Tag: Ainsdale

SoFA Coffee afternoon 10th January 2026

Sixty of our members attended the first organised event of 2026 which was a tea and coffee event in Ainsdale. It was a lovely sunny day and everyone was in good spirits. St John’s Church in Ainsdale has proved a popular venue since January 2024 when we held our first coffee afternoon there. The church provides a warm and friendly atmosphere which is appreciated by SoFA members.

The change to an afternoon event has suited members who make time to focus on friendly conversations and to catch up with each other after the Festive Season. Members received details of our programme of outings and holiday for 2026 which will be described fully in our Spring Magazine out soon. The event also included a well supported raffle with an array of interesting prizes.
The Committee are investigating the use of paperless applications for trips and outings and Janice our Treasurer outlined the possibility of using Bank Transfers for trip applications.

There was an update from Laura Michelangeli, the Community Engagement Manager at National Trust Formby. Laura gave a comprehensive review on the progress of work that is being carried at Formby to remove tons of rubble from the beach, build a new car park further inland and the restoration of sand dunes. She also spoke of the 8 English Longhorn cattle who browse and graze a wide range of vegetation making them ideal for conservation grazing.

If you wish to attend any of our events or join our Society, please complete Contact Form.

Article supplied by Lois Hughes and church interior photograph by Charlie Craig, with thanks.

SoFA Lytham Hall Outing

The day before the outing it had rained solidly all day. However, on 16 December, the outing day itself was perfect, allowing 37 members of SoFA to enjoy a superb time at Lytham Hall in sparkling sunshine.

The short journey was made a little longer by the ubiquitous roadworks en route. However, Pat, our dependable driver from Don Fraser Coaches, ensured that we arrived in time for refreshments. Revitalised, we took a tour of the Hall decorated for Christmas with the theme ‘The Most Wonderful Rhyme of the Year’.

The display featured rooms containing one or more exquisitely decorated trees and scenes depicting nursery rhymes. It was impossible to choose a favourite, however, the staircase landing display was particularly spectacular.

The final display was a charming model village depicting Lytham in winter complete with ski slopes.

Members then enjoyed a silver afternoon tea. There was time to look at the Garden Centre and do some Christmas shopping then home safely in golden winter sunshine. Another enjoyable SoFA outing in friendly companionship.

Photographs of SoFA Lytham Hall outing supplied by Charlie Craig and article by Frank. Thank you both.

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

Southport Offshore Rescue Trust by Elaine Almond

News Speaker Meeting No Comments

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.

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.

Christmas Lunch 25th November 2024

Christmas Celebrations News No Comments

Storm Bert had done its worst but that did not deter 78 of our members who ventured out to the Old Links Golf Club for lunch. The room was beautifully decorated with balloons and a tree, a few Christmas jumpers also added to the Festive occasion.

I had a traditional lunch of prawns, turkey and Christmas pudding which was most enjoyable. As far as I could tell the alternative choices were equally as good. Given the number in our group and the various choices of dishes, I thought the service was excellent. Unfortunately two people who had booked were unable to attend but their lunches were boxed up and delivered to them. A nice touch I thought.

Thank you to Maggie for arranging the meal and to Jeanette and her staff for preparing and serving the food. Lastly thank you to all who attended, making it a most pleasant afternoon. On behalf of the Committee may I wish all our members a very Merry Christmas and we look forward to seeing you in the New Year.

if you would like to attend any of our events or become a member please fill out our Contact Form. Article provided by Richard Hughes, with thanks.

United Voice Show Choir 22 November 2024

Events News Speaker Meeting No Comments

On Friday 22 November, SoFA was entertained by the United Voice Show Choir, Christ Church, Southport. The choir was created by James Loynes in 2006. James’s goal was to give people from all walks of life and all levels of musical experience the opportunity to perform on stage and have a lot of fun in the process!

There were about 40 choir members, all dressed in their United Voice T-Shirts and in the second half all put on colourful Christmas headgear.

James introduced the choir to the SoFA members who were in attendance and let them know that the concerts the choir have put on included Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Home Alone, ABBA and Doctor Who.

A number of songs were performed from their ‘Top of the Pops’ concert, which took place in August. These included ‘I Feel Fine’, ‘Under the Boardwalk’, ‘Build Me Up Buttercup’ and ‘Bohemian Rhapsody. We were also given a taster of the songs that will be included in their next concert ‘Christmas Time … and Space’. Some these songs were ‘All I want for Christmas is You’, ‘Feliz Navidad’ and ‘From a Distance’, to name a few. We were also privileged to have the rarely heard song ‘Born Is The Light of the World’ performed.

The choir was energetic with their singing, with some interesting movements to make the numbers come alive.

To give the choir a short break, James sang three solos accompanied by a guitarist.

At the end of the performance James thanked SoFA for inviting the choir to sing at their Speaker Meeting. The feedback from the audience was that they thoroughly enjoyed the performance.

If anyone is interested in purchasing tickets for the ‘Christmas Time … and Space’ they can be obtained from James by calling 07581 841 450. It is being held at Greenbank High School, Birkdale on Friday 13 and Saturday 14 December 2024.

If you are not a member of the ‘Southport and Formby Association’ but would like to attend any of our events, please fill in our Contact Form.

Life in rural Nepal and the Pahar Trust by Chris Hughes

News Speaker Meeting No Comments

Chris gave a very interesting talk on Life in Rural Nepal and the Pahar Trust. Nepal is the size of England and Wales and lies north of India. Although it has the highest mountain it also has flat land in the south.

In 1990 two friends, both Warrant Officers in the Queen’s Gurkha Engineers, had come to the end of their service in the army. They were Tom Langridge and Chandra Bahadur Gurung. Tom asked Chandra what he could do to repay the wonderful friendship and hospitality that he had received from the Nepalese people and Chandra told him that his village had no school. What education Chandra had received had taken place under the tree in the middle of the village. In 1991 they built a school in Chandra’s village after Tom had raised the necessary funds. Realising that this was a really good idea as so many villages lacked schools, they set up the Pahar Trust Nepal as a registered charity in 1993.

Today the Trust continues its work and builds new schools, refurbishes old school buildings – especially earthquake damaged schools – changes old classrooms into modern nursery and library facilities, provides modern science and IT facilities, builds health posts and it is estimated that the Trust has impacted on the life of over 250,000 children.

If you are not a member but would like to attend any of our events, please fill in Contact Form.

Article by Carol Hitchmough with thanks.

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