September 2009 Archives

They don't make them like that anymore.

This lovely vintage poster has a reserve of £395, and is soon to be auctioned by Henry Sotheran, London.

Produced in 1965 for British Railways, the poster encouraged daytrippers to visit a Southport of yesteryear.

RICHARD Attenborough, Vanessa Redgrave, Woody Allen - those are just a few of the movie greats Eric Moonman has brushed shoulders with in the course of a star studded career that was inspired by a Southport childhood.

The former Labour MP for Basildon and Billericay regards his childhood in the resort's cinemas as the beginning of his love affair with film, which eventually led him to become a governor of the British Film Institute.

Like many of our LookBack correspondents he has fond memories of he "cosy" Forum cinema.

Professor Moonman OBE said: "I visited the Forum many times as my sister, Betty Pagin worked as an usherette and I had a prime opportunity to see a wide range of films.

"I took pride in being up to date on movies, much to the envy of my school-chums at Christ Church."

A youthful Prof Moonman delighted in the resort's array of movie theatres.

"I'd had this love of cinema ever since I attended the cinemas in Southport as a boy," said Prof Moonman.

"I'd get myself into difficulties at Croxton Preparatory School because they had a ban on pupils going into town so I had to take my cap off and go in disguise to get into our eight cinemas in Southport.

"It was great fun and it was my training."

After serving as an MP for 10 years Prof Moonman left parliament, taking a job with the British Film Institute.

It was there that the Southport film aficionado could indulge his boyhood passion for the big screen.

Acting as an ambassador for British film making Prof Moonman's job would often see him on the road with actors and directors, escorting them in the UK or chairing business and funding meetings.

"Julie Christie was one that I thought was marvellous and was sympathetic to a film buff," he said.

Woody Allen was another of Prof Moonman's favourites, he met the actor on a trip to America.

"That was great," he said.

"He was entertaining to be with, we did have a drink together.

"At that time he still hadn't got the English bug, that came later.

"He had been in Florida where he was still doing the stand-up circuit.

"That was very memorable."

Vanessa Redgrave also left an impression.

"I chaired one or two of her meetings when she did a lot of film work," said Prof Moonman.

"She was very political and that was one of the concerns going into a film.

"Someone with such a political attitude was very good, but one of the worries was would that slot in easily with anything that might be put on screen.

"At the time you expected the stars or artists to accompany any discussions to try to raise the money to fund the project - they were an attraction.

"Vanessa Redgrave had been around a long, long time and people wanted to see her.

"You never knew what she was going to say, but while you were trying to fund projects you wanted her there.

"People were excited about sitting alongside her and she was very good about that."

Prof Moonman also escorted the tragic actress Sharon Tate on a visit to the UK.

"Not long afterwards she was murdered by the Manson Gang," he said.

The job proved to be a film fanatic's dream opportunity to get a glimpse behind the scenes, providing an almost unique insight into the creative process.

Prof Moonman said: "It was a job of love - it was absolutely ideal for me."

Supporting the celebrated author Alan Sillitoe as he reworked the novel Saturday Night and Sunday Morning into a film script, Prof Moonman helped to bring a British cinema classic to our screens.

He said: "Often you had people who rewrote the book for the screen, but not in this case.

"I sat alongside him. The book was marvellous and eventually the film won BAFTAs.

"In many cases the author was a pain and they didn't want him to be around, but that wasn't the case with Alan."

THIS week Prince Harry turned 25 and inherited £9m from his late mother Princess Diana.
Perhaps it was the mention of her name in the news that prompted one LookBack reader to think back to the day that the princess came to visit Southport.
These cheeky monkeys lined up to catch a glimpse of the royal as she met the crowds in Southport 19 years ago.
They'd gathered to see the princess as she paid one of her three visits to the resort, in 1990.

LookBack reader Pat Grant said: "I went out to see her, I lived in the house next door to the home she visited on Oxford Road.
"You know the way she was, she didn't just walk around the house, she went into the gardens and there were all the neighbours leaning over the wall.
"She came over and chatted to us and we shook her hand. She asked 'have you lived here long?'
"There was an Indian lady in a sari and she asked her what part of India she was from - she was just very relaxed and friendly."
Back outside on the road wellwishers lined the pavements.
Mrs Grant said: "All the children from the private school were there.
"She didn't just leave, she went over and chatted to them - they were very excited. I was just snapping away with my camera."
Do you recognise any of the blazer wearing boys and girls?
Let Lookback know by E-mailing us at visiternews@southportvisiter.cop.uk, or writing to: Southport Visiter, 26-32 Tulketh St, Southport PR8 1BT.

A CHURCHTOWN author has released a book based on the history of his relationship with his hometown.
Peter Dyer, of Longacre, decided to write the unconventional history book by intertwining his personal experience with Southport's history.
The book, entitled 'When I Went a'Walking' sees Peter don his hiking boots and take the readers on a series of walks into Southport's history.

Starting where the Harrogate-born author began his life in the town, in a house off Norwood Avenue, which he moved to aged four.
Then en route to the town centre via Hesketh Park Station, which Peter describes as one of his late father's favourite local walks.
From Botanic Gardens along to Marine Lake, to investigating shrimping , all is illustrated with a wide range of photographs, maps and original drawings.
Peter, 60, was a primary school teacher for 28 years, but his focus now lies more with local history, which he regularly gives talks on.
He said: "The more of the book I wrote, the more aware I became of how my life has been shaped and coloured by the places, times and people I have had the honour to encounter on my journeys.
"This is the first proper book I have written, although I have been writing for while and have produced a visitors' guide to Churchtown in the past.
"I didn't just want to right a straight history book, I wanted to add my personal encounters and journeys to bring Southport's history to life."
Peter's book is available at Broadhursts book shop, Market Street.

LookBack this week features guest contributer Eric Hunter's research into Southport libraries.
The Emeritus Professor of Information Management at Liverpool John Moores University, spent twenty-six years of lecturing on librarianship, information management and computing.
A life-long Sefton resident, currently living in Ainsdale, Prof Hunter started his career as a librarian in Bootle Libraries.

MOST readers will have strolled along the magnificence of Southport's Lord Street and passed the imposing suite of buildings comprising the Town Hall, the Cambridge Art Centre and the Atkinson Art Gallery and Library.
At a time when the latter buildings are due for a major upgrade, it may be opportune to ask whether many people have noticed, as they admired the view, the arched opening to the left of the Art Gallery.
Perhaps, next time that they are there, they will look at this arch and, if they can make it out through the grime and dirt, read what they might think is a rather odd inscription engraved in the stonework - 'Schools of Science and Art'.
What does this mean? Is it very significant?
In fact it reflects the strong connection, historically, between the public library movement and the development of technical education.
The first Public Libraries Act was passed over one hundred and fifty years ago in 1850 and a second Act followed in 1855.
In this latter Act, certain educational powers were granted in that schools of science and art could be provided in addition to libraries.

The provision of this power could be deemed quite astonishing when one considers that this was fifteen years before the Education Act of 1870 brought elementary education within the reach of all and thirty four years before the first Technical Instruction Act. How did it come about?
As Britain entered the new industrial age at the start of the nineteenth society, the beginnings of technical education comprised a complex and myriad collection of various initiatives such as the apprenticeship system, the activities of various societies, the Schools of Design and the efforts of public spirited individuals.
All of this activity led to the recognition of the need for science and art schools and the establishment of the Science and Art Department in 1853.
This coincided with the passing of the first Public Libraries Acts and, perhaps influenced by the fact that the mechanics' institutes, founded by Birkbeck, already used classes and libraries in tandem for the education of the working man, the insertion into these Acts of the power for library authorities to institute science and art classes decreed that the future of the library movement and technical education became inextricably interwoven.
Unfortunately, the initial rate limitation of one penny in the pound was a distinct deterrent; nevertheless a number of local authorities did establish classes, or assist in the establishment of classes, under the provisions of the Public Libraries Acts.
In what is now the Metropolitan Borough of Sefton, there are two examples of such previously autonomous authorities - Southport and Bootle.
In Southport the population grew quickly in the nineteenth century as it gained in stature as a refined seaside resort.
Science and art classes were introduced in the town in 1874, housed in Christ Church School, but these were discontinued in 1877 because of lack of financial and other support. It was during this period that Southport adopted the Public Libraries Acts (1875).
The establishment of a public library was considerably aided by the handsome gift of a building and further financial provision for the purchase of books by William Atkinson.
Later, in 1881, the Southport Visiter printed an appeal for drawing classes to be held in the new Atkinson Art Gallery but, in fact, science classes were to come first, opened in the rooms of the Library and Art Gallery at the instigation of the Literary and Philosophical Society in 1882.
The subjects taught included mathematics, mechanics, heat, light and sound, chemistry, physiology and physiography. As a secondary commitment, art classes were also held.
In the first session, two hundred and twenty eight science and one hundred and seventy art students enrolled and it was soon obvious that these classes, unlike those held earlier, were to prosper.
There is little doubt that their success owed something to the fact that the classes were associated with a rate-supported institution.
The Council was obviously very much behind them because Southport then became one of the few towns that did not wait for the Technical Instruction Act to permit the levying a rate specifically for technical education.
The Southport Improvement Act of 1885 provided not only for the establishment of science and art schools and the erection of the necessary buildings but also for the levying of a rate to support such schools.
The amount of this rate was one halfpenny in the pound producing a revenue of about four hundred and fifty pounds. A new school was built behind the Atkinson Library and the Cambridge Hall and the Victoria Schools of Science and Art were opened in 1887 (the year of Queen Victoria's jubilee).
This is the reason for the puzzling inscription previously referred to. At this time, science and art classes were under the control of the Library Committee and in November 1887 this Committee became known as the Library, Science and Art Committee.
This was not to last long; by the 1890s the Science and Art Committee had become a full council committee in its own right.
Nevertheless, the Library Committee had played a significant role in the development of technical education in the borough for a number of years.
The school behind the library no longer exists of course. The Technical School was sited at the corner of Lord Street and Manchester Road from 1926 until a new Southport Technical College was built in 1935.
As we have seen, the severe restrictive effect of the rate limitation acted as a major deterrent and precluded the involvement of many public library authorities in the provision of science and art classes.
Nevertheless, in some cases, the first rate-supported further education was legalised and actually introduced not under explicit Education or Technical Instruction Acts but under the less obvious guise of the Public Libraries Acts.
In certain towns, such as Southport and Bootle, the first local authority 'further education committees' were public library committees.
This is an important but little known public library achievement. The power for library authorities to set up schools wasn't removed until 1919.

THIS week marks the 150th birthday of Southport and Birkdale Cricket Club in the town.
Joining in the celebrations LookBack has delved into the club's archives with the help of club history buff Michael Braham to print these pictures from the S&B's early years.
The search also unearthed this document from 1883 - the contract cricket star William McIntyre signed to bring him to the club.
He had enjoyed a career playing for the All England Eleven, Nottinghamshire, North of England, and Lancashire, before settling at S&B as club coach.
His duties didn't stop there, the contract sets out Mr Mcintyre's role in no uncertain terms: "The duties of the said William Mcintyre shall be to bowl to members in the game generally, to umpire in matches played by the club when required, to superintend the ground, to sell refreshments to members in the pavilion on match days and such other times when needed and generally to act in the best manner for the interest of the club."
He received a salary of £3 a week for his troubles.
Years later the 1st eleven are shown striding onto the pitch in this charming photo taken in 1936.
Taking on Bootle at Trafalgar Road the team on May 5 1936 they look the epitome of gentlemanly sportsmen.
In the background the old pavilion is clearly visible, which was later replaced.
In 1957 the ladies decided it was time they had their own pavilion, and this picture shows the opening ceremony of the building, which is now used by the tennis club today.
Pictured are Barbara Howell, club president Tom Atherton, Mrs Medrington, chairman Gilbert Carr, Mrs Atheron, Nan Meolross, Ena Colenson, Pat Howell, Dolly Carr and Linda Colenso.
There are a few gaps in that list, so if you spot a face you know get in touch with LookBack.
Meanwhile, back on the cricket pitch we've found this team photograph from 1949 which shows the team, along with umpire Mr Jackson and chairman, Mr Carr.
On the back row stands Ken Porter (second in from right) the man who archived the club's history in painstakingly compiled tomes, and who we have to thank for these pictures.

Other notable faces are those of Ted Dewhurst and Roy Gibson who are both still S&B members to this day.
As the club gets set to celebrate its anniversary with a sportsman's dinner, Mr Braham muses on the origins of the sporting institution.
He said: "A letter was out in the Southport Visiter saying 'does anyone want to start a cricket club?'
"In the second half of the century people had to work Monday to Saturday and the introduction of the half day on Saturday which meant that people had more leisure time so they started forming clubs.
"For example the rugby club in 1872, football in 1881 and Southport Golf Club, later Hesketh Gof Club in 1885.
"It strikes me that the club was quite exclusive, you had to have the right standing; school teachers, head masters and clergymen.
"And of course cricket was played a lot in the private schools in the 1860s.
"From Sandringham School Mr Chadwick played for Southport, at Bickerton House the headmaster Mr Mathwyn played for Birkdale club and the Reverend Carlisle of the Royal Balmoral School also played."
The anniversary dinner will be held on August 19 at the cricket club pavilion.
It will follow a commemorative match earlier that day and teams will hope to recreate the atmosphere and sporting goodwill of the very first match played by the club.
Tickets, priced £35 are available from Andy Hunter 07725 841970.
The club are keen to hear your memories, and are particularly keen to see any pre-war pictures of the team, if you have any memories to share contact LookBack on: E-mail us at visiternews@southportvisiter.cop.uk, write to: Southport Visiter, 26-32 Tulketh St, Southport PR8 1BT or log onto the news forums at: www.southportvisiter.co.uk

THE story of the Lamb family's unexpected landing in Southport came to light thanks to the modern-day internet "Twitter" phenomenon and another emergency landing.
On August 7 LookBack columnist Laura Jones received a call to say a microlite had crashed on Weld Road in Birkdale.
Upon arrival at the scene of the "aviation disaster" it became clear that there had been a false alarm, and Weld Road transpired to be the beach.
Put out by her unexpected beach adventure Laura posted an update on the internet site, where users sum up their thoughts in a single line of text, which read: "Mourning a pair of heels: Went out to microlite 'crash' on busy road - actually an emergency landing on beach - stilettos not ideal on sand"
To which Martin relied: "And on a similar note, it was actually an air crash of a test flight decades ago which led my family to Southport..."
From there the Lamb family story emerged.
Interestingly the reason the microlite had landed on the beach in the first place was because the pilot was using a map, which he had bought only three months earlier, which shows a designated runway on the beach.
Many years ago, this was the case, but nowadays the Civil Aviation Authority take a stern view of that kind of thing, since the practice was banned for safety reasons.
Happily, the pilot and his son who had landed because of a suspected engine failure were able to take off again safely, in the direction of Blackpool and LookBack happened across a fascinating story.
Laura and Martin can be found twittering about all things Southport at:
http://twitter.com/lauraAjones
http://twitter.com/martinlamb

AS SOUTHPORT gets set to turn its eyes to the sky for the airshow, one family explains how a plane disaster brought them to the resort.
Martin Lamb said: "My family's first connection with Southport goes back to a crash landing
on Southport beach by a civil aviator, Charles D Barnard, my
great-grandmother's brother.
"Charles was a well-known pioneer of flying in this country, and at one time held a record for the fastest flight from London to Cape Town, with the Duchess of Bedford - the "Flying Duchess" - as a passenger."
The dashing young pilot pulled off an impressive list of daredevil stunts which became the stuff of family legend.
Charles' mum Susanne Lamb said: "He was quite a notorious relative, the older brother of my maternal Grandmother.
"I think she quite hero-worshipped him, but later on some of his behaviour tarnished his image considerably.
"He had his own rooms at Woburn Abbey, because he was the Duchess' pilot. He was a bit of a rake, he was married - but that didn't last very long.
"He flew the inside of the crater at Vesuvius and he made the first landing on Malta."
Setting up his own flying circus, Charles used his military training (he had been a member of the Royal Flying Corps) to typically flamboyant effect.
Eventually however his devil may care attitude landed Charles in trouble.
Martin said: "Some time after the First World War, we think during the 1920s, he crash landed on Southport beach whilst giving
a pleasure flight."
Charles had two passengers on board, both of whom leapt from the aircraft to safety before it crashed.
"Charles wasn't so lucky and was severely burned in the resulting landing, and was put into the Promenade hospital, having been picked up by a furniture van which happened to be
passing," said Martin.
Susanne added: "I know that Charles was treated by an Indian doctor, quite a rarity in those days, at the Promenade, and that he was absolutely wonderful, although this was of course pre McIndoe, so the techniques of grafting were very primitive.
"My mother remembers that his skin would split in cold weather, and my grandmother told me you could always see where his watch had burned into his wrist."
His injuries led to a lengthy stay in Southport, and eventually drew the rest of the Lamb family here.
Martin said: "His mother moved up to Southport to be with him, and moved into the Prince of Wales, and his sister, my great-grandmother, came up to visit.
"In the 1960s, the family gradually relocated to Southport, my
grandfather's job in showbusiness having brought him first of all to a production job at ABC Television in Manchester, and latterly to a job as a variety agent in Liverpool."