IN APRIL, a service of thanks was held at Liverpool's Anglican cathedral in honour of the many women who helped the war effort.
Anne Leatherbarrow served in the Women's Land Army for most of World War Two.
Prior to the war, she worked as a clerical officer in Smedley doing administrative work.
However, due to the shortage of men during the war, Winston Churchill called for 1m women to take up agricultural jobs.
In response to this, Mrs Leatherbarrow voluntarily transferred from her job to the WLA.
The land girls endured a very difficult lifestyle during the war.
They worked on average for nearly 50 hours a week in the summer and up to 48 hours a week in the winter.
Machinery was not widely used and most of the time work had to be done using out-of-date techniques.
Horse-drawn hand ploughs were still common and nearly all crops were harvested by hand.
Mrs Leatherbarrow was about 22 when she was billeted in Kirkby and she remembers working in the fields behind Haskayne.

She said: "We used to have to fell the fields. I worked farming the potatoes. The work was very hard and I will always remember being really exhausted after work in the night."
The WLA was not recognised at the time and men dismissed the women's efforts.
Mrs Leatherbarrow said: "We weren't respected at the time. People just saw us as a necessary force to fill the void. When the men returned, we went back to our old jobs."

A MAGIC spell which was first cast in 1939 will once again transfix Southport when the international brotherhood of magicians arrives for its 73rd convention.
The annual British Ring Convention is no stranger to the resort - the event has visited 11 times since it started in 1928.
The brotherhood of magicians is an organisation for amateur and professional illusionists and showmen and the event draws magical enthusiasts and collectors of magical apparatus from all over the world.

Bob Haydn, of the brotherhood, said Southport was the perfect venue for the convention.
He explained: "As magicians, the organisation has certain needs. We need somewhere to perform stage magic and somewhere to hold lectures. Southport was ideal."
Many LookBack readers will have witnessed firsthand the convention's wonders in Southport.
Bob, who came to the resort for the first time in 1975, remembers many of the tricks and stunts carried out by the magicians.
Older LookBack readers will remember the "Devil's Dive" of 1939.
This seemingly impossible feat of escapology was based on the "trial by ordeal of those said to be possessed by the devil".
A magician was suspended and chained to a ducking chair over water before being raised three times.
The ducking chair was released and left to rush through the air towards the water.
It was a showstopping opening to the first convention held in Southport because the man successfully escaped from the chair without any injury.

Outdoor events were one of the convention's highlights.
They were usually the first act on the bill "to try and let the locals know that the magicians were in town", Bob explained.
More than 50 years later, large-scale outdoor spectacles were still very much on the menu when, in 1993, a huge egg became the star atttraction in Lord Street.
The giant model was placed on a large crane, a daring magician entered the egg and a large metal pole was inserted through its shell.
The man was squashed inside, the egg was raised and then rolled along a platform. When it reached the end of the platform, it went crashing towards the ground.
"The crowd were shocked as they had never seen anything like it before," Bob said.
But the man had pulled off an amazing escape.
David Burglass' helicopter stunt in 1975 was another memorable moment.
David flew high over the sands of Southport as an expectant crowd watched on below.
By using "telepathy", David relayed a design to the people on the sand down below.
The 73rd British Ring IBM Convention will arrive in town on September 23 2009.

A BANDSTAND could soon arrive in the Botanic Gardens.
But first the Southport Brass Band Association (SBBA) will have to raise £85,000 and Sefton Council tourism bosses will have to give the plans the go ahead.
The brass band group has partnered up with the Botanic Gardens Action Group (BGAG) to bring the proposals before a leisure and tourism committee meeting of Sefton Council on June 17.
There the committee, chaired by Councillor Lord Ronnie Fearn, will discuss Sefton's leisure director Graham Bayliss' advice that the committee grant approval for the scheme.
See here for the full story

The North Meols Civic Society has been busy of late, and LookBack blog thought it was about time it gave their hard work a mention.
Recently we reported that plans are afoot to celebrate the heritage of the Marshside fog bell:
140 YEARS ago seven fisherman searching for shrimps off the Marshside shore died when they got lost in a sudden, heavy fog.
It was the latest in a catalogue of drowning incidents on the Southport coast as a result of freak, unexpected weather changes.
The deaths prompted the installation of a fog bell midway Marshside Road and Millars Pace - then near the sea embankment - to prevent a repeat of the disaster.
Read the full story here.
Now the society is also backing a joint venture by the Southport Brass Band Association and the Botantic Gardens Action Group to bring a heritage bandstand to the gardens - the Visiter will keep you updated on both projects.

A WORLD War II love affair was the key to the mystery of one woman's identity.
Grandmother Linda Gunn-Russo won a landmark case to get her dad's name on her birth certificate and has been inundated with people asking for advice on similar cases.
Linda, of Linacre Street Southport, last year won the right to have her Italian-American father, Americo "Mid" Russo, legally recognised as her father.
The 62-year-old was adopted when she was two by Thomas and Kathleen Rogan after spending some time in an orphanage.

When Linda was in her 20s she decided to search for her birth mother.
After years of struggling to gain information from Nugent Care Society in Kensington, a Catholic organisation involved in her adoption in 1948, she managed to locate her natural mother, Elizabeth Gunn, in 1976 and kept in touch with her until she died in 1989.
"I was able to have a 13-year friendship with my mother," Linda told Look Back.
Thanks to Elizabeth, Linda discovered that her parents, a British nurse with the American Red Cross and an American GI based in England, fell in love just after World War II.
Elizabeth had nursed Mid back to health after he injured his hand.
"They had quite a courstship and when I mentioned my father her eyes just lit up, she obviously still loved him," said Linda.
"She stayed single all her life and she only had me."
Mid returned to America before Linda was born and died in 1987 before she could trace him.
But Linda's battle to discover her true identity did lead her to other American relatives.
On a trip to New England to find out more about her father she met Mid's nephew, her cousin, who was able to tell share her father's story.
"He was born in Hartford, Connecticut but my grandfather was from Italy," Linda explained.
"He was a mechanical engineer and went to sea before he joined the air force for World War II.
"Afterwards he went to Arizona, where he started a ranch working with horses, before eventually moving to Mexico."
In July 2001, Linda won her first landmark high court battle to gain access to confidential information about her adoption.
Linda, 62, said: "When I saw my dad's name finally on my birth certificate I was so pleased, I still can't stop looking at it.
"It was the icing on the cake."
The grandmother-of-two added: "Since I won my two cases I have been approached by many people in similar situations asking for my advice.
"I would encourage anyone who would like to find out who their real parents are or to get their father legally recognised to go for it. "It gave me a sense of identity when I achieved what I worked so long for. It made me feel more complete."

FOLLOWING our Farnborough 75th anniversary special Look Back has received several letters from former pupils, sharing their memories of the school.
Peter Holland wrote: "I was a pupil at the school from 1944 till I left in 1951. I was the B-team goalkeeper for the school for two years and also played rounders for the school.
"I remember Miss Cunningham and Mr Loveridge also Mr Hamilton the woodwork teacher.
My two sisters also attended the school.
"One started on the first day it opened and she remembered most of the teachers in the photo as did my other sister.
"We all have fond memories of our school days at Farnborough Road."
Charlotte Harrison, nee Wright of Banks echoed those sentiments.
She wrote: "I have fond memories of Farnborough Road School from 1960s in the infants' class and our teacher Mrs Bleach - what a lovely lady.
From there we went into the juniors and Mr Williamson taught me in the third year.
"I remember the headmaster giving me a watch when I finally learnt to tell the time.
"What memories I left there in 1968 and it was by far the best school I've ever been to."
Mr Raymond Robinson, of Formby, was a pupil at St Johns School in Birkdale, where Mr Bracewell taught as head, before moving to Farnborough Road when the school first opened in 1934.
Many of the staff moved with him.
Mr Robinson said: "Miss Settle was my first teacher in 1925 and lived in Bedford Road where I did.
"Mr Bracewell was a most kind and friendly man and extremely keen on cinematography."

ST JAMES' Church youth club was no ordinary youth centre.
It became the birth place for an organisation that turned the film culture of Southport upside down.
Ashby Ball said it all began in 1949.
"I suggested that we make a short film, set in the youth centre and everyone agreed to give it ago."
The film, entitled St. James' Junior Jumbles, was a success with the church youth club, and it was from there that the organisation grew.
For its first 30 years it was known as the St. James' Film Society.
Fame came early when the group were asked to make a recruiting film for blood donors, which was judged to be one of the top 10 amateur films of 1951.
The society also made films about the flower show, viewed by horticultural societies all over the country.
It went onto to receive national interest and BBC wartime newsreader, Alvar lidell, even did the commentary for a publicity film for Southport Corporation which was made by the group.
Interest in the society started coming from outside the church as more and more members joined.
Ashby said: "It started off with just members from the church youth club, but then we started getting members joining from all over."

The society changed its name to Southport Cine & Video Society, later becoming Southport MovieMakers.
In the 1980s and 1990s the group made eight short films highlighting places of interest in Southport thanks to funding support from Sefton Cultural Fund.
The society recently celebrated its 60th birthday with an anniversary dinner.
Last autumn an Open Evening brought an influx of new members.

The Society continues to welcome anyone who is interested in any aspect of filmmaking, whether or not they are camcorder owners.
All are invited to contact Ashby Ball on 01704 567778 or call in at the weekly Thursday evening meetings at St. James' Church Hall, Lulworth Road, Birkdale.

FARNBOROUGH Road Schools are set to celebrate 75 years with a 1930s street party.
Children will turn back time on June 12, arriving at the playground in smart pinafores and knee length shorts to remember the early days of their school.

Some LookBack readers might remember those uniforms first hand, Frank Warner a governor of the junior school certainly does.
Mr Warner was a pupil at the school the first day it opened its doors on June 6, 1934 and will return for the anniversary celebrations as guest of honour.
Back in 1934 Farnborough was opened by Alderman Sir Percy Jackson, who was presented a key to the school doors by the architect Mr Barnish who was also responsible for the Southport War Memorial.

A party of dignitaries welcomed by mixed school headmaster Mr Bracewell and infant school headmistress Miss Rogers and shown around what was then a state of the art building housing 650 pupils on a 4.45acre site.
Mr Bracewell's reign as headmaster saw loom weaving flourish at the school, with records noting: "Such a high standard was reached that a number of articles woven by the children were put on display at an exhibition in London in 1935 and the following year six girls attended the flower show to demonstrate hand loom weaving."

Former pupils might remember returning from Easter holidays in 1941 to find the main building and extension left in ruins after being hit by two bombs.
Despite the damage, the school continued through the war years to teach its pupils, even welcoming evacuees and raising funds for the war effort.
With the end of the war came a new headmaster after Mr Bracewell retired due to ill health.
Mr Loveridge took over, leading the school for 18 years, during which time the school house system was introduced. Former pupils from the time will remember being Yellow St John's, Green Farboroughs, Blue Hibberds or Red Bracewells as they competed for the Scott Cup.

The retirement of Farnborough veteran Miss Cunningham in 1973 saw one of the school's longest serving stalwarts leave. Miss Cunningham had pupils for 33 years and will be remembered by as the deputy headmistress.
Since the 1970s the school has seen many changes from the introduction of a cash canteen in the 80s to annual trips to Seahouses and the Isle Of Wight.

STAFF and customers at Sainsbury's stores up and down the country gathered to celebrate 140 years since the popular supermarket first opened its doors.
The Southport branch, which has been at its Lord Street home for 27 of those years, hosted a party for lifelong shoppers and former colleagues.
The nationwide store has seen many changes since founder John James Sainsbury opened his first dairy shop on Drury Lane in 1869, including the switch from queuing to self service.

Labour shortages after World War II meant that retailers relished the opportunity to sell a wide variety of goods under one roof, and the supermarket was born, but it wasn't until 1982 that self service arrived in Sainsbury's.
Joan Jaeger, from Ainsdale, remembers the day she first set foot in Sainsbury's, in Mill Hill, North London.
She said: "I have been shopping at Sainsbury's since I was a child, I used to go in with my mother. I remember the men had great big pats of butter and they used to cut slabs off.
"A lot of people didn't like it when self service came in, they liked to be served. I still like Sainsbury's best, I don't go anywhere else."
Former Sainsbury's cashier Edna Sheard worked at the Lord Street store for 21 years.
She said: "I have very happy memories of Sainsbury's. I left when I was 76, and I still shop here every Saturday.

"All my customers were wonderful, they wouldn't move out of my queue! When I bump into them now they give me a hug and a kiss and say, 'Get back on the checkout!' It's lovely."
Self-confessed Sainsbury's "fans" Maureen and Alan Creed, from Crossens, have been shopping at the supermarket for 25 years.
Alan laughed: "I can't keep Maureen away from the place - she calls it her weekly fix."
Maureen agreed: "I come in every Thursday morning, you get to see the same faces when you come in, and the staff are always very helpful.
"We've seen Jean Alexander in there a few times, but nobody bothers her."
Corinne and Ron Thomson have been shopping at Sainsbury's since they lived in Bournemouth in 1957.
Back then a 2lb pack of Lurpac would set you back six shillings (30p) compared with £2.42 for 500g now.
Corinne said: "Things were behind the counter and you went up to it. There was a chair for the old ladies to sit on, and you could write a list of what you wanted and they would have it ready for you when you came back. It must have taken ages to shop!"
Former colleagues Mike Devlin and Ron Vernon also have fond memories of their time spent working at Sainsbury's in Southport.
Mike said: "I remember Lord Sainsbury coming to visit. He arrived at Liverpool Airport by jet, then came by helicopter to Woodvale, then by Rolls Royce to Sainsbury's. He spent the best part of the morning with us, shaking hands with everyone and having lunch."
Ron added: "I was here when the shop opened, for seven years, then I retired.
"They were the happiest seven years of my working life, they were a great crowd. In fact I still come back in every Friday for lunch!"

YESTERDAY marked five years since the £5m Marine Way Bridge was opened to the public.
Not only has it opened the way to the Ocean Plaza site but it has also marked the start of millions of pounds of private investment being spent in our resort.
To celebrate the anniversary, councillor David Pearson, who was Mayor of Sefton when its construction was completed, met up with Southport youngster Rebecca Petrie, who named the bridge.
The landmark, which leads to the £23m Ocean Plaza site, went on to be officially opened by the Earl and Countess of Wessex, Prince Edward and Sophie, in front of crowds of well-wishers on July 19.
Cllr Pearson said that cutting the tape to allow people over the bridge on May 14, 2004, before going onto attend the Royal opening as Deputy Mayor of Sefton in the July, were among the highlights of his time in office.
He said: "It has made a big difference to Southport.
"The bridge itself, I've got to admit when it was originally proposed, I didn't vote for it, I voted for a Victorian bridge but I'm most happy with the way it has turned out."
The old Victorian bridge had to be demolished due to health and safety fears.
A subsequent Sefton Council "consultation" left many local people furious, as an overwhelming majority of people questioned voted for a Victorian-style bridge to be built instead of a modern design, only for their views to be ignored.
However the iconic Marine Way Bridge has since become something of a landmark in the region.
Cllr Pearson said: "It has become quite a landmark - it's a great asset to the area and it's put Southport on the map.
"That was the start of many private initiatives to put money into the town. We have now got the Ramada Hotel and Splash World.
"There is so much money being spent in the town and with the economic climate at present we seem to be holding our own."
A competition was held by the Southport Visiter to name the bridge and Rebecca's entry was chosen.

She was 11 years old at the time and a pupil at Churchtown Primary School pupil - a plaque with her name on was unveiled at the bridge by the Mayor at a ceremony attended by her class.
This was followed by the Royal opening a month later where Rebecca met the Earl and Countess of Wessex.
Rebecca, who lives on Mallee Avenue in Churchtown and now attends Stanley High, said: "It was really good. I didn't think mine would get chosen."