The community of Formby fell silent last weekend for Remembrance Day

THE COMMUNITY of Formby fell silent last weekend to remember those who lost their lives during the first world war. Formby Royal British legion was responsible for coordinating services at Formby War Memorial and the Polish War Graves in Our Lady’s Churchyard on Saturday 11th November. These were well attended.

Armistice Day saw 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.

On Sunday 12th November they also held services at Hightown War Memorial and at St. Steven’s Church with over 100 in attendance at each. A service was also held at Ince Blundell War Memorial.

In the afternoon of Remembrance Sunday in Formby, the Parade of Standards and cadets lead by Marshside Band marched from the Gild Hall to Holy Trinity Church where the main Remembrance Service was held. This involved councillors and many organisations who laid wreaths to remember those who gave their lives in service of their country. The Mayor of Sefton, Councillor Dave Robinson read the lesson, Rev. Mark Stanford Legion Chaplain conducted the service. The chior of St. Peter’s Formby sang Anthems. The Formby and Southport Legion Standards were in attenance together with Standards from the Maritime Cadets, the Army Cadets. the Polish SPK, Burma Star, RAF Association anf the Air Training Corps. The Exhoration was given by RBL President Don Morgan assisted by Maritime Cadet Millie Hutchinson.

After the service there was a parade back to the Gild Hall where refreshments were served. AS the parade passed Formby War Memorial the Mayor, Councillor Dave Robinson and Parish Councillors took the salute, (including the chairman of Formby Parish Council Bob McCann).

The Mayor of Sefton, Cllr Dave Robinson, said: “Without fail every year councillors, council officers, members of the public and our armed forces are rightfully present at the many services taking place across the borough."

“As the Mayor of Sefton I am very proud to attend them and I hope as many people as possible will attend the services held in Sefton on this very important date."

“It gives us the opportunity to spend some time to pause and reflect on the sacrifices made by our brave service men and women over the years in various conflicts.”

Cllr Bobby Brennan, Sefton Council’s Armed Forces champion, added: “All the services taking place in Sefton and across the country are very important as we remember those who lost their lives in conflict past and present."

“They give us a chance for us all to remember how we owe a huge debt to every single one of them for the peace and freedom we currently enjoy today. As we pause to remember the fallen we are mindful of our serving men and women as they carry out their duties both at home and overseas.”

FORMBY LEGION AGM The Royal British Legion Formby Branch AGM is to be held on Sunday 26th November 2017 at 2pm in the Bier House of St. Peter’s Church, Green Lane, Formby, all branch members are invited to attend this important meeting.

At the going down of the sun and in the morning WE WILL REMEMBER THEM.

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.”

Armistice Day 2017 in Formby.....

Gathering on Armistice Day at OLOC Polish War Graves

Photos by Roy Bevan

Polish War graves in Our Lady's

Remembrance Sunday in Formby 2017....

The Mayor of Sefton, takes The Salute

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