The Formby Blog

Pub-goers can enjoy a January Sale at The Lifeboat in Formby.

Manager Ashleigh-Jane Bauress is reducing the price on a range of drinks at the pub in Three Tuns Lane.

From Tuesday January 3 until Wednesday January 18 inclusive.

The range of drinks featured in the sale are; a real ale (Sharp's Doom Bar), a craft beer (Shipyard), one lager (Coors Light), two ciders (Strongbow Dark Fruit and Magners), three wines from Coldwater Creek (red, white and rose), three spirits; Gordon's gin, Smirnoff vodka, Bacardi rum (inclusive of a mixer), two soft drinks; SanPellegrino (Aranciata Rossa and Limonata) and Monster (Energy, Ultra and Ripper), Guinness as well as takeaway Lavazza filter coffee and tea.

The sale prices include

• a pint of Sharp's Doom Bar at £2.29,
• a pint of Coors Light at £2.49,
• a glass of Coldwater Creek wine (175ml glass) at £2.55,
• a pint of Guinness at £2.99,
• Gordon's gin (single measure with mixer) at £2.80,
• SanPellegrino at 95p
• and a takeaway cup of Lavazza filter coffee at 79p.

Ashleigh-Jane said:

Department stores and shops hold their sale in January, so it is the perfect time to have a sale in the pub too.

The range of drinks on sale in the pub is aimed at suiting a wide variety of tastes.

I believe that the January Sale will prove popular with our customers.

As always, staff at the pub will serve customers responsibly.

(Source: direct communication from Wetherspoons)

 

Merry Christmas & a Happy New Year

Greetings to all of  you who visit and follow this blog my thanks for your support.

I'm unlikely to add any new posts to the blog this side of the New Year. 

Here's an appropriate image on which to end the year and start the festive break and remind us all of the season and the story behind the celebrations.

I'll still be tweeting over the holiday season and you can follow these on this page. 

I will use the following hashtag #formbyxmas

Join in the conversation. Share your celebrations,  send your images, your stories and tales of Christmas and the New Year Holiday season.

Until next year then, au revoir.

Sean Brady 
Editor and Curator of FormbyFirst.org.uk and twitter.com/formbyvillage

NHS staff go on manoeuvres with Army Reserves

Hospital staff got a taste of military life on a team-building and leadership day at Altcar Training Camp, Formby.

Eighteen people took part with representation from the wards, radiology, A&E, dermatology, sterile services, the walk-in centres, administration, theatres and gynaecology.

The day was a mixture of interactive classroom sessions on team-building and conflict resolution. Presentations and command tasks were delivered by the commanding officer, majors, warrant officers and other personnel from 3 Medical Regiment.

It also included outdoor command tasks with the grand finale being indoor ranges where staff demonstrated their newly-acquired skills handling SA80 rifles, the military services’ current issued weapon.

The training day was organised by Kath Higgins, Head of Nursing for Planned Care, who is also a major with 207 Field Hospital at Chorley-based 3 Medical Regiment. Both are units within the Army Medical Services employing regular and reserve personnel.

She said:

“It was one of the wettest and windiest days of the year but this did nothing to quash people’s enthusiasm. We had brilliant feedback and this is sure to be the first of many such exercises.”

(The picture shows Kath Higgins, head of nursing and Army Reserves major, with hospital colleagues.)

Issued by Tony Ellis, Marketing and Communications Manager
Southport and Ormskirk Hospital NHS Trust
Telephone 01704 704494
Email tonyellis@nhs.net
Web www.southportandormskirk.nhs.uk

How building a Dalek helped my chronic pain

A father with chronic pain surprised staff and patients at Southport hospital when he toured the wards with his homemade, life-sized dalek.

Kevin Howard has been using the pain service for 14 years since he woke up one morning with pain in his shoulder. The pain intensified and numerous tests and investigations over two years failed to produce a diagnosis.

Kevin was eventually diagnosed with chronic pain, though after two years of suffering he was no longer able to work as an electrical engineer and required regular pain medication.

It was a referral to Clinical Psychology at Southport and Ormskirk Hospital NHS Trust that helped Kevin turn his life around.

“The pain is still the same, I just have a different mindset now,” said Kevin.

Because of his pain, Kevin was no longer able to play football with his son, Stewart, they set about building a life-size dalek so they could do something together.

“We call the dalek Jeremy and he’s 12 years old now. We started building him when my son was six and it helped to teach him how to use tools, it took us three months to build. We even used Jeremy as a Christmas tree one year. My wife wasn’t too happy!”

Stewart is now 18 and accompanied his Dad (and Jeremy the dalek) around the hospital to boost the spirits of patients and staff.

Kevin is also a volunteer at the pain clinic, based at Ainsdale Centre for Health and Well-Being, every Friday and with the Living Well programme. For more information on the pain clinic and Living Well, visitwww.southportandormskirk.nhs.uk and click on the Clinical Psychology section.

Issued by Kimberley Rushton, Senior Communications and Marketing Officer
Southport and Ormskirk Hospital NHS Trust

Telephone     01704 705061
Email              kimberley.rushton@nhs.net 
Web                www.southportandormskirk.nhs.uk
Twitter            @SONHSTrust

Children’s University comes to National Trust Formby

The National Trust at Formby is delighted to be registered as a Learning Destination for the Children's University

The Children's University is a nationwide initiative which aims to promote learning outside school hours. The idea is to get kids involved in various activities with their families, sparking a love of learning, whilst having fun in the process!

While the National Trust already has a number of incentives to encourage children to explore the great outdoors, such as '50 things to do before you're 11¾', it is hoped this new partnership will act as a further way to kindle an interest amongst young people in the countryside and coastline. Participants will get stamps in their 'Passport to Learning' as they complete activities.

The scheme is launching in time for the Christmas holidays, with Make a Kite, Hunt for Bugs and Woodland Bingo just some examples of what is on offer.

For more information about the activities available during your visit, please head towards the Membership trailer, open at the weekends and school holidays between 12pm -3pm. On submission of your evidence, it’s here you will also be able to collect your stamp - don’t forget to take your Passport to Learning! Please note that some activities have a charge for materials.

“We are very pleased to be working with the Children’s University to encourage young people to get out and about and discover this special place. We’ll be offering a range of hands-on fun learning activities over the coming months from bug hunting to kite flying – perfect for bringing the family together to work off that Christmas pudding whilst having fun in the great outdoors. We look forward to welcoming you soon.”
Andrew Brockbank, Countryside Manager, National Trust Formby

For more information, visit https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/formby/features/childrens-university-at-formby or www.childrensuniversity.co.uk

The National Trust is celebrating 50 years of caring for 210 hectares of land at Formby in 2017. Formby is home to a wealth of rare wildlife including red squirrels and the natterjack toad. It is one of the largest and most important sand dune systems in the UK and is enjoyed by locals and thousands of visitors every year.

The Formby coast is, however, very fragile due to the forces of nature operating here and is the fastest changing coastline in the National Trust’s care. Our aim is to work with our neighbours, partners and those who enjoy this area to care for this special place for the benefit of wildlife and current and future generations.

For more information visit https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/formby

Emma Farley
Interim PR & Communications Consultant (North)
National Trust
North Region
Goddards, 27 Tadcaster Road, York YO24 1GG

Mobile: 07901 500565
www.nationaltrust.org.uk