Formby Civic Society has dates for your diary

Barry Griffiths booked for talk on motorsport in 20 and 30s

David Joy will b the guest speaker at Formby Civic Society's first date of 2016.

The talk, titled 'Liverpool's cow keepers,' will take place on February 11th at Ravenmeols community centre in Frmby.

On March 10th, Barry Griffiths will present a lecture on titled 'Sand-racing on Birkdale beach in the 1920s, and 30s.' Mr Grriffiths, a former ward councillor, is an expert on the subject and has many photographs from the period.

On April 14th, Dave Mercer will present a lecture titled 'Ainsdale Nature Reserve, the first 50 years.'

Founded in 1953, FCS has long championed the town's heritage and defended green spaces. In 1974 the society successfully opposed the development of the Freshfield Dune Heath for housing: this remains the only open land on the northern boundary of Formby and now much of it a Nature Reserve managed by Lancashire Wildlife Trust, as one of the few remaining areas of nationally rare dune heath habitat.

The society then defended the Ravenmeols dunes area, which is now a nature reserve. FCS contributed greatly to the formation of the 'trans-Pennne trail', securing a public path for walkers, cyclists (and in part for horses) along the nearest section of abandoned Cheshire Lines railway track.

In the mid 80s the society helped create the Green Lane Conservation Area. FCS members have also planted roses and shrubs across the town.

The society is also home to a huge archive of material charing the history of the town. It has documented Formby Lifeboat station, which is now thought to be the first of its kind in the world. And the society has done much to preserve and promote the life and work of artist Muriel Sibley.

In more recent years the society had digitised its archive, and then launched a new website. Tony Bonney and Reg Yorke contributed much to this process.

See the Formby Civic Society website BY CLICKING HERE

Story and photo by Southport Visiter - Tom Duffy