September 2007 Archives
10 years of the Plaza
Posted by Crosby Herald newsdesk on September 20, 2007 9:15 AM
FOR the next three weeks Memories will look at the history of the Plaza Community Cinema as it celebrates its tenth anniversary.
The brief account of the cinema’s ups and downs has been put together by the Plaza’s chairman of trustees, Janet Dunn.
The story begins 12 years ago with a rescue mission after information sent to the Crosby Herald said that a substantial site on Crosby Road North was coming up for redevelopment – the cinema.
The owners were approached and the community was told that was not the case; in fact the cinema was due for a £750k refurbishment.
Some months later, a passer-by saw a notice on the lamppost to say the cinema was being demolished and a new employment office taking its place.
Heartbroken at the thought of losing his favourite leisure facility, a 12-year-old schoolboy, Paul Culshaw, started a campaign to save his local cinema.
The community was equally horrified – petitions were signed and campaigns mounted against the plans.
The cinema won its first victory when Sefton Council threw out the employment office application in September 1995.
The employment services mounted an appeal, which saw the cinema campaign step up a gear, but pulled out of the deal in January 1996.
The cinema continued to operate, but closed in November 1996.
In the same month a cinema support shop was opened to keep up the momentum in the local area and raise funds with the idea of buying the building to develop it into a state of the art facility using National Lottery funding.
However the cinema was sold to a developer in January 1997.
Cinema officials were then advised to get tenders for consultants with one strongly advising them to open the premises and run it themselves.
And in 1997, the Plaza Community Cinema Charitable Trust was established to do just that.
Jan said: “By the end of May 1997, the trust had arranged an 18-month lease with an option to purchase the building at £325k.
“Within six weeks we did a business plan, loaned projection equipment valued at £40k and refurbished 200 seats with only £11k working capital but a wealth of volunteer enthusiasm and Sydney Samuelson to secure the film.”
The cinema was reopened as the Plaza Community Cinema in July to show Jurassic Park to a packed house.
See Memories next week for our second installment of the Plaza’s history.
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Model Yacht Regatta
Posted by Crosby Herald newsdesk on September 13, 2007 9:15 AM
Here's some more pictures showing the launch of a model boat made by two Waterloo brothers.
Crowds turned out to watch William and Arthur Derbyshire’s model of the Mauretania have its official launch at Coronation Park in 1951.
The Model Yacht Regatta, organised by the Shipping Exhibition and opened by the chairman, Percy Furness’ wife, was also attended by the BBC.
The slipway for the launch was made by Cammell Laird, of Birkenhead, and the ceremony was an exact replica of a shipyard launch.
The 8ft vessel, which was unveiled by the brothers at the Lathom Club in Seaforth in the run up to the regatta, was launched using an electric motor.
William and Arthur also built a scale model of the ship the Capetown Castle in the attic of their home which entered the water for the first time in the Leeds and Liverpool Canal in 1949 for her first trials.
Memories was able to speak to the brothers’ sister, Belle Leach, now living in Southport, who passed the photograph’s onto friend of the late Arthur, Moira Calvert, who was keen for them to be printed.
Belle gave an insight into living with the brothers during the height of their passion for model boat making which she said wasn’t even halted for her wedding day.
Belle said: “I remember them making the Capetown Castle, it was all lit up and beautiful.
“There was two cellars at Kinross Road and that’s where the boys had their workshop.
“Even on my wedding day there was men there looking at the models.”
Talking about the Mauretania launch, Belle added: “The Mayor was there and I can see the launch pad that went sloping down and the boat went right off – it was absolutely wonderful.
“I remember everyone that came, it was full of people looking and watching and the model was lit up – it was gorgeous.”
After the regatta, the Shipping Exhibition was held at Waterloo Secondary Modern School, in August, 1951, which formed part of events in the Crosby Festival of Britain celebrations.
It was opened by Admiral Sir Louis Hamilton and contained 116 authentic models of ships, including the Derbyshire brothers’ RMS Mauretania.
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Bowling league champions
Posted by Crosby Herald newsdesk on September 6, 2007 9:15 AM
AFTER publishing a photo of Crosby Recs Bowling Club, we have received more pictures of members winning the league in the 1950s.
The club was the forerunner to the Crosby Vets Bowling Club still going strong today in the Bootle and District Pensioners Bowling League.
Another picture shows the Crosby Vets A team in 1989 when they were league and cup winners.
The photographs take pride of place on the clubroom wall at Coronation Park and were given to Memories by secretary Dennis Hudson.
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Behind the counter
Posted by Crosby Herald newsdesk on September 6, 2007 9:15 AM
DO you recognise the shop workers on this picture?
Memories was handed the black and white snap by Crosby resident Barbara Thomas whose mother, Joyce, features on the right of the photograph.
It is believed to have been taken in the 1940s and shows Joyce with her two colleagues behind the counter at Scott’s Grocers on St John’s Road, Waterloo.
Barbara said: “Everything was a personal service back then, no supermarkets where you could serve yourself.
“If any reader knows the names of my mum’s colleagues I would like to hear from them.”
Anyone who can identify Joyce’s colleagues can post here.
You don't need to sign up, you just need an email address, which will not be published.
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This page contains an archive of all entries posted to Crosby Memories in the September 2007. They are listed from oldest to newest.
August 2007 is the previous archive.October 2007 is the next archive.
Many more can be found on the home page or by looking through the archives.
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