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Thread: Debra says Formby lacks character and soul.

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    member Trampshipman's Avatar
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    Wink Debra says Formby lacks character and soul.

    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.


  2. #2
    Re-member Ged's Avatar
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    I love Formby. I'd live there.
    www.inacityliving.piczo.com/

    Updated weekly with old and new pics.

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    Senior Member Samsette's Avatar
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    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?

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    member Trampshipman's Avatar
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    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.

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    Senior Member brian daley's Avatar
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    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

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    Senior Member Samsette's Avatar
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    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.

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    Quote Originally Posted by brian daley View Post
    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.

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    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.

  9. #9

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    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 .

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    Senior Member wsteve55's Avatar
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    Well,they say working class snobs are the worst,and what you say sounds familiar,from some people I've met, who have moved to places like Formby!

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    Came fourth...now what? Oudeis's Avatar
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    "...if you could see what I can see, when I'm cleaning windows..."

    Dang! Wrong Formby... Perhaps.

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    Senior Member wsteve55's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Oudeis View Post
    "...if you could see what I can see, when I'm cleaning windows..."

    Dang! Wrong Formby... Perhaps.
    Naah,you're probably right!

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    Liverpool New Yorker! Ronijayne's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by pennylane View Post
    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'
    Earth is the insane asylum for the universe.

  14. #14
    Senior Member Samsette's Avatar
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    Sounds awful, pennylane, and not at all like it used to be in years past. The worst that could be said back then was that too many Nosey Parkers and "Janglers" filled the place. Nobody felt neglected then, as everyone got talked about, wether they wanted or deserved it. we all were subjects of somebody's interest, at one time or another.

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    member Trampshipman's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Oudeis View Post
    "...if you could see what I can see, when I'm cleaning windows..."

    Dang! Wrong Formby... Perhaps.
    Looks like I`d best get back there. Um.....

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