Many thanks to Ian Hazlehurst for his great photograph of the Spitfire flying over Hoylake this Bank Holiday Monday for the annual Lifeboat Day. A Hoylake man himself, you might know Ian from his Hoyle Blinds shop in Banks Road, West Kirby (formerly Hazlehurst’s Linen). Not a cloud in the sky on what was quite a lovely day in west Wirral!
Many people incorrectly presumed the Red Arrows would be appearing again, however the above Spitfire gave not one but two displays during the afternoon. Lovely to see such a graceful aeroplane that played such an important role in WW2, flying over the beach. Thanks to whoever organised it!
As I felt a little under the weather during the day I didn’t manage to walk along the promenade during the afternoon. Â I did however do the prom earlier in the day and I’d say that it looked pretty busy. But I’ve heard a few people say that this year’s event didn’t seem quite as busy as previous years. I’ve no idea if that’s actually correct and in fact as it’s a ticket-less, admission free event, I wonder how the visitor count is actually recorded?
Lifeboat Day does compete with other events, notably this year the Mathew Street Festival in Liverpool and the Wirral Food Festival at Claremont Farm in Bebington. The organising team behind Hoylake Lifeboat Day therefore need to put together a strong enough line up to entice visitors to come to Hoylake instead of going elsewhere.
I thought I’d give you the opportunity to offer your thoughts on what you’d personally like to see in Hoylake on Lifeboat Day. Maybe you think the day is just right, or maybe you’ve thought that it could be even better …well here’s your chance to say so!
By the way, I haven’t been asked by the organisers for your thoughts, but I’m sure they’ll be interested to hear them. Some topics to discuss could include:
- the stalls along the promenade
- the fairground rides and simulator rides
- is the beach utilised enough – could there be more events on the beach?
- although it’s free to attend is the event expensive after paying for an attraction/refreshments?
- traffic management  – parking problems and long traffic jams can be a problem
- do local retailers in Market Street benefit from the increase in visitors
- would live music be an attraction?
- does Lifeboat Day indirectly promote Hoylake in regional media?
Those items are just off the top of my head to get you all thinking and I’m sure I’ve not even scratched the surface. Please feel free to have you say
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Over to you!
What a super picture of a beautiful aeroplane which is almost my age.
PT462 was commissioned as a single seat fighter in 1944. After the war it was given to the newly forming Italian air force, and later aquired by the Israeli air force. On retirement it was used as an exhibit in a Kibbutz kiddie’s playground until Charles Church found it and started it’s restoration. Charles Church was unfortunately killed when another of his Spitfires crashed. The Spit then moved to America.
The plane is now owned by Anthony Hodgson and flown from his farm in Wales – can you spot the dragon on the tailplane? Maybe it is the start of a Welsh airforce?
Hopefully you may see more of this historic fighter!
Postscript. 6th Sept.
On this day 70 years ago, Hitler switched his bombing attacks from the RAF airfields to London, the raid lasted from 5pm until early morning. The East End and Canary Wharfe took the brunt of the raid. Many of the fires could not be put out due to lack of water. Londoners survived the raid, got up, and continued their work. (Hmm, is there a tube strike today? good timing eh?)
I have just done the beach Lifeguarding course with the Wirral RNLI lifeguards and I thought maybe some of the lifeguarding team could do a demonstration and talk about the work that they do. It is as important to stop people from getting into danger in the first place as it is to rescue them. I heard that some of the lifeguards last year had to deal with aggressive behaviour from members of the public. Maybe if they used the lifeboat day to educate people on their role there wouldn’t be so much hostility.
Lifeguards also have to be very fit and well trained. We always get a crowd watching us when we do our training in New Brighton lake so why not make it an official thing!?