Tony – Page 8 – Birkdale Reunion Association

17 October 2017

We are sad to report another well-known ex-pupil, Michael Lumby, passed away unexpectedly yesterday (16 October).

After leaving school in 1963, he worked for many years at the mushroom farm in Ormskirk. He was a frequent visitor to the school at Christmas and Sports Day. Michael also attended the reunions and often provided a bag of mushrooms as a raffle prize!

Update 23.10.17: Michael’s funeral will take place at 10am on Wednesday 25 October at St Anne’s in Ormskirk followed by family only at the Crematorium. The wake will be at The Hayfield on County Road. It has been requested no flowers please but donations to Southport Centre for the Deaf will be gratefully received.

Update 07.11.17: The Ormskirk Advertiser has published an article about Michael Lumby.

12 September 2017

Several members of Southport Centre for the Deaf, some of whom are former pupils of the school, visited Southport Town Hall today for a guided tour. During the visit, the group were shown the ‘Birkdale Room’ which contained a stained glass window from the school.

This 4-foot square window was designed by about 20 pupils in 1991 and was constructed as part of a project for the Merseyside Arts Festival. It was created from a collage of the pupil’s designs centred around the school coat of arms. Help came from Ron and Ruth Cave of Cromwell Stained Glass Workshop in Southport.

After being displayed at the Market Street Hearing Care Centre, the window was unveiled at the school in honour of Principal Mrs Tomkinson who retired at Christmas 1991. It was originally installed above the main staircase leading from the entrance hall to the first-floor landing.

8 September 2017

Mike Fahey has posted on Facebook with sad news that ex-pupil Alan Wilkinson has passed away. According to our records, Alan left Birkdale in 1971. By all accounts, he was a keen sportsman and well liked by many.

Our condolences go to Christine, her family, and friends.

Update 27.09.17: Alan Wilkinson’s funeral will be on Friday 6 October at 1pm at Blackley Cemetery on Victoria Road in Manchester, M9 8JP, and afterwards at Wilton Arms Hotel, Manchester Old Road, Middleton, M24 4RF.

12 August 2017

A mini reunion took place in Manchester yesterday (11 August). Five ex-pupils met up for a chat over a pint and a meal. This was enjoyed by all. In attendance were Chris Yates, Steven Grainger, Steve Malpus, Mike Fahey and Stephen Smith.

Lads’ night out in Manchester – they never stopped talking!
[Thanks to Mike Fahey for the news and photo]

8 May 2017

Following the news the Committee agreed to hold the next Reunion in October 2018, it was confirmed today that this event will take place on Saturday 6 October 2018. It will be held once again at the Masonic Hall in Southport.

Further information will be announced in due course. In the meantime, put the date in your diaries!

6 May 2017

The Reunion Committee held a meeting last night (5 May 2017).

It was agreed the next Reunion will be held in October 2018. The date for this event is yet to be confirmed; further details will be announced as soon as they become available.

Along with Billy Lamont and Steven Brayshaw, Sue Tinsley has now also decided to step down from the Committee. Thank you to Sue for her help in making arrangements with the Masonic Hall at the last couple of Reunions.

With the departure of three of its team, the Committee is now looking for new prospective members. Anyone interested in the planning of future Reunions should get in touch via the Contact Form on this website.

Billy and Steven will remain on the Committee as observers during this transition period.

2 May 2017

After months of development, the new look Photo Gallery is finally here.

It has taken longer than expected to put it all together partly due to errors with two different photo gallery programs that were tested. They both had to be uninstalled as neither worked well and a third one, the one in use now, was added. This resulted in some information having to be re-submitted; as you can imagine, with almost 700 photos this was not an easy task. Hopefully, everything should be running fine now.

There may be some tiny glitches here and there but these will be corrected moving forward. In the coming weeks new photos will be added to the various albums now that a system is in place. If anyone has any photos they want to share, please send them to info@bshira.co.uk.

12 January 2017

We are sorry to learn former pupil Kenneth Winder has passed away. He left our school in 1982.

Kenneth was apparently found dead on Tuesday morning (10th). The cause of death has been determined to be due to bacterial meningitis with secondary complications from diabetes. His funeral will be held at 12pm on Tuesday 31 January at St Peter’s Cathedral in Lancaster.

Our thoughts go out to his family and friends at this sad time.

Updated: 25 January 2017

4 November 2016

gil-fyles It was announced on 23 October that Mr Fyles had passed away. Today his funeral took place at St Joseph’s Church in Birkdale.

The service was well attended by family, friends, members of the St Vincent de Paul Society and staff from our school. It was nice to see Miss Baron, Mrs Pattison, Mrs Pennington, Mrs Rothwell, Mr Birkby and his wife, Mr Heery and Mr Hosker present.

A committal took place after this service at Liverpool Road Cemetery followed by refreshments at Southport & Birkdale Cricket Club.

25 October 2016

In February it was reported Mr Bancroft had died. Today Mr Birkby sent in news that Mr Bancroft’s wife, Muriel, passed away last week in hospital. Some of you may remember her as Mrs Roberts; she was also a teacher at the school.