Read our Tracking & Cookie Usage Policy

Your online newspaper.   Your words.

Issue:- 18 August 2011

Formby’s Free Family Fun Day
Photos and report by C Trollope

YES, it was really a "FREE" Family Fun Day for the 4th year running, with local people helped by local businesses giving free food and time under the guidance of the Formby Churches Together. There were no donations requests, no collecting tins nor charges on Saturday, 13 August 2011. The event was a gift from the Churches Together, to the Formby community.

The event started from mid-day, but the helpers had begun setting up at 7am, so it was a very long day for them. Many young children, especially those under 12 years old, with adults and teenagers in turned took part in the activities on Duke Street Park.

There was an abundance of things to do, from riding on go-karts to face-painting, train rides to making a dragon, through to exploring a Rwanda child headed family’s house, not forgetting a chance to painting a car, plus lots and lots more games, crafts and activities. There were at least 30 stalls! Waitrose donated the food for the free Barbecue, and we are told that they had to replenished it at least twice, due to its popularalrity. Marks and Spencer ran a free Fruit and Cream stall, with Catterall Motors supplying the car for painting; the Travelling People Band gave some of the entertainment, as did the St Luke’s Puppets. Even Zumba Dancing had a workshops for adults and younger people on the park. For the under 5’s, Pine Pixies had games for them.

This event had the largest attendance of the four years it has run so far, thanks in part to a very warm and dry day. Everyone who took part told us that:- “We are now looking forward to next year’s one! This and the Christmas performance and the Good Friday walk are highlights for the local community, which we look forward to.” What a lovely contrast to the depressing scenes of the greed and violence of a minority in some of the cities of late and far more representative of our true values. Parents, Grandparents and Children were reluctant to leave when it all finished at 4pm, so very heart-felt thanks was expressed by everyone who attended for the efforts put in by all involved.

Not to be forgotten are Holy Trinity CofE, Our Lady of Compassion RC, Formby United Reform Church, St Peter CofE, St Ann RC, St Stephen CofE, St Luke CofE, St Jerome RC, St Michael CofE, Formby Christian Fellowship and Formby Methodist, who each provided funding, donations and volunteers. Also highlighted are the efforts of Franky the Clown, Range and Formby High Schools, Select Office Services, Spar, Harington Road, and Messy Church, as well as St John Ambulance’s (Formby), without them the event could not have been held. Sorry if we missed any off!

Click on here to see our Formby’s Free Family Fun Day Photographic Report..

	Audio Copy - Experimental Option... Click here to hear this weeks edition in audio format. Also please do let us know what you think about it.
Manx Direct 08447 402038 2 Years Parts & Labour Worranty