Results tagged “lookback” from Southport Visiter - Look Back

WE start our review of Southport's recent history in a decade over-shadowed by war.
The 1940s saw the resort play its part in the war effort, shutting down the pier to pleasure-seekers and instead stationing searchlights along its structure to pick out enemy aircraft in the night sky.
Birkdale saw the Smedley Hydro Hotel become a centre for the registration of the population.

Smedley Hydro was put to use as an important home front hub, dealing with registration, ID cards, enlisting and rationing for the population.
Southport didn't escape The Blitz, and bombings destroyed homes and lives in the resort.
Look Back reader Roy Whittle remembers: "Tuesday, September 4, 1940, is a date that was forever imprinted on my young memory.
"Around midnight, Southport experienced its first air raid.
"Terror froze my young 11-year-old mind as I heard the shrill whistle of a German bomb, though living in Scarisbrick Road it sounded as though it was coming down on top of the house."

But the 1940s in Southport weren't solely defined by bombings and bad news from the front - for some the images of Lord Street under water will be the defining image of the decade.
Reader Derek Edwards said: "Lord Street is in a slight depression.
"In the 1940s, flooding of certain parts was a frequent occurrence.
"During heavy rain, the storm drains could not cope.
"I vividly remember leaving the Regal Cinema with my parents and we saw that Lord Street was flooded to a depth of about six inches.

"What amused me was to see gallant gentlemen giving piggy backs to young ladies who wanted to cross the road."
And if the 1940s opened under the cloud of war, they closed more hopefully with the birth of the NHS and the newly created system of free state secondary schools began to provide free education to pupils in Southport. And as the 50s approached Southport rediscovered its holiday spirit as our picture of Peter Pan's Fair in 1948 shows.
Visits from Clarke Gable in 1946 and the magicians of the British Ring delighted Sandgrounders.

After my plea for 50s and 60s memories Penny Powell wrote in with her account of the time.
She said: "Born in 1950 I remember attending a little nursey school in the grounds of Botanic Gardens, doing water play outside in the balmy sunshine what a lovely setting that was.
"Then going on to pre school at Emmanuel and having a daily dose of cod liver oil and this fowl tasting concentrated orange juice yuck! After Emmanuel we started Churchtown Primary. Every season there was a new thing to do in the playground.
"Whip and top, skipping, playing with two balls against the school walls, we played with marbles and my favourite," jacks". From hop scotch to hide and seek we always had great "playtimes". I even enjoyed the school meals.
"All the children had to eat them, no packed lunches. We would have a main course mutton,shepherds pie and hot pots and then a desert jam roly poly or steamed syrup pudding and custard, pink blancmonge or crunch.
"The summers were hot and the winters were cold. No central heating, coal fires and ice on the inside of our windows. We all had to wear gabadeen macs and berets!!
"The teachers were strict and made sure that we held a pen correctly, spoke proper english and even made us all stand and sit correctly. You would feel the cane if you mis-behaved.
"On to Secondary school where the girls were taught Mother and Child welfare care, domestic science and sewing, we were even taught to ballroom dance.
"Sadly we girls were ill-prepared for the corporate world, we were only ever expected to marry, have children and be house-keepers.
"We were never encouraged to sit GCE's how sad was that. In the mid 60's everything changed The Beatles were on the scene wow. What a great time that was.

"We would head for the outdoor pool with massive transistor radios, the smell of ambre-solaire almost knocking you out, sunbathing for hours in the hot long summer days and eyeing up the young bronzed life guards mmmm!
"We would smother ourselves in oil and fry oh dear if we knew then what we know now, think we had an ozone layer then. Late 60's we go and see all the live bands at the Floral Hall, screaming at The Hollies and Manfred Mann.
"I remember meeting Paul Jones afterwards, chasing their car to the Royal Hotel where they were staying and getting their autographs. We would go dance the night away on Friday and Saturday nights at the old Palace Hotel and The Kingsway watching the Cabaret first then up to the Starlight Room where ex Radio Caroline DJ's would play great music all night. We felt perfectly safe going into town at night there was never any trouble, everyone just wanted to have a good time.
"They were really great times growing up in such an era. The first generation to feel really free. Carnaby Street dictating the fashion yet no one seemed to suffer with anorexia or bolimia. We all just got on with things and enjoyed ourselves.
"If you left your job you would just be able to get another job.The boys were made to do apprenterships so most of them ended up with a trade, would it be so bad to take ideas from the 50's and 60's???
"Safe happy and healthy times I am so glad I do not have to grow with the pressures that the youth of today have to put up with. Sorry no photos not many of us owned cameras in those days."

By JANINE YAQOOB
A SOUTHPORT man who was a leading figure in the North West press industry has died.
Former president of Liverpool Press Club Norman Dickson passed away on January 15, aged 82.
His funeral was held at Emmanuel Church, Cambridge Road on Wednesday.
Born in Crosby on July 3, 1927, Norman, who was known to his colleagues at 'Dicko', was evacuated to Rhyl prior to World War II.

Whilst there Norman discovered his talent for writing when he served an internship Rhyl Guardian newspaper and excelled as a junior reporter.
He later joined the RAF, where his talents as a writer were recognised and he was assigned to duty as a Press Attache at the British Embassy in Paris.
In 1953 Norman returned to Merseyside and landed a job at the Daily Herald, where he made his name as one of the paper's two staff reporters in Liverpool.
In the same year he married partner Dorothy.
Reporting widely across the Merseybeat era, Norman covered the exploits of The Beatles and other well-known musical acts before turning his hand to his greatest passion - politics.
After stints working for the Daily Herald in Manchester and when it was relaunched as The Sun, Norman tried his hand in the business sector before returning to journalism as a sub-editor and industrial correspondent at the Wigan Evening Post.
Norman retired in 1992 but still remained an active member of the Liverpool Press Club and the Southport Stroke Club.
Residing at his Fylde Road home in Southport for over 30 years, Norman was a keen gardener and enjoyed travelling, music and wine making.
He is survived by daughters Michelle and Carolann, son Stephen and nine grandchildren.
Daughter Carolann said: "My father had an amazing vocabulary, I remember him correcting our grammar when we were children.
"He loved jazz music, which we played at the funeral. The service was informal, just what he would have liked.
"Curate Jacqueline Stobart really summed up the essence of my father and service was very pleasant.
"Some of the grandchildren got up to say a few words, as did my sister and I and my brother."
Alan Jones. member of the Liverpool Press Club and friend of Norman's, said: "When the Press Club was resurrected in 1991 as the Friends of Liverpool Press Club, Norman played a leading part in helping to make our annual Christmas lunches a great success.
"He was a natural showman and often acted as master of ceremonies and sometimes recited in dialect one of the late Larry Sayle's great Scouse monologues.
"He was a character and mainstay of the club. He attended every Christmas lunch up and including to last November.
"He was a real trouper, a great journalist and a true friend."

CAN you spot a young Sir Paul McCartney?
This lovely picture was unearthed by a former classmate at the Joseph Williams School in Belle Vale, Childwall, who now lives in Southport.
She took it to the Churchtown branch of Bonhams where the firm's entertainments specialist, Stephen Maycock, took a look at it.

He said: "The picture was taken in 1953, Sir Paul was born in June so we think it was just past his 11th birthday.
"It would have been his last term at the school before going to the Liverpool Institute."
The informal feel of the small form photograph adds to the picture's charm and gives a real sense of Sir Paul's early school days.
He said: "Pictures like this are quite rare.
"Very formal photographs from the Liverpool Institute which are about eight feet long and show the whole school standing in banks are more common - a number of these have previously come up for sale."
Mr Maycock added that despite this even the larger school pictures can prove valuable.
"Although every pupil who attended the school will have had the same photograph after 50 years, like most things, they've been lost or chucked away," he said.
However the picture which surfaced in Churchtown is likely to be of more interest to collectors and has been valued for auction on Dec 16 for between £400-£600.
"I think it was a pleasant surprise for the owner," said Mr Maycock.
"It's just photo she's had tucked away from her childhood - and now it's quite a valuable thing."
Standing, fourth row from front, third from left is an 11-year-old Sir Paul McCartney at Belle Vale School, Childwall. Picture taken in 1953.

THESE photographs captures the moment Lord Street disappeared under a torrent of rain water in 1948.
Brian Balfe visited Southport on a day trip from Widnes at the age of seven with his older sister, mum and dad and aunt and uncle - and their group was almost washed away.

He told LookBack: "When I was a young boy living in Widnes in the 1940s my family visited Southport on a day trip, by train I think.
"After spending some time in the resort, as far as I can remember we were heading back to the station when there was an almighty downpour resulting in Lord Street being flooded."
The family, who weren't dressed for a downpour, had to run for shelter as the rain pounded down in a short, but unrelenting, burst.
"My uncle, who had accompanied us that day and was a keen photographer, must have taken some pictures," said Brian.
"After he passed away about 35 years later I found a box of old negatives.
"I had some of them printed and considering the age of them they turned out quite well. The year must have been around 1947 judging by some of the photos, which may be of some interest.
"It looks as though they taken from the bottom of Eastbank Street as the Scarisbrick Hotel is in view.
"I can remember the sets in the road were floating as people were walking and cycling over them.
"The thing that sticks in my mind was the road moving the water must have got under the cobbles and they were floating."

THE weekend of August 2, 1938 was one of Southport's darkest.
Lookback reader Maureen Forward is a relative of one of the four swimmers swept out to sea at Ainsdale.
Her sister in law's grandfather, George Frederick Hollis, died in the disaster and Maureen approached the Southport Visiter as she tried to investigate what had happened.
She said, "We didn't know exactly what had happened but we are delighted to have found out. Her dad would never speak about it. It is obviously a shame that he never got to meet his grandchildren".
Four of the bathers were rescued, including George's son, George Frederick Louis Hollis.
While a crowd of hundreds was kept back, Lifeguards pulled all of the bathers to safety but Mr Hollis (senior) was in a critical condition.
Chief Lifeguard at the time of the incident, Pat Cullen, said, "From the look-out van I had seen the lifeguards' signals.
"I swam out to Mr Hollis and Mr Hargreaves with the assistance of other bathers.
"Mr Hargreaves appeared to be all right, but Mr Hollis was in a serious condition and although artificial respiration was tried and stimulants administered, he died".
Mr Hollis had been teaching his son to swim when he appeared to be struggling.
Two other bathers, Mr and Mrs Hargreaves went to help him out, when they began to struggle also.
The two lifeguards heard the cries for help and saw the group around 75 yards from the shore in water believed to be seven foot deep.

THIS Friday's Southport Visiter will feature the first of our LookBack specials.
For the next five weeks we will be reviewing Southport's recent history in a series of extended LookBack features.
On Friday we kick off with the 1940s, but I'm already turning my attention to Southport in the 1950s.
If you've got pictures, memories or stories you'd like to see included - send them my way!
E-mail us at visiternews@southportvisiter.cop.uk, or write to: Southport Visiter, 26-32 Tulketh St, Southport PR8 1BT

LOOKBACK this week opens the Visiter photo album to share these pictures with our readers.
This selection of charming images from the newspaper archives may be familiar to many people - some of you may even be pictured!
For example our first photograph, taken in on June 8, 1977 shows Hesketh Bank beauties 16-year-old Claire Flaherty, Kim Gough (14) and Tina Radcliffe (15) celebrating the 1977 jubilee.
But who are the other 10 members of the Hesketh Bank Youth Club in the background?
If you know, or were there on the day, get in touch with LookBack and we'll share it with our readers.

Our next picture shows Southport from an unconventional angle.

Our photographer scaled the dizzying heights of the Traumatizer to get this vertigo-inducing snapshot of Pleasureland, looking towards Lord Street.
Since the picture was taken, one or two things have changed - the swimming pool is shown before it changed its name to Dunes and extended to include Splashworld.
Behind it sits the supermarket Safeway, which has now become Morrisons.
On the horizon the gasometer, which disappeared from our town this year, can just be made out.
Rail enthusiasts and proud Sandgrounders alike will enjoy our third photograph.
This view will be familiar to any Southport commuter, but once again things have changed - Chapel Street in the background is almost unrecognisable.
The train has drawn a crowd, but we don't know why and the photograph is undated.
Can you shed any light on the Sandgrounder? Did you ever travel on it when it chugged to and from Southport?
Let LookBack know and we'll try to find out more about why our photographer was dispatched to take this picture.

Our fourth and final photograph is even more of a mystery. No information regarding this group remains in the Visiter archives.
Can you name the vicar in the front row, or any of the other members of the group?
We don't know why they have assembled to have this picture taken, although judging by the trophy at the centre of the shot a prize-giving ceremony of some kind has taken place.
If you know what the prize was for, or who the winner was, get in touch!

RAF pilot Alan Murgatroyd took this stunning aerial picture as he flew above his Churchtown home.
In a letter to LookBack he wrote:
"I grew up in Southport during the second World War, and have memories of listening to Neville Chamberlain announcing the start of that war, only a few days before my 5th birthday.
"I recall sleeping in a Morrison air raid shelter erected in one of the rooms of our house in Churchtown, and listening to enemy aircraft flying overhead, seeking Liverpool and Preston docks.

"I left home in 1958, and following the death of my father in 1963 my Mother moved back to Yorkshire and I've had little opportunity to return since then.
"My son, now aged 43, was working in Liverpool last week and took the opportunity to spend a little time in Southport, and took some photographs of the family home and the premises that my father, G.P.Murgatroyd, operated as a photographic studio at 131 Eastbank Street from 1936 until his death.
"I enclose a copy of the first aerial photograph that I ever took, 52 years ago, after returning home to Southport following training as an RAF pilot for National Service, in 1957.
"I went to Speke Airport, now John Lennon International, and hired an aircraft to fly back to Southport to photograph my then home in Rathmore Crescent, Churchtown.
"The photograph shows Preston New Road and Rathmore Crescent, and part of North Road and Lexton Drive.
"I attended Churchtown Primary School, and St. Cuthberts Sunday School, and won a scholarship to King George V Grammar School.
"At the time the school was under the direction of the first headmaster, George Milward, who had founded the school when it moved from it's original site at Woodlands, near the end of Lord St. where the Police headquarters were in my days.
"In 1958 I joined British Overseas Airways Corporation, now British Airways, and ended my flying career as a Boeing 747 Captain and Instructor with Singapore Airlines, and my wife and I retired to New Zealand in 1994.
"From my perusal of Google Earth, the land towards the sea off the left hand edge of my photograph is totally different, and maybe I will be able to visit Southport once again before age finally curtails my travelling !
"I hope your readers will enjoy this view of part of Churchtown 50 years ago.
"Yours sincerely,
Alan Murgatroyd"

LOOKBACK reader Linda Pye submitted this lovely picture.
She said: "This is a charcoal drawing of my grandmother, Grace Lillian McQueen, drawn in 1886 when she was 12 years old, in its original frame.
"The artist's signature appears to be Robert Phininster.
"I know nothing about him other than the fact that many artists of the period had models sit for them."

Richard Hopkinson, Head of Paintings at Bonhams, Northern Region cast his eye over it - this is verdict.
"Your drawing looks to be a good quality example of a type of portraiture that was very popular in later 19th century Britain.
Your reading of the signature suggests that the artist is Robert Phininster - I can find no record of this painter listed as exhibiting pictures.
The records of artists working in this country at this period are very good.
This means that when a British artist of the period is not listed, he or she is viewed as quite a minor figure.
Your charcoal and pencil drawing looks very attractive and the draftsmanship is good.
This suggests that the artist was trained, either as an apprentice to another painter, or, more likely at one of the many art schools, both public and private, that were in existence by the 1880s.
The style and type of drawing is very much in keeping with those taught at art schools in this period.
The feeling of your drawing is closer to a commissioned portrait, rather than an artist using a model to create a picture.
Clearly, it would have been much quicker and cheaper to ask for a charcoal sketch than a portrait in oils, and so these were done in quite large numbers, although from the 1870s most portraits were photographs, which was cheaper still, and had a great novelty attraction.
Sadly, these charcoal studies are not really in fashion on the antique market at present, and so we find that comparable examples often sell for under £150.
This drawing has the advantage of a very attractive young sitter, which really enhances its appeal.
The condition looks good, and the frame is probably the original oak one.
In spite of these plus points, I would estimate this one to sell for between £50-100, which just underlines that a good, antique picture can be purchased for a very affordable sum, particularly when an artist in not known or collected."

MEET Antony Bennett, the man who can tell you what your family silver is worth.
The Bonhams regional director will be joining LookBack for a new valuation feature in which we invite readers to submit their antiques and to find out more about them.
The fine art specialist is based in Chester, but works right across the North West with Bonhams branches to value items.

Antony said: "It's really good for everyone to know what they've got. Many people have things that are more exciting than they thought.
"That might not always be financial, but historical.
"It can also cut the other way, you think you've got a really valuable item, and in fact you haven't."
Despite the economic downturn, the auction business is performing well.
Antony said: "The industry is strong, many people in different businesses are having a tough time, but we're not complacent about it.
"Gold prices have risen, and when gold prices rise, silver prices rise. The market for silver is particularly strong and so is gold too.
"The British pound exchange rate with the Euro and the American currencies has made it more favourable American and European people to buy British antiques."
Antony has been in the trade since his first job in an antiques shop in the Midlands, aged 14.
"As a person who has been in the business a long time, it's fascinating, people are selling and buying for economic reasons," he said.

LOOKBACK is working on a special family history feature and we'd like to hear your stories of researching the family tree, finding lost relatives and discovering your ancestry.
Perhaps you're still trying to find the missing Southport piece of the jigsaw and an appeal in the pages of LookBack could help.
Either way we want to hear your stories.
E-mail us at visiternews@southportvisiter.cop.uk, or write to: Southport Visiter, 26-32 Tulketh St, Southport PR8 1BT

"SOUTHPORT Football Club v Blackburn, The Rookery, Roe Lane, Southport; crowd of 4,000 expected." Who would have believed that this headline, from August, 1872, would have related to a rugby match and not football?
Today, with the club enjoying thriving senior and local sections, Southport RUFC director of rugby JOHN PORTER looks back on the club's proud history - and forward to a bright future.
IN the later part of 1872, Dr George Coombe, of Southport Infirmary, was the inspiration behind the formation of what was originally known as Southport Football Club, or as we now know it be, Southport Rugby Football Club.
It was formed with the intention of "improving the physical development of our young townsmen". Its first President was the then Mayor of the town, Samuel Swire.
The first games (Southport v Blackburn is the first officially recorded match) were a type of a free for all with teams of 20 or more taking the field, no referee and a multitude of ways to score points. The club though was experiencing some excellent victories and was attracting crowds of 4,000 or more, not bad when international games attracted only a couple of thousand more.
Ten years later, the now famous "Southport Olympic" were playing in their present day colours of red, black and amber and had moved from their original home of Roe Lane (the Rookery) to Mornington Ground, with teams now down to the official 15 and referees now in evidence!
The early 1900s saw great difficulty for the club as the breakaway of rugby league clubs gathered pace. Under the presidency of Sir George Pilkington, the club was reformed and played home games at Victoria Park. In 1913 the club changed its name to Southport Rugby Union Football Club and with it came a great change in fortune, as the team were undefeated throughout the whole season.
The following year saw the start of World War I with 11 players ultimately losing their lives as they went to answer the call to arms.
But the club was determined to carry on and by 1922 the playing staff had grown to 75 with the first XV regularly playing in front of 1,000 spectators. In 1927 the club moved to their present home of Waterloo Road and defeated local rival Preston Grasshoppers 16-0 in their inaugural home fixture.
The 1950s saw many players supplied by King George V School, which led to an amalgamation with the "Old Georgians", represented by former KGV school players.
Around this time the club acquired two more pitches "over the wall", and produced five teams on a regular basis.
In 1966 the club underwent major refurbishment and continued with mixed success on the field. The later years have proved to be difficult ones, the major contributing factor being the closure of the King George V Grammar School and with it the once endless supply of players.
It was in 1964 that I played my first game for Southport on a wet and windy October day in Widnes. I never touched the ball other than in the warm up, but I remember being so proud of wearing the red, black and amber jersey. It was at this time that I could remember the club running seven, yes seven teams - the first, second, third and fourth teams plus the Sandgrounders, Barbarians and Vagabonds.
During the 1970s and 1980s Southport enjoyed success both on and off the field and it was during this period that the Colts team won the Lancashire Cup.
These days, anyone who drives past Waterloo Road playing fields on a Sunday morning will see numerous children ranging from seven years old through to 16.
They will be training or playing a match and to see the pure enjoyment of the free spirit they portray is a pleasure indeed.
The club is now reaping their rewards from the "minis initiative" which started a number of years ago with a number of players coming through to press the senior players for their positions.
Southport is looking healthier than it has done for a while, and as recent as 2006-07 the club won a league title, doing so in tremendous style losing only two games all season.
This coming season will see the re-emergence of a Colts team. This team will be for the under 17 age group and will recruit from the local colleges such as KGV and Southport College plus local schools who extend their leaving age to cater for A-level students.
Under the generous sponsorship of Bernard O'Malley of Nationwide Produce, the club's funds are looking extremely healthy.
A number of projects to improve the facilities are in the pipeline, these include female changing rooms, gymnasium and improved catering and bar amenities.
All coaches, who are qualified and CRB checked, devote their time to our young players in order to introduce both enjoyment and discipline into their lives. The future is well and truly in the hands of these people both on and off the playing field.
The senior side has worked extremely hard during the pre season and look forward to a good campaign, with strength in depth as strong as it has been for a number of years. The link between the past, present and future is key to us moving forward.
Not only does the club provide the sporting opportunity, it also offers the social aspect for supporters, parents and friends alike.
After 137 years the future for Southport RFC is looking as bright as it has done for a number of years.
So, what are you waiting for? Why not come on down to support your local side at Waterloo Road, where there is adequate car parking for over 100 cars.
There is a game every Saturday, for full details please check with the Southport Visiter every Friday.
DO you have any memories or photographs of playing for Southport RUFC over the years?
Please e-mail us at: visiternews@southportvisiter.co.uk or write to: LookBack, Southport Visiter, 26-32 Tulketh St, Southport PR8 1BT.

ALMOST 50 years ago, Helen Connolly discovered an old diary buried amongst items in preparation for a jumble sale.
What looked like an battered homework book for children was actually a journal, penned when 20 young girls fled from the Nazis in 1938.
Amongst the pages were accounts of fond memories that the girls had all shared while growing up together in Southport.

After years of apprehension about what to do with the diary, Helen decided to donate it to the Manchester Jewish Museum.
The remarkable story was then told in a Yorkshire TV documentary, in which she re-enacted the moment she recovered it, and also featured in the emotional reunion which saw nine of the girls meeting for the first time since going their separate ways.
It was that initial discovery by Helen that eventually led to the reunion.
Reminiscing of the shock at finding such a priceless memoir, Helen told LookBack: "I couldn't believe it when I found out what it was, it could've easily made it into the rubbish bin when it looked like such a tatty old thing.
"I was very concerned about doing anything with the diary at first, I wasn't sure if it should be publicised as it's such a sensitive and emotional issue."
Helen found herself wondering what happened to the girls after their stay in Southport.
She later discovered that a few of them moved on to a hostel in Manchester, while some moved to places such as Austria, Israel, Vancouver, New York and Brazil.
A couple of the girls who stayed in England ended up with high-flying careers for organisations such as the BBC and the Commonwealth of Nations.
But the thought of the girls being reunited again was the driving force behind Helen's decision to reveal the diary.
And the occasion dissolved any doubts that she originally had: "I have absolutely no regrets now as it was amazing to see all the girls together.
"It was the first time after so many years and they all really enjoyed being in the company of eachother again. They were very thankful to me and even bought me flowers and a card."

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