Recently by Laura Jones

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.

IT all goes back to the 1920s, when Alderman Charles Aveling was the driving force behind setting up the show.

The British Empire Exhibition was being held in London the same year, 1924, and Southport offered something of an alternative for those unable to make their way to the capital.

It was also the beginning of the era of mass holidays in the years after the First World War, and that first show attracted 44,000 visitors.

"Happy is the flower show on which the sun shines," declared the Lord Mayor of neighbouring Liverpool at the first show.

Overall, the show was an immediate success, and from then onwards it became a summertime fixture in Southport.

Come the 1930s and Southport could lay claim to being the biggest flower show in the world. But it all came to a screeching halt in 1939 as war broke out across Europe. The slogan was "Dig for Victory" and there was little time for the luxuries of a flower show.

With the coming of peace it was possible to get the Flower Show moving once again. Queen Elizabeth, later the Queen Mother, agreed to continue as patron as she had done since 1935, and the first post-war show was held at Victoria Park in 1947.

The high point in attendance came in 1961 when 131,000 visited, but ultimately the show became a victim of its own success, straining the resources of organisers at Sefton Borough Council to the point where they felt they could no longer afford to stage it.

From 1986 onwards, a group of local businesses and gardeners came to the rescue by forming the Southport Flower Show Company. Within five years attendances topped 100,000 and the Show's future was given extra security when Sefton Council granted the Company a 60-year lease on the 34-acre show site in 1994 for a token rent of one bouquet.

This is now presented each year to the mayor/mayoress of Sefton on the first day of the show.

Current flower show chief executive David Jackson said that the show was much more than just a tourist attraction for the resort.

"The reason why Southport Flower Show is here in the first place is because of the area around Southport; Southport is very much of the area and you've only got to go to Banks and further towards Preston to see the number of nurseries and garden centres out there.

"it's not a marketing thing that's been created to bring in tourists, the show has grown up out of the town and surrounding area."

"When it was in dire straits in the 1980s it was the people and businesses of Southport who saved it, so I'm very proud to be a custodian of it."

LOOKBACK received this letter from reader Denis Brimble, of Birkdale, perhaps you can shed some light on his query.

"Could you use this photo in LookBack my wife says it is Southport. My Main interest is the Ford Capri in the water, maybe it will spark somebody's memory. Plus, did they have pny rides on the beach, as they don't look like donkeys."