A FLOURISHING success today, it's hard to imagine that the Southport Flower Show almost disappeared during the 1980s.
Tim Timmerman was on the steering group that came together to save the show when the council threatened to axe it in 1986 after making losses of £60,000 on the previous year.
He told LookBack: "They were going to abandon the show, or at least leave it for a fallow year.
"The August date is quite a popular one because it's the height of summer, leaving it for a year would have been very damaging because other people would step in."

Sandgrounders were determined not to let that happen and an extraordinary display of people power saw the show saved, mobilised by orchid grower Carl McLure.
He approached the Southport Marketing Bureau, an organisation of Southport hoteliers who worked with the council to promote the town.
A public meeting was organised in November calling for 200 volunteers to man and staff the show to keep it alive.
Mr Timmerman said: "We felt that it was the event that made Southport's name resonate throughout Britain.
"Once we lost the flower show we'd have very little to make us different from places like Morcambe or Fleetwood."
Thanks to an army of volunteers that came together to staff the event, the show wasn't lost.
Chairman Tom Bradshaw remembers the incredible effort that it took to pull off the first show.
He said: "On the Friday night I was phoned at 5am to go to the showground, when I got there we couldn't see a blade of grass - it was just a lake."
Closing the show at that point would mean making a loss of £35,000 in the first year and end the show's renaissance for good.
But thanks to the efforts of the show volunteers, fire service and Sefton Council employees the water was pumped away and Victoria Park re-emerged in time for Saturday.
"It was a tremendous community spirit to save the show," said Mr Bradshaw.
"My task was going and telling the caterers to keep the bacon barms coming - and the cups of tea!
"Fortunately horticulturists are very tolerant, friendly, understanding people.
"I've got pictures from Saturday of ladies with Tesco plastic bags around one leg and M&S bags around the other!"

SOUTHPORT District General Hospital was just a work in progress when this photograph was taken from the air in 1985.
Eventually the building site just off the Kew roundabout became a brand new hospital.
It was opened on May 3 1989 by Prince Charles and this year will celebrate its 21st birthday.
Fitting up the hospital with equipment to treat patients began in about May of the previous year.
Patients then began to move across from the old Southport General Infirmary on Scarisbrick New Road towards the end of 1988.
Aerial view of Southport District General Hospital being built in 1985

ONE Southport celebrity more than any other dominates the 1970s - three times Grand National winner Red Rum.
The legendary horse has become a fixture in our town since the 1970s and is commemorated by a bronze statue in the Wayfarers Arcade.

The sight of the Southport sporting champion became a not uncommon one as training mostly took place on Southport's miles of sandy beach.
And according to some pundits Red Rum owes his success to this.
Soon after buying the horse for 6,000 guineas in 1972 Ginger McCain noticed the horse appeared lame.
But Red Rum had the advantage of training in Southport - practically the only yard in the country to use the beach for training - and so McCain swiftly sent the horse into the sea.
The salt water did the trick, and Red Rum was soon sound again.
Following his success the gelding leant his name to a 1970s Lord Street hotel which later became The Carlton and is now set to become Southport's latest boutique hotel thanks to developer Mike McComb's £5m plans for the site.
But back in the 70s Ginger McCain trained Red Rum on the beaches of Southport and stabled him in Birkdale ahead of the horse's triumphs in the 1973, 1974 and 1977 steeplechases at Aintree racecourse.
Arguably the world's most famous racehorse, Red Rum was also runner-up in the Grand Nationals of 1975 and 1976.

LOOKBACK takes readers back to school with this photo printed in the Visiter on October 17, 1978.
We would like to hear from any members of Scarsbrick Hall School senior choir, pictured (right).

Were you one of those who provided entertainment for the school's speech day in October 1978?
Maybe you also received one of the senior school prizes awarded to those who passed all subjects in the summer exams?
Speaking at the event was former Scarisbrick Hall English teacher Peter Kimber, who sought to assure pupils of the value of their educational achievements, stating that they were not subject to devaluation like the pound!
He was joined by Principal Charles Oxley who added that the greatest threat to Scarisbrick was the Labour Government's determination to close down all private schools, which he told the children would be ''a very sad day for British education''.
Perhaps you might remember these speeches, did you fear that your school was going to be closed?
Or perhaps, you could shed some light on the identity of those shown. Let us know and we will share your memories with our readers.

FORMER Woolworths staff who worked at the Southport store will be joining together for a reunion.
More than 80 people turned out for last year's get together and even more people said they want to attend the forthcoming event.
All ex-employees of the former Chapel Street store are invited to the reunion next week.
The shop closed last year along with Woolworths stores across the country, which left thousands of people out of work.
Describing themselves as "one big family", the former staff decided to host a reunion last year for anyone who ever worked there.
It was so popular, organiser Maureen Oakley is holding another one.
Maureen, 52, who left 22 years ago and now lives in Leyland, worked there for 16 years from 1972 and members of her family were also employed by the company.
She said: "There was over 80 there last year.
"Since then people have talked to other people and there has been lots of interest. That's why I've done it again.
"Ex-employees have contacted me and other people and asked when I'm going to organise another one.
"I'm just hoping to see everybody again. Everybody enjoyed it so much last year and it will be nice."
Margaret Anderson, 68, who lives in Marshside, started there as a teenager and stayed for more than 40 years.
Eileen Jenkins, known as Miss Rafferty, will also be attending again this year.
Maureen said: "She was our personnel manager and everybody loved her."
The idea for the reunion last year was sparked following a feature on the Southport Visiter's Look Back page.
The reunion will be held on Friday, March 12, at The Volunteer in Eastbank Street at 7.30pm.
For information on the event call Margaret Anderson on 01704 214 321.

TWO rare railway posters advertising Southport as a top tourist destination fetched more than £10,000 at auction.
The art deco images by Italian artist Fortunino Matania show swimmers at our resort's long-demolished lido and stylish theatre goers leaving the Garick in winter time.
The jovial view of the sea bathing lake, was produced for the London, Midland and Scottish railway company.
The desirable location, which was pulled down in the 90s, was very popular at the time and was considered as a "real sun trap" with visitors.
Dated to around 1937 by auctioneer experts, the item went for a staggering £6,200.
A winter time picture totted up a cool £4,400 at auction house Morphets of Harrogate, North Yorkshire.
The images portray Southport as one of the country's most exclusive places to visit.
The Southport Council of the time commissioned Naples-born artist and illustrator Matania to complete the pieces. Tourism posters appeared around Britain's train stations in the 1920s and '30s as the four biggest rail companies competed for business.
The items were part of a huge haul of railway memorabilia that were destined for the rubbish bin.
But British Rail worker Malcolm Guest asked if could keep the unique collection.
Auctioneers were stunned by the archive they found after Malcolm died in North Yorks aged 66 last year. It could make up to £1 million.
Owner of Morphets auctioneers Elizabeth Pepper-Darling told the Visiter: "We had a tremendous amount of interest in the Southport images from the UK and abroad.
"We had many people from America and France showing an interest.
"They are absolutely fabulous things to look at and show a bygone age when there was a different pace to life. The Southport images are really seductive and what they represent is really seductive.
"People were beside themselves with the quality and excellent condition of them."
A SPECIAL talk on Fortunino Matania will take place at the Scarisbrick hotel on April 30, starting 12.30pm. All are welcome.

LEADING lights of our town's amateur dramatic scene came together for the glittering opening night of Southport Arts Centre, on October 5, 1974.
Gabrielle Hutchinson, known as Gaye, was there on the night along with music-hall legend Billy Dainty.
She performed a humorous sketch, while the old school comedian topped a bill made up of Southport's home-grown theatrical talent.
It was in 1974 that Dainty, famed for his repertoire of silly walks, made his first of three appearances at the Royal Variety Show.
That TV appearance breathed fresh life into Dainty's slowing career, and is said to have made him a favourite of the Queen Mother.
Southport amateur dramatic stalwart and former Birkdale Orpheus Society member Gaye remembers the night well.
She said: "It was fantastic!
"It was just for one night only and it was packed.
"I remember the audience throwing flowers onto the stage - it was very, very good."
Gaye said that with Dainty back on the top of his game he drew in the crowds.
"People all knew who Billy Dainty was at that time you see," she said.
"It was just a grand night."
Up until 1974 the arts centre had been used as a ballroom.
"They converted the balcony and turned it into a theatre," Gaye explained.
She was joined by other well-known names in the Southport drama scene.
"David Charters was the Master of Ceremonies that night," she said.
"And Barbara Dix and Alex Abercrombie were there.
"At the time they were in Talbot Street and they gave music lessons.
"Anyone who had singing or piano lessons in the 70s would have gone there - if they could get in.
"Arthur Pedlar, Vercoe the clown, was there too."
Today, the Arts Centre is closed while it undergoes a massive makeover to turn the 140-year-old building into an A-list venue.
An ambitious £15m scheme is now underway to transform the much-loved mainstay of Southport's theatrical scene into a state of the art culture centre fit for the 21st century and a new generation of talent.
Were you there to see the Arts Centre's glittering gala opening night? If you were on-stage, in the audience, or if you've got other memories to share about any of stories in this feature - or memories and photos from Southport life in the 1980s or 1990s - please get in touch!

By JAMIE BOWMAN
THE village of Scarisbrick came to a stand-still on May 19, 1974 when thousands of people watched a water carnival procession make its way along the Leeds and Liverpool Canal.
The colourful flotilla paddled their way from Heatons Bridge, Scarisbrick to Crabtree Bridge, Burscough, all in aid of the Scarisbrick Village Hall fund.
All manner of improvised vessels as well as rubber dinghies and kayaks joined in the procession with spectators lining the banks of the canal and following on behind in more traditional craft.
Two of the home-made boats had to be pulled along by friends walking along the tow path and many of the participants dressed up for the day, with a team from Scarisbrick's Women's Institute paddling their way along the canal in period costume.
The spectators included two local beauty queens, Miss Julie Gordon of Scarisbrick and Miss Susan Knowles of Halsall and the chairman of the Village Hall Committee, Councillor Robert Wells, who described the event as the biggest crowd he had seen at any Scarisbrick occasion.
Ormskirk MP, Robert Kilroy-Silk awarded the a trophy for the best decorated float to Evelyn Blundell and Judith Lawrence of Bullens Lane, Scarisbrick, who had dressed their boat as a swan.
The event, which was held in blazing early summer sunshine raised more than £600 for the village hall fund.
Look Back would love to hear from you if you recognise yourself or anyone you know in this photo or if you took part in the procession.

A SOUTHPORT baker is hanging up his apron after 55 years.
Claude Verité from Churchtown came to the seaside resort as a young man.
Born in 1943 in Beauvais, a town north of Paris in France, Claude began an apprenticeship at a pâtisserie at the tender age of 13.

Here, he learned the skills and secrets to baking the best bread and perfect pastries.
He told the Visiter: "I was very young when I started working.
"We made bread, confectionery, ice-cream - everything."
Claude said that after five years his boss decided to send him to England.
"I worked in Belgium and Germany for a short time.
"Then there was a job at a bakery in Southport, so I came here."
So in 1961 at the age of 18, Claude began working at Mellor's Bakery on Lord Street.
"It was very hard moving to a new place because I didn't speak English - I still can't now!
"I had difficulty but I grew to love Southport.

"It was very hard work- getting up at 4am and finished at 9 at night.
"Then I got called to France to do my National Service, I was there for a year and a half.
"All I wanted was to come back to Southport, when I did I decided to go out on my own."
Claude left his job as manager of Mellors and in 1976 he opened his own shop in Churchtown - Claude's Pâtisserie was born.
"I did everything, bread, cakes and I had a little café upstairs."
In 2003, after almost 30 years, Claude decided to sell his patisserie but the new owners wanted to keep his name above the door.
"I started working in the bakery at Sainbury's in 2006.
"I love it there, we do very good bread which is made from scratch everyday.
"I will be sad to go but I will keep busy at my son's place."
Claude has four children, Nicole, Marc, Stefanie and Christian.
Both daughters are in catering and Marc has his own restaurant in Birkdale Village - Bistro Verité.
Marc, former head chef at the Warehouse in Southport, said: "I got my passion for food from my dad. He was a huge influence on what I'm doing now and although he's retired he's said he will pop in to help me out."
Claude added: "I will come and go as I please, I've got lots of time on my hands."
Jamie Bryce, admin manager at Sainbury's said: "Claude has been a great employee and will be sadly missed.
"We are sorry to see him go. He's always friendly and very good with the customers."

A RARE rail poster advertising a day out to Southport was among a treasure trove of unwanted souvenirs which could make a staggering £1m at auction.
The poster was set for the bin until British Rail worker Malcolm Guest asked the company for the unique collection of memorabilia.
The art deco image by Italian artist Fortunino Matania features swimmers at our resort's long-demolished lido and has been dated at "around 1937" by auctioneer experts.
Another poster of the same image was auctioned for almost £8,000 in 2006 and Malcolm's collection could now sell for an estimated £1m.
The piece - among thousands of rare posters, paintings and artefacts - shows our town as one the most exclusive places to visit in the country.
Joanna Jones, arts and cultural services manager for
Sefton museums and galleries, said: "Matania was trained as an illustrator and was very good with details which you can see in the poster which is called Sea Bathing lake. The bathing lake, which was pulled down in the 90s, was very popular at the time because it was a real sun trap.
"The poster shows Southport as a fashionable resort and the bathers are seen as fashionable by the costumes they are wearing.
"It shows Southport as a glamorous and elegant place would have entice people to visit from around the country."
Tourism posters appeared around Britain's train stations in the 1920s and '30s as the four biggest rail companies competed for business.
Auctioneers were stunned by the scale of the archive they found after Malcolm died in North Yorks aged 66 last year.
Rail historian Dr Richard Furness said: "In the offices there were all these artefacts that BR was about to destroy.
"Malcolm asked for them and made probably the best private collection of rail memorabilia ever seen."