Heatons Bridge Classic Car Meet

THE Heatons Bridge Classic Car Meet was held on:- Sunday, 27 July 2025, on the field behind the Heatons Bridge Inn, next to Leeds/Liverpool Canal, in Scarisbrick.

The event was well attended, with 55 cars turn up. Sadly, our Editor, Patrick did not get to the event in time to see all the vehicles taking part, but what he did see where some very nice classics. As a result, Alex Charlampowicz has kindly sent us a few extra photos he took on his mobile at the event to boost our photographic coverage up.

Stephen Mangham, who started this event told us that:- "The next meet will be held on:- 10 August 2025, at:- 10am until 2pm. You are welcome to officially join the club if you would like, however it is not strictly required. If you would like to join here’s the link to the event's Facebook Page. The event is free to attend, both to watch and to take part, but there will be a collection tin for Macmillan Cancer Support for those of you who would like to donate. Also, the pub will be open for drinks all day, with a good selection of alcoholic drinks for the passengers and non-alcoholic drinks for drivers... If exhibiting a car or a van, please enter using the car park to the left of the pub as this gives you access to the field."

If you attended, please let us know what you thought of the event by emailing our Newsroom at:- News24@SouthportReporter.Com, alternatively please send us a message on:- Mastodon, Facebook, or Twitter.

Commemorating 120th Anniversary of Blundellsands rail crash

Copyright Sefton Council 2023

SEFTON Council's Library Service has lead efforts to commemorate the 120th Anniversary of 1 of the country's worst rail crashes, which occurred near Blundellsands, on:- Thursday, 27 July 1905. The tragic incident, known as the Hall Road Rail Disaster, claimed the lives of:- 21 people and injured:- 47 others.

On that fateful day, the:- 16:30 Express Train from:- Liverpool to Southport collided with an empty, stationary train on a siding as it approached Blundellsands' Hall Road Station. According to the official report, a points failure led the express to be diverted into the siding, where the empty local train had been shunted to allow the express to pass.

20 passengers in the 1st coach of the express were killed instantly, with another passenger, Henry Potter, succumbing to his injuries 3 months later, bringing the total fatalities to 21. Remarkably, both drivers survived, having managed to jump clear before the impact.

Sefton Libraries have created a new poster, shown on this page, which details the crash, including photographs of the aftermath, and information about those who tragically lost their lives.

To mark the significant Anniversary, a ceremony was held at:- Hall Road Station, in Crosby, on:- Sunday, 27 July 2025. At the event, the Lord Lieutenant of Merseyside, Mr. Mark Blundell, unveiled a commemorative plaque, on the Liverpool Bound side of the Station. Invited guests included:- Sefton Central MP Bill Esterson, Cllr June Burns (Mayor of Sefton), Council Leader Marion Atkinson, Bernard Nevins of the Crosby and District Historical Society, and local historian Peter McGoldrick. They and the members of the public who also cane to watch where welcomed by both Merseyrail's Laura Turnbull and Station Manager Paul Draper.

Councillor Diane Roscoe, Blundellsands Ward Councillor and Sefton Council cabinet member, emphasized the importance of the memorial. "Although now forgotten by many, this was a terrible accident 120 years ago, and I'm pleased the Council has been able to work with local historians and Merseyrail to put this permanent memorial in place to remember those so sadly killed on that fateful day," she stated.

The Hall Road Rail Disaster was not the 1st, nor the last, rail incident in the immediate area. Just 2 years prior, in 1903, a train crash at Waterloo station resulted in eight fatalities. Furthermore, Hall Road station itself was the scene of another train crash on:- Monday, 9 October 1961, under very similar circumstances. Fortunately, no lives were lost in that later incident, though over 40 people sustained injuries.

Copyright Sefton Council 2023