Driftwood

There have been a few pieces of driftwood washed ashore in the last week but the one pictured (taken on my mobile – the day wasn’t actually that grey) above takes the award for biggest piece ever! Actually, I think Hoylake RNLI pulled this big branch ashore.

Cafe Closure

I happened to notice a bailiffs notice earlier today in the window of the Somethings Brewing tea room in The Row. The notice was dated 31st Jan but I don’t know if the cafe was open last week or not.

Hoylake Community Centre – Manager Vacancy

Following the news that Hoylake Community Centre will be managed by a charitable company named Hoylake Parade Ltd a vacancy has arisen. The centre now requires a Centre Development Manager and using the reference HOY/14514 you can read more about the position starting here. Best of luck if you apply!

Power Cable

I’ve read a couple of reports about the high-voltage power cable proposals, stating the cable will come ashore at Hoylake. It seems that the proposed cable will actually come ashore at Leasowe. More information about power cable proposals at the BBC. Any thoughts on this?

PC Tommy Simmons

Leo Simmons (in British Columbia, Canada) would like hear from anyone who recalls his father PC Tommy Simmons who was a policeman in Hoylake and West Kirby as well as Moreton between 1968 and approximately 1981. Leo hopes that some of you might have stories relating to his father (who is rather unwell at the moment). Leave a comment below or email your memories (good or indifferent!) to HoylakeJunction and I’ll forward them on to Leo.

St John’s Meols Centenary

I’ll soon be updating this Meols site to include various items and photos related to the forthcoming centenary for St John’s Church in 2013. As the church at one time managed the old Meols School in School Lane, I’ll be including the photos that I’ve already published here. Great Meols Primary will also be having input to the project with St John’s and are interested in the history of the old school.

Planting

Behind the telephone exchange in Queens Park a hedge row/trees have been planted – anyone know any more? It’s probably a hedge I guess.

Pot Holes

If you’ve spotted, ridden or driven over any big pot holes then did you know that you can report them? There are a couple of sites including Fill That Hole that let you report offending pot holes – you never know, it might even get filled in!

Do you recognize this rather smart couple?

You would usually see Jan Foster working on Market Street with other members of the Hoylake and Meols In Bloom team up to her neck in the flower tubs, covered in compost!

This year Jan was nominated for an invitation to a garden party at Buckingham Palace in recognition for her work providing flowers in the village and parks in Hoylake and Meols.

Jan who was thrilled to receive the invitation says:

It is a huge honour and pleasure to know that the people of Hoylake and Meols enjoy seeing the flowers as much as we enjoy doing them. I only wish I could have taken all the volunteers.

Jan’s husband, Mike, joined her last Thursday in London.

Contrary to popular belief, Hoylake and Meols In Bloom is not funded by any public money. They have to raise all the money themselves. If you enjoy the flowers and want to see them continue you can help by becoming a member. It only costs £5 a year for an individual or £7 for a family. If you are interested please send your details either by email to hoylakeinbloom@hotmail.co.uk or write to Anne Lindley 15 Hoyle Rd ,Hoylake and they’ll send you a simple form. If you wish to become a volunteer please contact Jan on 07725 540049.

I seem to be chasing my tail this week (as well as drowning in email) so apologies for the lateness of the mention for the first item!

Model Weekend – 17th-18th July

This weekend a Model Extravaganza is taking place at Hoylake Community Centre. Here’s some of things to see:

• Hornby Layouts in ‘O’ gauge, Hornby ‘oo’ gauge (in both three and two rail)
• Collection of Hornby model boats
• Meccano Working models
• Model boats, both on static display and sailing on the model boating lake
• Dealer’s trade stalls
• Mersey Class ‘All Weather Lifeboat’ on display at RNLI station

Saturday 10am-5pm. Sunday 10am-4pm. Adults £3. Children £1. Proceeds go to the 1810 Memorial Fund. See here and here for more information.

Diving With Sharks

Brave chap that he is, Hoylake Village Life founder member Mark Howard is undertaking a sponsored shark dive. For further details visit this page.

Recycling Bins

I’ve not seen them myself yet, but I gather that there are new recycling bins outside Hoylake Library. Wirral Council have installed 23 more recycling bins around Wirral and Hoylake along with West Kirby have received them. You can recycle empty drinks cans, drinks bottles, newspapers and magazines.

Old Lifeboat Station

You’ve probably read in the local newspapers that the proposed sale of Hoylake’s old lifeboat station has been rescinded by Council members. There is a local campaign of course that aims to convert the empty building into a lifeboat museum and there is now a period of time available for a firm proposal to be put forward. I’ll attempt to gather further information and publish a separate item soon.

The Big Lunch

It’s the Big Lunch again this Sunday and I’ve seen posters in a few house windows for a couple of local events. If you visit that official site and use the map, you’ll see the registered Hoylake lunches. Hope the weather is fine for you if you having a Big Lunch!

Esther McVey Maiden Speech

Want to know what your Wirral West MP, Esther McVey had to say in her maiden speech? Click this link to find out.

Many thanks to Dave Cowderoy for sending me this 1970 press cutting about a fire at the old Hough’s Timber yard. You’ll recall that we had a good discussion about Hough’s in this post.

And by chance, yesterday I received this photo taken by Syd Bird of old houses in Hazel Road (off Chapel Road). The houses were demolished to make way for the Hoose Court buildings but you can see Hough’s yard behind them and to the left you can make out the old Hoylake YMCA.