Category: Speaker Meeting

The SoFA AGM

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Voting

The SoFA AGM was attended by over 50 members on Friday 24 April at our usual venue of Christ Church Southport. Frank Hyland, Chairperson, supplied those in attendance with what SoFA has achieved during the last 12 months.

Last year, SoFA met its objectives, with a full programme of talks, events and activities. In addition, members enjoyed a great holiday in Cambridge and our well managed website and social media continued to be a useful source of information. To assist recruitment, we held two awareness days at the Atkinson to promote our Association.

Edwina at the sofa agm

During the AGM members of the committee were elected, including two new members.  Edwina received a long service award for her time as a SoFA committee member. During her time as a committee member she has worn many hats, such as Chair and Vice-Chair. Until Covid, she was a volunteer at National Trust Formby and has been our liaison contact for many years.

Thanks were given to the PCC of Christ Church and Matthew, in particular, for enabling us to meet in their church as well as to all our members for their constant support throughout 2025.

When the AGM was finished, we were provided with an update from local National Trust staff.

Gil Riley, a volunteer at Rufford Old Hall for the last 18 years, supplied us with an update as to what is happening at their gardens. He says that there is a lot of pruning going on and wants to make the gardens evolve in order that there is something new to see each season.

NT and SoFA

Emma Ritson then supplied us with an overview of the various National Trust Properties in our area. She let us know where the donation that SoFA has given them will be spent. They require a wood chipping machine. There is a lack of signage at Rufford, therefore, they would like to have six long-term garden signs put up. Metal edging is also required around two footpaths. They also have a garden plant project which will cost between £500 – £1000.  Emma thanked SoFA for the donation we supplied to them.

Then we were then given an update about National Trust Formby, this was presented to us by Laura Michelangeli. Firstly, she informed us that the donation that we had given them was spent on ‘Community Activities’. The car park at Victoria Road is now open, 80,000 tonnes of material having been removed during the project. They are in receipt of Sycamore Gap saplings, that have now been planted. She informed us that they are thrilled that they have received these.

Laura also informed us that the donation that we gave to Speke Hall was spent on wildflower seeds, which have been sown.  Once they have germinated and grown, they will be visible next to the visitor reception for all to see. She told us that the kitchen has been restored and is now open for visitors.

She was pleased to announce that The Hardmans’ House is now open every Friday and the last Saturday of each month.

Laura thanked all the SoFA members for their donations to Speke Hall and Formby Woods.

If you are interested in joining SoFA please contact us using our Contact Form.

Tales of a Customs Officer – Brian Topping

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Customs Officer
Customs Officer

In March SoFA members attended the Speaker Meeting at Christ Church, Southport which was given by Brian Topping.

Mr Topping has had a long and varied career in the Customs Office.  In the 1970’s and 1980’s he was a Customs officer in the former Department of H M Customs and Excise at Heathrow. He clarified that at that time a Customs Officer was not primarily responsible for security but for taxation for the Revenue Service.

He recounted numerous instances which involved people from many different parts of the world, for example, an Irish man who had a ‘bottle of water’ which was in fact Poitín/Poteen (an Illicit Irish spirit) which was forfeited!

Brian Topping

A Customs Officer needs to be observant, as in the case where a mother’s children were running around in the Green Channel area and she offered a key to the officer which did not open her Delsy suitcase. Eventually the case was opened and was found to contain 16 kilos of Heroin. She The woman served nine years, her accomplice was given seven years, and the mastermind received 10 years in prison.

A Customs Officer must learn how the airline industry works and to be able to read body language.  For example, if this was unusual the passenger was likely to be guilty of smuggling something in their suitcase or on their person.

Mr Topping could have given us many more examples, however instead told us he will reveal more in his next talk, Talk Two.

He was a most entertaining and enlightening speaker.

By Vikki Fahey

If you are interested in attending one of our Speaker Meetings or joining SoFA please contact us using our Contact Form.

A Brief History of Entertainment – Mervyn Saunders

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Introducing his talk, Mr Saunders noted that ‘brief’ and ‘Mervyn’ are not often associated together! Given the breadth of his subject, this is perhaps understandable. Mervyn’s history began with the restoration of King Charles 11 who allowed theatres to reopen after their closure by Oliver Cromwell. The first and most notable was the Theatre Royal on Drury Lane. Unfortunately this had to close shortly after opening because of the Plague and then the Great Fire of London. The present building, still in use, is the fourth on the site. A local connection is that Rex Harrison, born in Huyton, Liverpool starred in My Fair Lady when it opened in London at the Theatre Royal. Apart from ‘straight’ theatre, mention was made of entertainment to be found in tea gardens, inns, music halls and circuses.

Being from St Helens, Mr Saunders concluded his talk with a plea for the recognition of a fellow citizen from St Helens. George Groves was the first sound recording engineer working on the ‘Jazz Singer’ the first talking picture. Despite this and a successful Hollywood career, he is largely forgotten. This was an interesting subject and a lively presentation. Hopefully we will see a return visit by Mervyn Saunders.

If you are a not a member but are interested in any of our events or in joining our Association, please fill out Contact Form.

Article by Richard Hughes, with thanks.

The Art of Money Laundering by Mike Hilton

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I wonder if any of our members attending Mike’s talk were expecting to hear detailed information of how to carry out money laundering in a practical way? Mike having worked in a bank, had encountered some of the world of money laundering. He began his talk with details of the Brinks-Mat robbery in 1983. He described the ferocity that the gang used on the guards in the Air Cargo building where large amounts of money and diamonds were held. The gang were very surprised to find gold also in the store. This was a temporary consignment of 6000 gold bars weighing nearly 3 tons, possibly worth over 26 million.

Gold Bullion

Before making their getaway the gang loaded the gold, cash and diamonds into their only means of transport, a Ford Transit van. The robbers just managed to drive away with the van very low down on its springs. This was only the start of their problems as the gold had to be converted into other forms of cash Jewellery or disposable goods. Any large amounts of cash needed to be fed into bank accounts either into British or Foreign Banks without raising suspicion.

They had access to a jeweller who could alter the gold, melt it down, add copper to change its value. The jeweller made gold rings and other forms of jewellery so it could be sold. The cash obtained was fed through businesses, these might have been a car wash, a barbers, a nail bar, a garage selling cars or even a corner shop. They still needed to be careful not to raise suspicion by depositing large amounts of cash that the banks may consider excessive. If the banks noticed high transactions they would inform the police who would investigate the books. Present day, in the illegal drugs trade the same conditions would still apply.

Brink-Mat warehouse Heathrow Airport
Brinks-Mat warehouse at Heathrow Airport

Only a small amount of the gold has ever been recovered. It has been noted in the trade that gold jewellery bought today may well contain some of the gold from the Brinks-Mat robbery.

If you are interested in any of our events or in joining the Association please fill in our Contact Form.

With thanks to Alan Dodd for the interesting article.

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My Life in the Path Lab by Peter Gordon

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Peter has many years experience working in Pathology Laboratories and gave a light hearted talk about his ‘Life in the Path Lab’ on 26th Sept. This was a well presented, interesting and humorous talk about a serious subject. Peter largely focused on the lack of Health and Safety in the ‘good old days’ that would not be tolerated in modern Pathology Laboratories today. These laboratories focus on the analysis of body fluids, tissues, cells and blood. This aids in the diagnosis, treatment and monitoring of diseases. Peter explained how they also have an important role in preparing for Blood Transfusions. Pathology Labs play a crucial role in healthcare by providing essential diagnostic information to doctors.
There was a lot of interest in the many leaflets that Peter brought to illustrate the role of Path Labs. Judging by the animated reactions and comments, the talk was well received. We thanked Peter for beginning our 2025-2026 Speaker Meetings in style.

If you would like to attend any of our events or to join our Association please complete Contact Form.

Southport Offshore Rescue Trust by Elaine Almond

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Southport Offshore Rescue Trust

On Friday 28 March Elaine Almond, Secretary at Southport Offshore Rescue Trust attended the SoFA Speaker meeting.

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.

Elaine and Andrew

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.

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