Debra says Formby lacks character and soul.

[Trampshipman]

Debra posted in December 09 ;- `Formby lacks character and soul etc`.
Since that post was 7 months ago I think I should reply as `new thread`.

So Debra ! You think that Formby is lacking in personality and soul [to use your own words] ?
I lived in Formby from around 1935 to 1960. Of course the Formby of those days was vastly different to the one of today. It did not have a lot in the way of amenities being rather `countryfied` and was very much smaller with far less dwellings then, and having lots of picturesque cottages and fields and green open spaces, it had lots of `charm`. It also had in those days loads of `character` and `soul`. It was populated by `Formbyites` also known as `Sandgrounders` who all talked in an `up country` dialect `tha knows`, and who were all `characters` in their own right. Everyone knew their neighbors and everyone had respect for one another, and there existed a tremendous community spirit. There were well known local figures like the old hermit Billy Tasker who lived in a shack amidst the sand dunes at Formby beach, and old Jack Wright the local park keeper who we used to plague the life out of as kids. Jacks pride and joy were the mini golf links in the park which he tended lovingly. We used to run up and down over them not to do damage but just to get a `chase`. Old Jack would come thundering out of his lodge after us and if he managed to catch up with anyone he would think nothing at all of planting one of his size 10 boots up your backside. We all respected old Jack greatly ! I well remember the local events of Formby like the Flower Show at the Park, [it was affordable in those days] the agricultural shows , the gymkhanas, the military displays and parades through the village. The grand and lavish garden fetes held in the grounds of what was then the residence of the Formby family, but is now the Shorrocks Hill Country Club. The stalls etc were manned by Formbys own Scout Troup among others. Formby also had its own Boys Brigade, Girl Guides etc etc . In short, the Formby of those days despite the war was quite a vibrant place and a good place to live.
I married a `scouse` girl in 1960 and left Formby to live in `scouseland`, and it seems to me that at about that same time a mass exodus began from `Scouseland` to Formby. All the `scousers` seemed to want to live in Formby.
Now the Formby of today bears little resemblence to the Formby I remember. Long gone are the quaint cottages, the trees and the fields and the lovely green open spaces. All long since buried under new housing estates. Though more importantly, it seems that all the old `Formbyites` are also long gone, to be replaced by thousands of `Scousers`. All the old characters and events of old Formby have faded into history and the place itself has become nothing more than a suburb of Liverpool filled with `Scousers`
Now Debs, I am sure you are aware that Liverpool and its `Scousers` were known worldwide for their character and their humour. So….. if you are now of the opinion that Formby lacks character and soul and whatever, then I can only suggest that you ask all the `Scousers` who took the place over, “What have they done with those particular qualities”?
I sincerely hope that my comments will not start a war with the `Scousers`. Remember, I became one of them myself !

Regards,
Ken.

[Ged]

I love Formby. I'd live there.

[Samsette]

Hi Ken. Many Bootle families were relocated to Formby after their homes were damaged or destroyed in the air raids. I know some who went back, but I suspect a good number of them fell under the charm of old Formby and remained there. Whereabouts did you live in Formby?

[Trampshipman]

Hi Samsette,
I lived in Formby Street adjacent to the rlwy stn, and in fact my widowed Mum worked as barmaid in The Railway Hotel which is still there today. As for the `evacuees`, well yes, a Bootle family were actually placed in the house immediately next door to us. We became great friends and as I got a bit older I `went out` a few times with both daughters. [ One at a time I hasten to add ! ] That family was one that chose to stay. The parents are `passed on` now but the sons and daughters are still in Formby to this day as far as I know. I often wish I`d never left the place myself even though it is now greatly changed.

Regards,
Ken.

[brian daley]

Ken that was a very well written piece, I could picture the place you wrote of and it sounded like a rural heaven. My memories of Formby date from the early post war years,when there were still tank traps and barbed wire,
BrianD

[Trampshipman]

Ken that was a very well written piece, I could picture the place you wrote of and it sounded like a rural heaven. My memories of Formby date from the early post war years,when there were still tank traps and barbed wire,
BrianD

BrianD,
Your compliment is very much appreciated. I`ll never stop posting if I get compliments like that ! I know that us `oldies` sometimes tend to look back through `rose tinted specs`, so whilst old Formby may not have been the `absolute ultimate in the way of rural paradise`s` it certainly was a good place to `grow up` in. Wonderful atmosphere,
good people, and happy memories ! Not the same place today by a long chalk, but of course that`s just my opinion !

Regards,
Ken.

[Samsette]

Was the eldest son named Charlie? Can't remember the other lads name, but I have a feeling we are talking about the same family. I had my first "legal" pint in the Railway. In the early fifties there was a petite blond barmaid; an ex-WREN, and I often noticed my Dad pulling in his stomach and squaring his shoulders, whenever she was serving us. I revisited it in 1988 and it was all oak and brass - not at all like the old place I remembered. By the way, I lived on Rosemary Lane, whenever I was home.

[Trampshipman]

Samsette,
I used to go to school near Rosemary Lane. The primary school [now long gone] just around the corner in Chapel Lane next to the old Post Office. I always remember Rosemary Lane as being extremely quiet, can hardly remember ever seeing anyone out and about there. There was a little footpath by the bend at the bottom end which led to a couple of air raid shelters in the fields past the tennis club. We used to play on the roofs of those shelters hurling bricks across at each other just as daft kids used to do. We must have been pretty stupid I guess.
You mention the family in the house next door to us. Well the family I referred to in my previous post were not the first evacuee family to be moved in, and were not the family you mention. Though I did know the people you are referring to. They were actually the first evacuee family who were moved in next door to us. They did come from Bootle, they stayed a while, then returned to Bootle. The family name was Topping, and you were correct in thinking that the eldest son was called Charlie. The younger son was Arthur. Charlie was a nice bloke and a lot of fun, though his brother Arthur was quite the opposite. He would always sulk and moan if he couldn`t get his own way and he hated to lose at anything at all. They both used to play football with us on Formby Park, and if you managed to take the ball off Arthur he would go absolutely beserk. A bad sportsman who was certainly not a favourite with the other kids !
I was in Rosemary Lane only a few days back. I cut through there going from `the village` up to Freshfield Road. There are a few changes there but it looks much the same as it ever did, and it was certainly as quiet as ever it was. Didn`t see a single soul along there.
Have enjoyed talking to you Samsette.

Regards,
Ken.

[pennylane]

Debra 'ME' still stands by her word , Formby is a soulless characterless place , i moved here in 1996 . I lived in 25 Formby Street , an old Victorian house that needed a lot of modernising . It took us 10 months to do that house up , it was a total rip out ! I bought the house from a friend of mine , it was her grandparents house , we restored that house back to it's former glory , even bringing in specialists who renovated grade 11 listed buildings and churches , a few weeks after we moved in , we had numerous visits from council officials , saying they had had reports from people about the sand leaving a stain on the road , not the pavement the road , we got in a road tarmac firm to re-tarmac and cover the small sand stain . Then we had more , they wanted to see my planing permission , for inside and out .. We met all of their requirements ..
My daughter was born in Formby Street , in 1997 , not one person asked me what i had had , not ONE person let on to me .. Furthermore , a young Mum had passed away , she lived a few doors down , nobody said a word , a friggin year later i found out by accident ! That street is full of tuppence ha'penny toffs with dirty nets .. Don't talk to me about bleedin Formby .........

My best friend in Formby street was an elderly woman called Mrs carr , she was born there , and she told me how much it had changed , the problem with some of the scousers is this , once that removal van gets up the bypass , they have a brain transplant , and start trying to talk different , they ignore each other , like they are ashamed to say where they are from .. Well i am sorry , but that's not me , i am ME i have always been me , and i won't change for anyone .. Like i said , my friends were elderly genuine people .. I also worked for Mill Hill fathers at Herbert House on Victoria road for three years ..
Formby has no community anymore , people don't care about each other , AND they are carrying on with each others husbands .. Phoney lot all of them !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

P.S. Trampshipman , no dis respect at all is meant to you in my reply .

[Ronijayne]

Debra 'ME' still stands by her word , Formby is a soulless characterless place , i moved here in 1996 . I lived in 25 Formby Street , an old Victorian house that needed a lot of modernising . It took us 10 months to do that house up , it was a total rip out ! I bought the house from a friend of mine , it was her grandparents house , we restored that house back to it's former glory , even bringing in specialists who renovated grade 11 listed buildings and churches , a few weeks after we moved in , we had numerous visits from council officials , saying they had had reports from people about the sand leaving a stain on the road , not the pavement the road , we got in a road tarmac firm to re-tarmac and cover the small sand stain . Then we had more , they wanted to see my planing permission , for inside and out .. We met all of their requirements ..
My daughter was born in Formby Street , in 1997 , not one person asked me what i had had , not ONE person let on to me .. Furthermore , a young Mum had passed away , she lived a few doors down , nobody said a word , a friggin year later i found out by accident ! That street is full of tuppence ha'penny toffs with dirty nets .. Don't talk to me about bleedin Formby .........

My best friend in Formby street was an elderly woman called Mrs carr , she was born there , and she told me how much it had changed , the problem with some of the scousers is this , once that removal van gets up the bypass , they have a brain transplant , and start trying to talk different , they ignore each other , like they are ashamed to say where they are from .. Well i am sorry , but that's not me , i am ME i have always been me , and i won't change for anyone .. Like i said , my friends were elderly genuine people .. I also worked for Mill Hill fathers at Herbert House on Victoria road for three years ..
Formby has no community anymore , people don't care about each other , AND they are carrying on with each others husbands .. Phoney lot all of them !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

P.S. Trampshipman , no dis respect at all is meant to you in my reply .

So, living in Formby isn't going on my 'Bucket List'

[lindylou]

a few weeks after we moved in , we had numerous visits from council officials , saying they had had reports from people about the sand leaving a stain on the road , not the pavement the road , we got in a road tarmac firm to re-tarmac and cover the small sand stain . Then we had more , they wanted to see my planing permission , for inside and out .. We met all of their requirements ..
My daughter was born in Formby Street , in 1997 , not one person asked me what i had had , not ONE person let on to me .. Furthermore , a young Mum had passed away , she lived a few doors down , nobody said a word , a friggin year later i found out by accident ! That street is full of tuppence ha'penny toffs with dirty nets .. Don't talk to me about bleedin Formby .........


AND they are carrying on with each others husbands .. Phoney lot all of them !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I can quite believe all of this Debra. I can just imagine the petty fuss about the mark on the road ! ( Gawd blimey, they'd die if they had the environmental probs we have to endure in Anfield !!)
I can quite believe that no one acknowledged your new baby. I know the type of people you mean - they don't fraternise with neighbours.

I would imagine there are a few other 'posh' places like this too. although we admire some of the affluent leafy suburbs, the people don't give you the time of day.

.. and yes - half of them are carrying on behind the net curtains with each others husbands ! ha!

[Trampshipman]

Hi pennylane / Debra, [I prefer Debra],
After reading through your `anti Formby` tirade, I do have the very faintest of suspicions that you actually do not like the place ! [joke].
Debs be assured that your `post` causes me no offence at all. There`s nothing in it which could be deemed offensive anyway. You are simply telling things the way you see them, and there is no offensive content whatsoever. You have mostly referred to things in the past tense, so does this mean you no longer live in Formby ? I lived in number 20 Formby St [pretty close to yours eh ?] and was very happy there,and the name Mrs Carr seems to ring a bell but I can`t put a face to the name.
Debra the Formby I wrote about was not the Formby you describe. They are two completely different places inhabited by completely different peoples. Todays Formby is nothing more than just another suburb of Liverpool taken over almost completely it seems by `Scousers`. That is why I said to you “Ask all the `Scousers` what have they done to Formby” ? “What did they do with all that character and soul and community spirit which once existed there aplenty” ? Debs, I described a community as it WAS, whilst you are describing a community as it IS ! And yes ! I tend to agree with you !

Regards,
Ken.

[pennylane]

Hi pennylane / Debra, [I prefer Debra],
After reading through your `anti Formby` tirade, I do have the very faintest of suspicions that you actually do not like the place ! [joke].
Debs be assured that your `post` causes me no offence at all. There`s nothing in it which could be deemed offensive anyway. You are simply telling things the way you see them, and there is no offensive content whatsoever. You have mostly referred to things in the past tense, so does this mean you no longer live in Formby ? I lived in number 20 Formby St [pretty close to yours eh ?] and was very happy there,and the name Mrs Carr seems to ring a bell but I can`t put a face to the name.
Debra the Formby I wrote about was not the Formby you describe. They are two completely different places inhabited by completely different peoples. Todays Formby is nothing more than just another suburb of Liverpool taken over almost completely it seems by `Scousers`. That is why I said to you “Ask all the `Scousers` what have they done to Formby” ? “What did they do with all that character and soul and community spirit which once existed there aplenty” ? Debs, I described a community as it WAS, whilst you are describing a community as it IS ! And yes ! I tend to agree with you !

Regards,
Ken.

Thanks for understanding Ken . Best wishes ..
P.S. i left Formby three weeks ago , right now i'm in between houses , still commuting on a daily basis back and forward to Formby though , as my daughter still has her life and her friends there .

[Trampshipman]

Thanks for understanding Ken . Best wishes ..
P.S. i left Formby three weeks ago , right now i'm in between houses , still commuting on a daily basis back and forward to Formby though , as my daughter still has her life and her friends there .

Hi Pennylane,[still like Debra better !]
I used to commute FROM Formby to Southport [just a joke really !] As a young lad I had to get the train daily for about three years when I attended a Southport school. I used to get a bit browned off with that, and much preferred earlier years when I could just walk to school in Freshfield Road, and before that in Chapel Lane. Actually, even though Formby is no longer the village which I once knew, I do still tend to drive up there now and again just for old times sake I suppose. However, I must admit that when I get there I do tend to just sit in the car day dreaming about the way things were. So Debs you have left what used to be `good old Formby Street` and are presumably still `between houses`. Well Debs, I can only now wish you well, and hope that you do eventually find someplace with decent and caring neighbors.

Regards.

Ken.

[John Doh]

Debra 'ME' still stands by her word , Formby is a soulless characterless place , i moved here in 1996 . I lived in 25 Formby Street , an old Victorian house that needed a lot of modernising . It took us 10 months to do that house up , it was a total rip out ! I bought the house from a friend of mine , it was her grandparents house , we restored that house back to it's former glory , even bringing in specialists who renovated grade 11 listed buildings and churches , a few weeks after we moved in , we had numerous visits from council officials , saying they had had reports from people about the sand leaving a stain on the road , not the pavement the road , we got in a road tarmac firm to re-tarmac and cover the small sand stain . Then we had more , they wanted to see my planing permission , for inside and out .. We met all of their requirements ..
My daughter was born in Formby Street , in 1997 , not one person asked me what i had had , not ONE person let on to me .. Furthermore , a young Mum had passed away , she lived a few doors down , nobody said a word , a friggin year later i found out by accident ! That street is full of tuppence ha'penny toffs with dirty nets .. Don't talk to me about bleedin Formby .........

My best friend in Formby street was an elderly woman called Mrs carr , she was born there , and she told me how much it had changed , the problem with some of the scousers is this , once that removal van gets up the bypass , they have a brain transplant , and start trying to talk different , they ignore each other , like they are ashamed to say where they are from .. Well i am sorry , but that's not me , i am ME i have always been me , and i won't change for anyone .. Like i said , my friends were elderly genuine people .. I also worked for Mill Hill fathers at Herbert House on Victoria road for three years ..
Formby has no community anymore , people don't care about each other , AND they are carrying on with each others husbands .. Phoney lot all of them !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

P.S. Trampshipman , no dis respect at all is meant to you in my reply .

Could it be that what this is really all about is what sociologists term anomie, a condition in which people lose their values. It's not so much about the place itself, but what's expected of it by the new arrivals - scousers, yes, but those who have been seeking upward mobility who feel that this requires them to leave much of their culture behind them; but in the process they are no longer sure of who they are any more...