Formby fell silent to remember those who lost their lives

THE COMMUNITY of Formby fell silent last weekend to remember those who lost their lives during the First World War.

Armistice Day was held on Friday 11th November at 10:55am when there was a short act of remembrance at Formby War Memorial and a two minutes silence at 11:00am including the laying of wooden crosses, followed at 11:30am at Our Lady`s Graveyard in Formby at the Polish War Graves.

Standard Bearers at the Polish Memorial Service - Ken Ward RBL, Corporals Sean Farrell, Lewis Kadiri, Josh Conell - Photo by Roy Bevan

The Remembrance Service in Formby was at 3pm on Sunday 13th November at Holy Trinity Church, Rosemary Lane. This was attended by the Mayor of Sefton, Councillor Iain Brodie Browne. The service included the laying of wreaths and a parade from and to the Gild Hall, Church Road.

The parade formed at the Gild Hall at 2:30pm, and marched off at 2:40pm through the village to Holy Trinity Church in Rosemary Lane, after the service at approx 4pm the parade marched back through the village to the War Memorial, where the salute was taken by the Mayor of Sefton.

Formby's Royal British Legion, army cadets, air cadets and scouts also took part in the parade. The Mayor, Councillor Iain Brodie Browne took the salute as the parade marched past the Formby memorial.

A selection of poppy wreaths were placed at the base of the memorial by the Mayor of Sefton, Formby Parish Council and Sefton Council.

The video of Armistice Day and Remembrance Sunday Parade in Formby

Armistice Day and the Remembrance Day parade through Formby Village

Did you know that the Formby war memorial was almost taken away from Formby to make way for two storey car park?

Reg Yorke of Formby Civic Society said: “Formby’s war memorial situated within its own tended garden, has a lot more history to it than most people are aware of. ”In 1975 Sefton District Council together with developers intended to move it away and remove the garden as part of a redevelopment scheme for a two tier car park to accommodate 315 cars. “Opposition to this was first voiced by councillor Eric Storey and local artist Lillian Rushton who took on a battle with the developers and organised a 5000 signature petition for the war memorial to be saved. ”The council then complied an order made by the Charity Commissioners preserving the status of the site so that is can never be used for another purpose without consent of the commission. “After a two year battle the site was recognised as a charitable trust and thus the memorial and its garden were saved for posterity on its prominent site.”

Formby Legion AGM The Royal British Legion Formby Branch AGM is to be held on Sunday 27th November 2016 at 2pm in the Bier House of St.Peter`s Church, Green Lane, Formby, all branch members are invited to attend this important meeting.

Armistice Day 2016 in Formby.....

Gathering on Armistice Day at the Formby War Memorial for two minutes silence

Photo by Roy Bevan

Polish War graves in Our Lady's

Squadron Leader Jak Rolf, Officer Commanding Liverpool and Manchester Officer Cadets Wing, with Bugler Dave Culshaw and members of the Polish Community -

Photo by Roy Bevan

Reflecting their thoughts during the 2 Minutes Silence, Chief Petty Officer Andy Burton, Lieutenant Mike Grible and Squadron Leader Jak Rolfe - Photo by Roy Bevan

Deacon Paul Collins who conducted the Service at the Polish War Graves also placed crosses during the Ceremony - Photo by Roy Bevan

Robyn Tully and Harry Davies ( Both 10 ) placed a Wreath on behalf of

Trinity St Peters School - Photo by Roy Bevan

Pupils from Trinity St Peters attended the Memorial Service - Photo by Roy Bevan

Remembrance Sunday in Formby 2016....

The Marshside Band lead the Parade to the Church Remembrance Service

Photo by Roy Bevan

The Mayor supported the Sefton Reservists Unit on Remembrance Sunday

Photo by Roy Bevan

The Mayor of Sefton, Councillor Iain Brodie Browne and MP Bill Esterson along with Councillors and other VIP's take The Salute - Photo by Roy Bevan

At Altcar Training Camp, there is a 1,000 tree wood which is dedicated to all those who trained there and lost their lives in conflicts. Commandant Colonel Gordon Black laid a Wreath at the Memorial

Photo by Roy Bevan

TWO MINUTES - FORMBY

By Joan Rimmer

11th November 2002

They gave their all that we might live,

Young men in the prime of life,

The living Hell of two World Wars,

Unimagined battling strife.

Never forget their sacrifice,

If only one day each year,

When we keep two minutes silence,

Grateful for all we hold dear.

So on the dot of eleven

The bustling Village fell still,

Bowed heads remembered the fallen

In the sunshine's Autumn chill.

One minute into the silence,

A girl and a man strolled by,

Ignoring the silence around them

And those with a tear in their eye.

She was a girl in her twenties,

He was about forty-five,

Selfishly uncomprehending,

No thanks that they both were alive.

For those names on our War Memorial

All paid the ultimate cost,

Not one returned to his village,

Much more than two minutes they lost.

And whether the Somme or the Desert,

We'll never repay the debt

To those who gave us our peace time,

Which is why we must never forget.

By Joan Rimmer