The weather was windy, but sunny and we were all personally greeted by Carol and shown to our allocated table.
There was a lot of chatter, which went quiet when we were served our first course, the volume also decreased when we were all consuming the main course and dessert.
Carol, as usual had made a great job of sorting a menu for us, the food was very filling and tasty and the staff all had a good humour.
During our lunch there was plenty of time to chat which many different people and catch-up with those we’d not seen for awhile.
Frank, SoFA’s chair, thanked Carol for all her hard work in arranging this lunch for us, the staff was also thanked for the food and the service they provided us.
Those in attendance were reminded of the upcoming Tea and Coffee afternoon which is being held on Saturday 26 July t 1.45pm the venue being St. John’s Anglican Church, 708 Liverpool Road, AINSDALE PR8 3QE.
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Thirty nine SoFA members enjoyed time together on our latest holiday in Cambridgeshire. Carl, our driver, took us through rural Staffordshire to our first stop on the outward journey, the Mill Hotel. Then on to Becketts Farm Shop in the Midlands for our lunch before arriving at the Marriott Hotel in Huntingdon. This quiet modern hotel provided a good standard of comfort and food during our five day stay.
Day one was full of options for the group. Some enjoyed a planned, guided College tour. Others chose a more leisurely opportunity to see the historical and tourist attractions including the impressive University Botanical Gardens. Prior to the city stop, Carl arranged a visit to the nearby American War Memorial and Cemetery. On day two members had the opportunity to explore Ely, with its historic buildings, river location and its unique Cathedral. The next stop was to Anglesey Abbey (NT) to enjoy the woodland walk, herbaceous and rose gardens and the magnificent country home. Anglesey Abbey was transformed from its religious beginning into a sumptuous collection of art, sculpture and tapestries by the wealthy patron, Lord Fairhaven.
On the third day our group visited the Wimpole Estate (NT). This was a different house experience with more herbaceous flowers and a splendid walled garden filled with springtime colours and fragrance. A historic church and working farm completed the experience. The afternoon was a look around the working Victorian Mill at Houghton (NT). The mill was in a chocolate box setting with meadow and riverside walks. Our journey home offered a complete contrast to the treasures of the National Trust. Carl took us to the Richard 111 Visitor Centre in Leicester. Members enjoyed a range of high quality visual presentations about Richard’s ascendancy to the throne. There was also the history of warfare surrounding his death and the details of the impressive discovery of Richard’s body under a nearby car park! We lunched together at the Visitor Centre, allowing time to visit the Medieval Guildhall and Richard’s tomb in the Cathedral. As usual, Carl kept us informed and managed a relaxing timetable. Another enjoyable and valued five days of SoFA companionship.
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Many thanks to Frank Hyland for the article and Charlie Craig for the photographs.
The National Trust owns 69 acres of farmland east of Rufford Old Hall on what was Manor House Farm. The land is between the Leeds/Liverpool canal and the River Douglas. This was acquired in 2000 to protect the views and settings of the Hall. Past surveys showed a significant amount of peat across the site that was dried out. Peat is vital to the environment and re-wetting the land will not only restore the peat, but also help filter pollution, improve wild habitats, prevent flooding and store carbon.The aim in partnership with Lancashire Wildlife Trust, is to transform the area into a dynamic wet grassland habitat, home for an abundance of wildlife.
On 14th May Justin Matthews, Area Ranger, took a group of National Trust staff and Volunteers on a walk around the Manor House Farm site to show the improvements that have been made. Work had been ongoing during Spring 2025 where a variety of techniques were used in order to rewet the area. Existing ditches were re-profiled in strategic places to encourage the water to spill out onto the fields. Weirs were installed to reduce water flow and loss of water across the site. Several wet grassland species are due to be planted to boost biodiversity and also providing places for wildlife to breed, nest, feed and shelter.
The project is being funded by the Government’s Nature for Climate Peatland Grant Scheme and Starling Bank. The National Trust’s partner across the project is Lancashire Wildlife Trust, who will work to help deliver the Restoration Project and share knowledge, information and research findings.
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Our outing on 29th April was to Sizergh Castle calling at Barton Grange Garden Centre for coffee. The weather was warm and sunny so perfect for our trip up to Cumbria. We enjoyed our coffee stop at the impressive Barton Grange before travelling further north to our destination. We were made very welcome by the staff at Sizergh Castle and everyone found plenty to see and do during our time there. Sizergh Castle is a medieval home and is still inhabited by the Strickland family. The castle is filled with treasures and stories of historical interest. The room guides were very friendly and knowledgeable and made our journey through the castle all the more interesting. There is a beautiful garden for all seasons and of particular interest during our visit were the stunning displays of tulips. Also of note was the mirror lake, working kitchen garden, apple orchard and limestone rock garden.
Sizergh Castle gardens
We all appreciated the sunshine and fresh air and agreed the outing to Sizergh was very relaxed and enjoyable. Our next trip is to Chirk Castle and Gardens, a magnificent fortress of the Welsh Marches situated near Wrexham. The outing will take place on Wednesday 21st May. If you are not a member but would like to attend any of our events or are interested in joining our Association, please complete the Contact Form. Your enquiry will then be forwarded to the relevant organiser.
Elaine explained that Southport Offshore Rescue Trust is independent of the RNLI and receives no government or regular external funding. Being independent means that the Trust is responsible for its own financing and fundraising.
The original RNLI station was closed in 1925.
Through the benefit of a PowerPoint presentation and some very interesting video clips. Elaine explained that Kath Wilson was responsible for raising funds for the Southport Lifeboat, after her son Geoff Clements died off the Southport coast whilst fishing with his friends. Kath raised £1m to build the new station, which was opened in January 2022.
The new station is a lot more comfortable for the volunteers compared to the old RNLI building. That building had no toilets or running water and nowhere for them the warm up after being out on a ‘shout’.
We were supplied information about the two types of rescue boat that they currently have. One is suitable for the open sea (Artic 24 Lifeboat) and the other for shallow waters (D-Class Lifeboat).
They have three quadbikes that can be used on the beach for a variety of rescue operations, such as mud rescues. A Challenger launch vehicle, which can enter the water as well as a New Holland Launch Tractor.
Southport Offshore Rescue Trust also have a drone that assists with emergency calls. It helps in trying to locate missing people with its thermal camera and a very strong spotlight.
Each volunteer has their own suit which helps keep them dry when they are out on the water.
All the equipment that they use cost thousands of pounds and must be replaced on a regular basis.
They way they do that is by having open days at the Southport Lifeboat Station. They have a shop on St. Peter’s Road in Birkdale, which is run by volunteers.
They also have their Lifeboatlotto which costs £2 per week.
We were supplied with information on the various lifeboats which have been used by Southport over the years and some stories about the numerous rescues in which they have been involved over the years.
Southport Offshore Rescue Trust are one of the 62 independent lifeboat stations around the country; (20% of all lifeboat stations in the UK are independent).
All the volunteers are highly trained and receive specific training for the specialised equipment that they use.
They work closely with all emergency services as well as with the other lifeboat stations, RNLI and independent.
Elaine and her colleague Andrew were thanked for coming to talk to SoFA on Friday and everyone was very pleased that Southport once again has a lifeboat station and brave people who volunteer.
If you are not a member of SoFA, but would like to join any of our events, please fill in the Contact Form.
Bernard Nevin, Chairman of the Formby Historical Society, gave an interesting presentation called Operation Fish at our Speaker Meeting on 28th February. The talk came to be written after a completely chance encounter outside the former Martins Bank in Liverpool. Bernard was stopped by some American tourists from a cruise ship who were looking for the Three Graces. It was agreed that Martins Bank was also an interesting building before Bernard directed the tourists to the correct location. Bernard then discovered around the corner, a plaque fixed to the wall with a grating in the pavement suggesting that the bank had been used to deposit gold during the Second World War. There were no records to be found. This set Bernard on a journey of discovery whilst researching Operation Fish. This was the top secret relocation of money and gold ingots from the UK to Canada for safekeeping during World War 2. Bernard’s presentation was followed by a lively discussion and many questions after our members had heard all about the vital importance of Martins Bank and Liverpool in the Second World War.
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