News – Page 5 – Birkdale Reunion Association

22 July 2019

Yesterday former staff and pupils attended a Memorial Service for Morag Clark at Scarisbrick New Road Baptist Church in Southport. Morag’s nephew Robin Scott was also present with his wife Liz.

Led by Elizabeth Rothwell, there were a number of speeches and a slideshow which included photos of Morag in her younger years and several taken during her time at Birkdale School.

Robin recounted some of Morag’s early years with the family. Two ex-pupils, Victoria Haynes (nee Sefton) and David Walker, gave their own tributes to Miss Clark. Victoria’s father, Chris Sefton, talked about meeting Miss Clark for the first time and how reassuring she had been about his daughter attending the school.

Elizabeth gave an overview of Morag’s work at Birkdale School and around the world. So many things were learnt from this, including the moment Morag met Nelson Mandela in South Africa. Extracts from the numerous messages received from professionals in different countries were read out.

Thanks were given to the minister of the Baptist Church for allowing his church to be used for the service. Tea and coffee was served afterwards, which gave people a chance to catch-up and chat. It was nice to see among the ex-staff Mrs Janet Mulcahy (nee Morris) and her mother Mrs Morris, Mrs Margaret Dutton (nee Crowley), Miss Angela Baron, and Miss Baldwin.

Particular thanks must go to Elizabeth Rothwell for organising this lovely Memorial Service.

A condensed form of the speeches with some photos will be put online in due course for everyone to see.

3 July 2019

News has just been received that Maureen Howe (nee Walters) passed away on Tuesday. She was known by many as ‘Little Moe’. She was involved with Southport Centre for the Deaf for many years as Treasurer of the Tuesday Morning Club until her health worsened in 2014.

RIP Little Moe.

Update 17.07.19: Many people attended Maureen’s funeral at Southport Crematorium today, including about 10 members of Southport Centre for the Deaf, some of whom are ex-pupils of the school.

26 June 2019

Following the sad news of Miss Clark’s death in April, a Memorial Service for her has now been arranged for Sunday 21 July at Scarisbrick New Road Baptist Church in Southport at 2.30pm. (Postcode for Satnav users: PR8 6PU)

Please indicate here or by using our Contact Form if you are able to attend so that we have an idea of numbers.

The Hereford Times recently reported on Miss Clark’s career in deaf education.

9 April 2019

We have received the sad news Miss Morag Clark passed away this morning. She had been ill for some time. Miss Clark had celebrated her 90th birthday on 19 March.

Miss Clark started teaching at our school in 1956, and was Deputy Principal for many years. She became Principal in 1976 following Mr Furness’ retirement. When Miss Clark took early retirement in 1986, she became the Overseas Adviser to a programme for hearing-impaired children at Anadolu University in Turkey. Since then, she has run workshops and overseen similar projects in many countries, including Canada, Ecuador, Germany, Japan, Singapore, and South Africa. Read more about her life and career here.

Update 14.04.19: There will be a private family funeral at the Crematorium followed immediately by a Memorial Service open to all on Saturday, 4 May at 11.45am at Hereford Baptist Church, Commercial Road, Hereford, HR1 2BP.

The family have requested family flowers only but donations if wished can be made to DELTA. Please send either to the Funeral Directors, Dawe Brothers at 115 Westfaling Street, Hereford, HR4 0JE, or directly to DELTA at 83 Sherwin Road, Nottingham, NG7 2FB.

—

We have also learnt today that ex-pupil Andrew Carter passed away earlier this month. Andrew left our school in 1984.

—

Our thoughts go out to family and friends of both Miss Clark and Andrew.

Updated: 14.04.19 at 1.35pm

10 December 2018

We have been informed former pupil Brian Grimshaw passed away at midnight last night. He had been suffering from cancer.

Brian left our school in 1967.

Update 14.12.18: Brian’s funeral will be taking place at 12.30pm on Friday 21 December at St Francis Church in Pemberton, near Wigan. The family has asked for donations to go to Wigan & Leigh Hospice.

6 November 2018

Irene Bassett (nee Rees) has been in touch to say Brian Grimshaw had informed her that Robert Beckett died on 27 September from lung cancer. His mother had told Brian this sad news.

The In memoriam page has been updated accordingly.

18 October 2018

The Liverpool Echo reported yesterday the school could finally be transformed into a retirement village as previously mentioned here, subject to planning permission. It has now been confirmed Octopus Healthcare had their plans approved at a Sefton Council Planning Committee meeting held last night.

Place North West has more on this news.

Octopus Healthcare has issued a press release on the approval.

We mentioned last month it looked like work was underway for the new development judging by a press release made by Octopus Healthcare on their website. The drawing at the top of that page matches the plans seen at Southport Town Hall in March.

This has, understandably, led to some confusion as the article does not say where in Birkdale the development will be. It has been assumed this to be the location of the school but it looks like this may now be referring to where Sunshine House was on Oxford Road.

8 October 2018

Reunion 2018 was a great success!

Over 100 people attended the event at the Masonic Hall on Saturday 6 October. The turnout was the highest it has been for a few years. Thank you to everyone for coming and making the occasion the fun evening it was.

Thanks must be given to Julie and her team at the Masonic Hall for the buffet and for generally looking after us.

On the night it was mentioned four Committee members have stepped down. Billy Lamont and Steven Brayshaw stepped down at the last Reunion in 2016 after being involved for 20 years but have remained in the background until any new people can properly take over. Sue Tinsley left the Committee in May 2017 for family reasons and Ronnie Gilbody resigned in January this year due to health problems. Thanks were given to all of these people for all their hard work in planning and organising past Reunions.

Tony Wright asked the crowd if they wanted these events to continue in the future. By an overwhelming show of hands, it was clear the majority do! However Tony requested that if anyone is interested in helping or has any feedback/ideas they should contact him via the website.

After a short meeting between Billy, Steven and Tony later in the evening, it was announced Bob Bayley would be coming on board to assist Tony with arranging future Reunion events. Welcome to Bob!

Following the raffle, there was plenty of opportunities for everyone to chat and catch-up. What a fabulous night. Roll on 2020!

Some photos from the Reunion can be seen here.

30 September 2018

After 8 months since tickets went on sale, Reunion 2018 can be considered to be a sell-out. 109 people are due to attend this year’s event on Saturday 6 October at the Masonic Hall in Southport. Thank you to everyone who has ordered tickets – even at 9.50pm last night, which is very close to the wire!

For anyone needing address info for SATNAVs, please check the Reunions page for that.

Let’s make this event a fun, happy and memorable occasion for everyone attending. One request: if anyone takes photos, please send some in so they can be added to the website as a record of the event.

6 September 2018

Following on from news reported earlier this year, this page seems to indicate work is underway for the construction of a new £16m development on the site of our old school, judging by artwork seen at the top of that page.

According to the article, the new development will provide accommodation for over 100 people and will feature a 74-bed village, divided into six households, providing 24-hour care and nursing support. In addition, the village will offer 30 one and two bedroom independent living apartments, together with a range of facilities open to the public, including a bistro, hair salon, exercise studio and function rooms.

If this is relating to Octopus Healthcare’s proposals for the school, it may take time for construction work to actually begin as there is no visible activity on site at the moment.

UPDATE 18.10.18
It would appear the description given on Octopus Healthcare’s website may be referring to development taking place on Oxford Road where Sunshine House used to be.

Signage seen there refers to care village operator Belong and construction company Pochin who are both mentioned in the article.