Results tagged “southport” from Southport Visiter - Look Back

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

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."

EARLIER this month LookBack asked if anyone could explain the mysterious Cosy Cinema.
Southport cinema historian Don Geldard said: "Twice people have said to me that they went to a cinema called 'The Cosy' which they seemed to think was at the end of Lord Street, but there's no record anywhere.
"One man said to me he wanted to see Quo Vadis but he wasn't allowed to go and instead his aunt took him there to see Johnny Guitar starring Joan Crawford.
"But I've never, ever heard of 'The Cosy' yet another lady asked me if I'd ever been there."

Guy Mallinson and Ray Brundit both think they know the answer.
Mr Mallinson wrote: "I have lived in Southport for a very long time, and have never heard of a cinema which was officially called 'The Cosy'.
"However, I am almost certain that it was an affectionate name which was given to The Forum, which Mr Geldard will, of course, know about.
"I seem to recall my late mother saying it was so named. I also think (but am not certain) that the word 'Cosy' was used by the management at one time as an advertising aid."
That explanation echoes the memories of another of our readers', Mr Brundit.
He wrote: "Regarding your request for news of the comfy, cosy cinema: To my recollection it is the old 'Forum' on Lord Street (between 'The Palace' and 'Regal' cinema).
"The only other ones with nick names were the 'Colly' / 'Ranch House'.
"The 'Regent' was anything but comfy cosy with double hard wood seats on young bums - the times I was told off for fidgeting! Good for couples, I guess.
"But if you had to share with a smoker it would mean watery eyes as tobacco was hard to come by in war years and so some grew their own or smoked herbal mixtures.
"My favourite was always 'The Coliseum'. Even when you could sit in any seat, we all tried to get as near to the front row as possible because all the local wise guys sat there.
"It would start with the Pathe Gazzete (big cheers) war news (boo the enemy) before a main feature - happy days."

THE 50th season of brass band concerts in the Botanic Gardens will be celebrated with an incredible free concert.
Bands from Marshside, Banks, Hesketh Bank, Tarleton and Skelmersdale will perform a special show at the park's band lawn on Bank Holiday Monday (August 31).

Southport and District Brass Band Association (S&DBBA) has also enlisted former Army bandmaster Andrew Booth to conduct the event.
If wet, the show will take place at nearby St Cuthbert's Church.
The concert will also launch an appeal to build a new community bandstand in the park, to be used by youth, school and theatre groups, as well as brass bands.
S&DBBA secretary Christine Bradshaw said: "The 50th anniversary concert is an ideal opportunity to launch the project and monies raised on the day will be put towards the Bandstand Fund.
"Alongside this, it is very much about local bandsmen and women getting together to perform an entertaining concert with something in it for everyone - just remember to bring your flags!"
lA steering group is being set up to advance the bandstand project.Anyone requiring further information or wishing to join this project should contact 01704 220806.

AS the hovercraft celebrates its golden anniversary, LookBack takes an opportunity to rediscover the days when Southport had its own electric craft.

The Great British invention was once a fixture of Southport Summers, and a real hit with daytrippers and tourists.

First launched in 1973, Southport's first hovercraft lasted only a year, but its successor proved to have more staying power, operating into the early 1990s.

Connecting Southport to Blackpool, 11 miles north of the resort, the craft used to zip between the two holiday hotspots in about 20 mintues, weather permitting.

Unfortunately the weather often wasn't permitting and passengers on the 14-seater craft would regularly find themselves enjoying rather longer in Blackpool than they'd bargained for, before being bussed back to Southport.

Retired director of tourism, Phil King remembers riding in the craft to attend a civic engagement.

Phil said: "It was very good, we had a civic visit by hovercraft to Blackpool. It took the Mayor and Mayoress of the day to Squires Gate where we were met by my counterpart and taken along the promenade.

"It was another of the attractions to the resort and there were hovercraft anoraks who used to enjoy it and came from all parts of the country.

"Families liked it too, it was a unique form of transport and you had excellent views across the Ribble.

"Another of its attractions was that you saw Southport from another angle, one day we went out on the sandbank and actually stood on it looking back at the town."

Eventually the weather got the better of the hovercraft link and the service was axed.

Since then various parties have expressed an interest in resurrecting the much-loved transport link, but to no avail.

Hovercraft Rental revealed plans to bring the craft back in 2007 after bringing the vehicle back to Southport beach for the resort's airshow.

They planned to begin a service based in Southport, taking daytrippers south towards Liverpool, but the project never made it off the drawing board.

Meanwhile Peter Walton at Freckleton-based Walton Coaches has been exploring the idea of a reintroduction of the Southport to Blackpool craft for some time.

He said: "The one I've got at the moment is too small, it's not fit for purpose."

Peter claims that a bigger craft will be able to deal with inclement weather conditions and provide a reliable service.

"The dream's still there," he told LookBack.

"I went to Thailand last year to look at one which was no good, we've found another one that we're interested in, but it's in Canada at the moment and I've not had a chance to get over there yet."

FILM historian Don Geldard is hoping that one of our LookBack readers can help to shed light on the two cinemas missing from his picture archive.

Mr Geldard, who gives talks on the history of Southport's cinemas, told LookBack that despite giving lectures on the subject for the past four years pictures of two of the resort's cinemas still elude him.

He said: "The first is Bedford on Bedford Road in Birkdale which opened in 1929 and closed in 1959.

"It was purpose built at the time with shops at the front; now it's a car repair shop but it's still got the same roof over it.

"The other is The Queen's cinema which was known locally as Tivoli or "The Tiv" which was on Devonshire Road in Hyde Park.

"The building is still there; it was built in 1912 and closed in 1957.

"If anyone has a photo tucked away in the album I'd like to take a look at it."

And there's another movie mystery that Mr Geldard hasn't been able to get to the bottom of.

He said: "Twice people have said to me that they went to a cinema called the "Cosy" which they seemed to think it was at the end of Lord Street, but there's no record anywhere.

"One man said to me he wanted to see Quo Vadis but he wasn't allowed to go and instead his aunt took him there to see Johnny Guitar starring Joan Crawford.

"But I've never, ever heard of "The Cosy" yet another lady asked me if I'd ever been there."

Quo Vadis was released in 1953, which dates the cinema to that year. Get in touch with LookBack if you've got any clues.

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.