteria engaged acting for Sefton Council in that the LLA reconvene the Licensing for closure were too crude and setting this very matter! We have now had Committee so it could rehear the out the reasons why this community definitive statements, based on the case, but now in conformity with the post office should be allowed to con- legal advice they have received, both Act; our requests have been refused tinue in business. from the Council and from the re- on the grounds that the Act makes no

Page 5 Planning Matters—continued

We have made comments to the Plan- gates at 5 Argarmeols Road (see the of their scale and design. We asked ning Department on a number of last issue of the Newsletter) has been that the case should go to the Coun- planning applications and several rationalised, so now both the plan- cil‟s Planning Committee so it can be decisions on earlier applications have ning and enforcement components assessed and determined by the wid- been announced. As usual, there is have the same Inspectorate case offi- est possible spectrum of opinion, and insufficient space available in this cer and will be decided by the same that is what is to happen. Finally, it is report to give an account of the de- Inspector using the Written Procedure pleasing to be able to report that the tails, which is a pity, because a good for both. The proposal for two large slow progress of the Society‟s appli- deal of our effort goes into this aspect ultra modern houses on a site at 18 cation to make Lunt Lane a right of of our activities; however, informa- Road has occasioned much way took another step forward when tion is available on the Society‟s controversy. We have opposed the the Formby Area Committee, at its website. Reference here to just a few application on the grounds that the January meeting, unanimously sup- cases must suffice. The application style of these proposed dwellings ported the application. We now await for a large vertical extension to the would make them incongruities in the the Council‟s issuing a Definitive cottage at 32 Timms Lane, opposed street scene and the buildings would Map Modification Order which by us and refused by the Council, has be excessively dominating by virtue would serve to define Lunts Lane as a been appealed to The Planning In- public footpath. A single objection to spectorate, making it the fifth case on the Order would suffice to cause the appeal with which we are currently “the slow progress of the matter to go to The Planning Inspec- engaged. Thanks to the efforts of the Society‟s application to make Lunt torate for determination, something Planning Department‟s case officer, Lane a right of way took another we fervently hope will not happen. the management of the appeal of the step forward” test case of unapproved high wall and

Dickensian Day

The Society supported Dickensian Day in Formby on 1st December for the third year in succession with a stall which aimed to give the general public an insight into the wide range of things that we get involved with within Formby. Six display panels covered member- ship offers, our website, the History Group, planning matters, our meetings programme for the remainder of the winter and sand winning. We also offered publica- tions for sale including Muriel Sibley drawings and photographs, Discovering Formby guides, packs of our notelets and last but not least a free lucky dip for the young children who visited us.

The weather was kind to everyone this year and did not rain but a keen wind made visitors and ourselves grateful for the plastic end wall on our gazebo which gave us some additional shelter. The FCS Stall attracted attention and gained new members The event was well supported with probably even more people than last year and although sales are really secondary to informing everyone about our activities we raised £69 for the society funds. More importantly our special offer of discounted membership resulted in ten new members on the day and many more took our application forms away with them.

We extend a very warm welcome to these members as this will be their first newsletter and hope that they will enjoy coming along to our various meetings. Finally thank you very much to everyone who helped on the day to put the stall up, manned it so that others had a break to see the rest of the event, grab a coffee or better still a glass of mulled wine, or finally dismantled it and put everything away.

By Alan Burton

Page 6 Formby Civic News „Formby Roots‟ - The „Flying Governess, by Sara Lane

offered to take Ger up for a spin, and she accepted! I think she must have told the children never to tell anyone (I suppose she may have feared she might lose her job) and the children never did tell - at least not until my aunt was dead and my mother a very old lady....

A few years ago, one of my cousins produced two old photographs of Kilblain. We have friends in North Wales whom we visit periodically, and we had a visit due, so we decided to route ourselves via Liverpool, and spend a couple of days there to have a look at the city and explore the Anderson connections. On Tuesday The earliest family connection with she met her future husband?) 24 July we took an early train from the Formby area I can find is a letter London, arriving at Liverpool in the from my great grandfather, Thomas My mother was born at Kilblain in late morning. It was a beautiful day Anderson, dated l837, addressed to 1902 and spent a happy Edwardian so we checked in at our hotel, ate a his sister Janet at the family home, childhood at Freshfield. I know it was sandwich and then took a train out to Kilblain House, Greenock. At this a happy time, because she loved to Freshfield armed with one or two old time he was a Liverpool merchant talk about it, and I enjoyed and still a bachelor. He married late looking at the old photo- in life - he had been born in 1797 - graphs she kept in a silver Sara Lane’s mother, aunt and governess and produced four children: two box. She would tell me on the shore at Freshfield.. daughters and then twin sons; one of about the people in the pic- these was my grandfather, Andrew tures and, particularly, sto- Malcolm Anderson. I don‟t know ries about what she and her where the family lived at this time. younger sister, Marian, got Thomas Anderson died when the up to when they were small. boys were quite small and my great They were taken out for grandmother took the family to Ger- walks by their much -loved many and they lived at Stuttgart for nursery governess, Ger, who some years, where the boys went to was always ready to play school . The twins returned to Liver- with them. Later on, they pool in due course,and my grandfa- had a donkey cart and were ther was well settled and a member of allowed to go out in it for Thompson Anderson, Co. merchants day-long adult-free expedi- and shipowners, of Fenwick Street, tions with their friends. by the time he married my grand- Children had a lot of free- mother in December,1899. He gives dom in those days. Chapel Lane, Formby, as the address on their marriage certificate, though There was one story, how- the Coast Chronicle ever, which I never heard describes him as Andrew Malcolm until my mother was into her Anderson of Kilblain, Freshfield. So nineties, shortly before she maybe he already had the house. My died. Once, when I was vis- grandmother, Katharine Eleanor Carr, iting her, she mentioned that was from Scremerston, Northumber- there had been a Flying Club land, but she too had a Formby link, at Formby, on the sands, since she is described in the paper as where they used to go with the niece of the late Mr. Arthur Ger to gaze at early flying Ashton, stockbroker, of Dale Street machines. One day, she said, Liverpool, and of Firwood, Formby. a dashing young airman (Perhaps she was visiting him when

Page 7 The „Flying Governess‟, Continued

Five pilots flew at Fresh- field in 1910, one third of all those in the UK at that time. If you look beyond the biplane lower wing, you see two small girls and their gov- erness!

Freshfield armed with one or two old graphs, but Joan had moved along the dunes, the beach and the pines. We photographs from the box and the road to the next pair of houses and walked back to Formby along the two pictures of Kilblain, my grand- drew our attention to No. 2. We could shore. parents‟ house, together with a photo- all see that this was it. Although the Since our return I have been in corre- copy of the Chronicle‟s detailed ac- adjoining house had been altered spondence with Reg Yorke, who in- count of their wedding at Holy Trin- somewhat, No. 2 had changed very forms me that Kilblain was still ity, Formby in December, l899. We little structurally, though a garage had known by that name, and unoccupied, wanted to see if the house was still been built and the back garden walled in l925. He has also confirmed that there. So we made our first inquiries off. There was no-one at home, there was indeed a Flying Club on the at the local post office-cum-chemist though the house was inhabited, so sands at Freshfield, and that at least at the corner of Old Town Lane and we all stood in the front garden com- three hangars were built there. Reg Gores Lane where - friendly and kind paring features of the house with the referred me to Chris Aspin‟s DIZZY like everyone we met that day - they photos and I felt very moved to be HEIGHTS; THE STORY OF LAN- directed us to Pritchard's bookshop in standing in the very garden where my CASHIRE‟S FIRST FLYING MEN, Formby who, they thought, might put mother and aunt played so happily as and he very kindly sent me a delight- us in touch with Joan Rimmer, who children and to which - as far as I ful photo (1910) of a group of inter- has published several books about old know - they never returned. Shortly ested spectators inspecting a biplane Formby. This indeed Pritchards did after the first World War my grand- on the sands. Standing behind the (and while they were kindly tele- parents and their daughters moved plane are two little girls and a lady phoning on our behalf, we walked south. who just might be Janet and Marian across the road to look at the outside After this thrilling discovery, Joan Anderson with the intrepid Ger...... of the where my grandparents Rimmer very kindly dropped us off at were married). Then we walked to the red squirrel reservation where we We will never forget our wonder- Joan Rimmer's house and she took us saw several squirrels, their beautiful ful day in Formby, nor will we off to see Dr. Reg Yorke, and we feathery tails glowing in the evening forget all the kindness and trou- showed him the two photographs of sunlight. It was so peaceful we could ble people took to help us find my the house. It is a large semi-detached hear the squirrels cracking their pine mother’s old home in an impossi- house and we had seen nothing like nuts. Then we walked down through bly short time. It is so good to it, but Reg thought College Avenue the dunes to the sea. Suddenly I real- feel we have a link with Formby would be a good place to start look- ised that many of the old photographs ing. So we all got into Joan‟s car and in the silver box, which I had thought and I hope we’ll be back one of off we went. The first house we to be holiday pictures, were in fact these days looked at did not match our photo- taken very close to home, since I rec- Sara Lane. ognised their backgrounds in the

Page 8 Formby Civic News Continued vigilance for Red Squirrels by Fiona Whitfield

Volunteers in our local community continue to battle to try to maintain red squirrel populations in the woodlands and urban area. Autumn 2006 saw the first squirrel pox outbreak in the coastal woodlands, on Ainsdale Sands National Nature Reserve (NNR). Volunteers and staff from Natural , The Wildlife Trust and Save Our Squirrels Project joined together and carried out daily searches of the woodlands. Whilst we managed to remove sick and dead Red Squirrels in the woodlands we did not manage to maintain the population. Annual monitoring of the woodlands has picked up a massive decline in red squirrel numbers on Ainsdale sands NNR – approximately 70% in autumn 2007 compared to the last five years. This is devastating for the site and worrying for the squirrel pox outbreak at present on the adjacent site of the National Trust. The graphs below show the results of the monitoring as an index, showing changes over time. Baseline 100 in 22002

This massive decline is not shown by the overall Refuge area graph or the following graph which is the indicating a successful breeding monitoring data for all other refuge sites excluding Ainsdale NNR. It appears that the upward trend in spring numbers noted in 2006 was maintained in 2007, probably indicating improved winter survival due to successive mild winters. Autumn numbers were also high presumably season.

Monitoring is also carried out in the main buffer zone woodlands; it does not take in to account the population living in the urban area, as there is no practical monitoring technique that can be ap- plied here.The buffer zone graph shows a recovering population in the buffer zone woodlands, the decline in 2003 was due to a squirrel pox outbreak in the and wood- lands during the autumn of 2003. The monitoring appears to show that numbers have stabilised.As I hope you are already aware we are unfortunately in the midst of a squirrel pox outbreak at Formby National Trust. There have been 13 casualties to date. We have recruited a number of vol- unteers to search the National Trust woodlands on a daily basis and would like to take this opportu- nity to publicly thank all volunteers who have given their time to help with these searches so far. These volunteers help to monitor the woodlands for sick or dead squirrels that are then removed to either be treated or sent for post mortem. This is to help remove possible source of infection from the woodlands and gain more information about the transfer of the disease between squirrels. If you would like to help with squirrel pox searches on the National Trust Property, Life Boat Road or then please contact [email protected] or telephone on 0151 9203769.

Page 9 Sand winning study nears completion; by John Houston.

tion on biology and geomor- phology. The special supple- ment with this issue of Formby Civic News is a record of some of the information recently unearthed by Civic Society members as part of the project. We will be working with Sefton Coast and Countryside Service to prepare interpretive materials on the sand-winning story. The project has been supported by Natural England through the government‟s Ag- gregate Levy Sustainability Fund, a programme which al- lows local communities af- The Dunes between Wicks lane and Lifeboat Road were one of the first , (and fected by mineral extraction to last) areas to be ‘quarried’. Photo Reg Yorke apply for grants linked to re- search and conservation. After several months of study about the extraction industry our local „time-team‟ has which changed the landscape amassed an impressive amount forever. Before this knowledge of information about sand- was lost we have carried out winning at Formby. As scars archive research, archaeologi- heal it would be easy for future cal field walking and assess- generations to have no idea ments of the impacts of extrac-

Professor T. Cecil Gray, CBE, KCSG, FRCP, FRCA.

It is sad to report the loss of one He saw active service in the eldest son of the Revd. Richard of the Society‟s most distinguished RAMC, 1942 – 44 and being inva- Formby, Parson and Squire, Pro- members, Emeritus Professor T. lided out, became a Civilian Con- fessor Gray wrote an excellent Cecil Gray who died peacefully at sultant. He was one of Liverpool‟s account of Dr. Richard Formby home in Formby, aged 94 years on most distinguished clinicians and published by the Royal College of 5th January. A requiem mass is to was well known internationally for Physicians in 2003.* be held at the Metropolitan Cathe- his work in anaesthesia. He was dral on Saturday 26th January, to President of the Liverpool Medical His international reputation was be followed by private internment Institution in 1974. based on his introduction of the at Prinknash Abbey, Gloucester- muscle relaxant d-tubo-curarine to shire. He came to live in Formby fol- anaesthesia in 1946. He was also lowing retirement and took an interested in old books, music and Professor Gray was born in Liver- active interest in the work of the drama; a man of great professional pool in 1913, trained in Liverpool Society, memorably acting as host distinction, culture and also hu- and became a consultant anaesthe- at a luncheon at the Liverpool mour. Our sincere sympathies go tist in Liverpool in 1941. He later Medical Institution several years to his wife, Pamela and his family. founded the Department of Anaes- ago. His particular interest in thesia in the Faculty of Medicine Formby was the Formby family *Gray, T. C. “Dr Richard Formby, and subsequently became the first connection with the establishment Founder of the Liverpool Medical Post Graduate Dean and later Dean of the Liverpool Medical School, School”; Royal College of Physi- of the Medical School. founded by Dr Richard Formby, cians, 2003. R.A. Yorke.

Page 10 Formby Civic News History Group Report by Barbara Yorke

Since our last report we had a very including Jack Gore and Tony Bon- evening on Thursday, 10/1/08. interesting meeting on Thursday, 8th ney have been recording interviews November., when David Brazendale, with local people who have been as- Next we must do the same with our gave us an account of „The History sociated with sand-winning in the paper archives. We have the technol- of St Nicholas’ Church, Liverpool’ past, Although we have heard a lot ogy and must learn to use it. Apart about the narrow gauge railway that from our published lecture pro- Since Christmas the History Group ran down to Cabin Hill we have so gramme plans are being made for has been working hard on the „Sand far been offered no photographs! some very interesting future events. Extraction in Formby’ project. Hopefully these will include a special which was the subject of a meeting meeting on Sand-winning to be held th on Thursday, 13 December, with “Apart from our published lecture at St Luke‟s Meeting Room during John Houston, Jennifer Lewis, Phil programme plans are being made National Local History Week in May, Smith and others which in view of it a Guided Walk, during National Ar- for some very interesting future being our last meeting of the year chaeology Week on July13th down was followed by sherry and mince events” the Wicks Lane Manorial Boundary, pies! In pursuit of sand winning in- established between the Formby and formation two members, Pat Blundell Warrens in 1697. We hope McGregor and Anthea Royden, have We are adding all this information to to use the opportunity to search for a been looking through back copies of our archives. Sorting this out and lost boundary post! The lowest post is the Formby Times in the library. We recording it is an ongoing task. It is now well into the inter-tidal zone so are fortunate to have this resource worth it as it is amazing how much the walk has been timed to take place available, but this is very time- historical information we are asked at low tide! Plans are also being consuming and only one person at a for, particularly by people who find hatched for an event linked with Liv- time can use the machine. The two our society website. erpool‟s Capital of Culture Year to be researchers, are nevertheless finding held in October. More details about it very interesting and have to date Thanks to Tony Bonney‟s this in our next issue! covered the period from 1930 – 1950 „digitisation work during the last in spite of getting frequently side year, we can now find photographs Our next meeting is on Thursday, th tracked! much more easily. We showed a spe- 14 February when Mike Stammers, cial PowerPoint presentation of old (former Keeper of Shipping at the We had a good response to a request photographs, some from glass slides Maritime Museum ,will for information placed in local news- and glass negatives, some taken by talk about the remarkable „‘Mock papers and several other members Muriel Sibley at a special Archive Corporation’ of Sefton.

Art Group Report by Barbara Mossop

With so much going on around intend remaining as Art Representa- ished, we can go into the church Christmas, since the last Newsletter, tive after the A.G.M, so I hope some- meeting room to warm up with a cup our programme has consisted mainly one will come forward to take over at of tea and a cake! In April we are of visits to local Exhibitions .The that time. Please give it some going to visit Croston to make quick long awaited return to the Liver thought. There may be someone in sketches and take photographs to help Sketching Club is due to take place the Society who does not come to the towards future paintings. We will on 23 February. Our annual get to- Group events, but who is interested in return in the Summer to complete gether was held at Hall Farm Art and Art Appreciation , who these. We will have lunch before we on Saturday 13 January.We enjoyed would consider becoming more in- return to Formby. As Liverpool is the the company , the food and also the volved. Capital of Culture in 2008, we intend opportunity to discuss together our holding an Exhibition relating to this future programme. We hope to hold St Luke‟s churchyard is a picture in , at some time during the year. The our Annual Exhibition in the village the Spring and we are to visit on time and venue have not yet been on Saturday 28 June . The group all Tuesday 18th March , when hope- arranged. May I ask that all members look forward to this event. Surely we fully there will be a lot of colour. It is try to produce at least one item for are due for fine day at last! Whilst I early in the year to go sketching, so this Exhibition any size and any me- will give all the help I can, I do not wrap up well and when we have fin- dia.

Page 11 SOCIETY OFFICERS Chair; Dr Ray Derricott, IT‟S THAT TIME OF YEAR AGAIN! By David Willis. 17 Road, Formby, 01704 876661 Hopefully you will all be marking Friday 25 April into your diaries to ensure you make it along to the Society‟s Annual General Meeting. No- Hon Secretary; David Willis, tice of the agenda and all the formalities will, of course, go out in advance 5 Phillips Close, Formby. as usual (together with details of the speaker and presentation that will 878994 follow the AGM). Treasurer; Mike Belshaw, 38 Graburn Rd, Formby. 01704 In some ways this year‟s meeting will be a little different from previous 874940 AGMs as we know already that at least one member will be leaving the committee, we are already one short and, because of the terms of the con- Programme Secretary; stitution, others will have 'over-stayed' their welcome! In short, our prob- David Willis lem is to find new faces for the committee. History Group; Barbara Yorke Please, if you feel you can contribute in any way just mention it and one Art Group Rep; of the existing members can explain all! In fact you may not even need to become a committee member, if you don‟t like the idea of „committees‟. Barbara Mossop We could do with someone to help produce the quarterly newsletter, Amenities Secretary; someone else to maintain the website and someone to help put together the Dr. Desmond Brennan, winter and/or summer programmes. There are quite a few, relatively small 9 Brows Lane, Formby tasks like these which, taken separately, don‟t involve much commitment Newsletter Editor; of time and effort but which, if loaded on to one person, can become oner- Dr Reg Yorke ous. So… volunteers please!

Future Programme

Thursday, 14/2/08, History Group; Mike Stammers, „Sefton ‘Mock Corporation’. Friday 22/2/08 ‘Sand Extraction at Formby Point’, John Houston - Sefton Coast Partner- ship, and Alan Crosby - Honorary Research Fellow, Universities of Liverpool and Lancs. Friday Wed 12 /3/08, 430pm, „Coastal Flooding and Protection - the Policy Implications of Climate Change’ at Formby High School (FCS Contribution to National Science and Engineering Week); Dr. Kevin Horsburgh, - National Tidal and Sea Level Facility, Proud- man Oceanographic Laboratory, University of Liverpool Thursday, 13/3/08, History Group; Mr J. Halsall, ‘The Halsalls of Halsall 1212 – 2002’ Thursday, 20/3/08 ‘Natural England - People, Places and Nature: the local perspective’ Nick Haigh, - Natural England, Ainsdale Sand Dunes NNR. NB Change of Venue! (See insert!!). Thursday, 10/4/08, History Group; Members’ Evening Friday April 25th AGM followed by talk – „The Literature of Formby’ Tony Higginson; Pritchards‟ Bookshop, Formby

Art Group Programme. (Details from Art Representative 01704 873920) 23 February - Liver Sketching Club .Going by train. 18 March - Painting - St Luke’s Churchyard. Meet at 2 pm., at the church. 13 April - Sketching and photographs in Croston. Meet 11 am, by the bridge.