We will visit the award winning Bury Market which has plenty to offer visitors. The market dates back to the 1440’s and is renowned for its diverse mix of stalls which makes it one of the largest in the North of England. Bury also has many fine buildings, including the Fusilier Museum. Immerse yourself in the history of the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers and explore 300 years of their history. There are also the Art Museum, Sculpture Centre and Transport Museum. Bury has many cafes to offer those seeking lunch.
In the afternoon we will have a trip on the East Lancashire Railway from Bury to Rawtenstall, traversing the Lancashire countryside. We then journey back to Bury before our return to Southport.
Please note this outing will involve some walking.
The coach will pick up at Churchtown, Southport, Birkdale, Ainsdale and Formby. See SoFA Spring Magazine for details. The cost to include train ride, travel and gratuities.
If you are not a member but would like to attend any events or to join our Association, please fill in Contact Form.
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.
At our last speaker meeting of 2025 on Friday 28 November, our speaker was Barry Foster from North West Blood Bikes, Lancs. and Lakes. Barry began his talk by showing us a brief film from the 1960s, when Margaret Ryerson and her husband first set up Blood Bikes. When it was first established all the volunteers used their own motor bikes and paid for their own petrol. From there blood bike centres were set up around the country.
North West Blood Bikes (NWBB) was first set up in May 2012 by four ex police motor bikers. To become a blood biker, you need to be an advanced motorcyclist/driver. You are assessed and re-assessed on a regular basis. Safety is paramount and if the weather is very bad they have two ‘blood cars’ available.
Barry’s role includes assessing new potential members, he is also the fleet manager for all their vehicles.
They transport various items for the NHS, such as blood, plasma, frozen breast milk, different bodily fluids etc. The volunteers are expected to do two shifts per month. The various shifts are Monday – Friday 7pm – 2am; Saturday – Sunday 7am – 2am and all Bank Holidays 7am – 2am.
Currently Barry’s team have 15 bikes in the fleet. They are mainly BMWs, which are very big and heavy bikes. However, they are presently looking at smaller bikes, which are less heavy, that will allow some men and women to ride more comfortably.
They have two new BMW 1300 RT bikes, which require the livery to be applied on them. They cost between £18,000 – £19,000 each with the stickers costing an additional £400. Barry says there is nothing better than riding a brand-new bike and contributing to a great cause. When the weather is very bad, they have two automatic Kia Seeds for them to use.
Despite the bikes being covered in yellow and reflective stickers, as well as having their lights on plus the words ‘Blood’ on the front of the bike, they are still not seen by other road users. Barry kindly requested that when we see a big yellow bike in our car mirrors, that we make room for them to pass, making their imperative journey a little easier.
There are times when they meet another blood biker from a different area at a motorway service station, when samples or blood is exchanged. This allows blood etc. to be transported from one end of the country to another, at no cost whatsoever to the NHS. This saves thousands of pounds each year. Since their inception in May 2012, NWBB have completed 150,000 runs.
They have a large team, which includes controllers, bikers, car drivers, fundraisers. Without these Blood Bikers the NHS, may not at times, be able to complete the work they do.
Barry said that they have received much thanks and appreciation for the work they do, from patients, their families and NHS staff.
Many thanks to Barry who gave us a very interesting talk.
If you are interested in joining SoFA please contact us using our Contact Form.
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.
If you would like to attend one of our events or are interested in joining our Association, please complete Contact Form.
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.
if you would like to join our Association please fill out our Contact Form.
Many thanks to Frank Hyland for the article and Charlie Craig for the photographs.
We will visit the award winning Bury Market which has plenty to offer visitors. The market dates back to the 1440’s and is renowned for its diverse mix of stalls which makes it one of the largest in the North of England. Bury also has many fine buildings, including the Fusilier Museum. Immerse yourself in the history of the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers and explore 300 years of their history. There are also the Art Museum, Sculpture Centre and Transport Museum. Bury has many cafes to offer those seeking lunch.
