We are currently organising a number of events for the rest of the year. Please keep checking back for updated information:
We are currently organising a number of events for the rest of the year. Please keep checking back for updated information:
The Friends of St Annes Library (FOSAL) is a voluntary organisation, founded in 2008. It aims to support and promote St Annes’ library through various activities. As such, it works in close co-operation with the library staff but functions independently of the library service, with its own constitution, funds and objectives.
Our initial goal was to create a reading garden in the library’s grounds. Three years later this idea blossomed into a beautiful garden and in May 2011, the Reading With a View Garden was officially opened. Since then the Friends have maintained the garden and have organised many events over the years – garden parties, cake sales, murder mystery events, quiz nights, talks, bingo, knitting groups, gardening groups and more – which has enabled us to fund various projects in the Library, purchase important pieces of equipment and much more.
We really need more volunteers to come forward and help us out. Please do consider joining us and assisting at our events. Membership is only £5 pa. A membership form is available here.
Please email info@fosal.org.uk for any further information.
When: Friday 27 September 2024 at 7.00 pm
Where: St Annes Library
We are hosting one of our popular Murder Mystery events in September. Once again, you will have the opportunity to join The Windmill Players Murder Mystery Company for their new production, Death at Meadowbrook Farm.
Harvest Haven – a sleepy little village with just a few houses, a pub, a farm and a spa hotel. So what will happen when plans are afoot to make big changes? The villagers are not happy, and emotions are about to erupt. What will become of Meadowbrook Farm – and who will DIE???
Tickets £7, members of the Friends of St.Annes Library £6.
To book email the Friends info@fosal.org.uk or see a committee member (at the library every Friday 10am to 12pm).
Please feel free to download and display the poster below.
We are holding our Annual General Meeting in the Library on Thursday 13 June at 7.30 pm.
The meeting will be very short (click here for an Agenda), and will be followed by refreshments and a talk by Karl Dawson on the fascinating history of Ditchburn Equipment Ltd of Lytham St Anne’s. Ditchburn was one of the first manufacturers of jukeboxes in the UK. Karl will cover the history of the company and the stories of the people that made it all happen, as well as the importance of the Ditchburn jukeboxes in British teen culture of the fifties and sixties.
As a taster you might like to watch an episode of Antiques Road Trip, which includes a visit to the Ditchburn Museum and a short interview with Karl. Please click here – the Ditchburn item starts 11.20 minutes in.
Please do come along and support the Friends and your Library. There will also be an opportunity to renew your Friends membership which still remains at £5 for the year.
The minutes of our 2023 AGM can be viewed/printed here together with the Chair’s and Treasurer’s reports.
By popular request our Bingo evening is back! Thursday, 21 March at 7.30 in St Annes Library.
Tickets are £6 (£5 for FOSAL members) for three games. Additional game cards can be purchased for £1. Families are welcome.
Tickets are on sale in the Library or pay on the door. Please try to purchase your tickets in advance to make it easier for the Friends to accommodate numbers. Thank you.
Our beautiful mosaic sculpture ‘Birdsworth’ has been stolen from the Library Garden. The theft took place over the New Year (2024). Please keep a look out for it. It has been reported to the police Crime ref LANC SPE-117631.
‘Birdsworth’ was part of the It’s a Birdie! project, organised by The Arts Society Fylde, to celebrate the 2012 Open Golf competition that was taking place in the town. The Society organised birdy workshops in the Library, together with mosaicist Patricia Lee. Nearly 80 perspex birdies were created at the workshops. All ages took part, ranging from toddlers to grandparents. Working together with The Arts Society Fylde, Patrica Lee took away all the ideas behind these 80 birds, in order to decide on a winning design that would be the basis of her sculpture for the Library Garden.
The winning bird was ‘Birdsworth’, a literary bird, which was transformed into a beautiful mosaic and fused glass permanent piece of art. Patricia gave him a bit of a Wordsworth look with the hair and collar! He boasts a host of golden daffodils on his breast – individually made from fused glass. His beak is golden and his wings are red and gold; his back and head are a sky blue. Well known quotes are incorporated on the wings, encapsulated in yellow fused glass.
Birdsworth was unveiled at our Garden Party on 21 July 2012.
Both the Library staff, FOSAL and The Arts Society Fylde are heartbroken that Birdsworth has disappeared; he has been such a colourful feature of the garden for many years, loved by children and adults alike.
Come and join us join us for a festive Christmas Quiz in the Library!
Tickets are now on sale in the Library or you can pay on the door (cash only please). The cost is £6 per person (£5 for members), which includes refreshments and mince pies.
Hope to see you there!
When: 29 September 2023 at 7.00 pm
Where: St Annes Lbrary
We are hosting one of our popular Murder Mystery events in September. Once again, you will have the opportunity to join The Windmill Players Murder Mystery Company for their new production, What’s in Store? Maybe . . . . Murder!
The setting is a department store, Shentons, slightly down–at–heel and old–fashioned, but still with a good reputation. However, nowadays there aren’t as many customers as there used to be, and the Directors have even suggested moving online. Unfortunately, this brings out the worst in the staff; secrets are revealed, tempers are lost – and someone ends up dead! Can you solve the mystery?
Tickets are £7 per person (or £6 for FOSAL members) and are on sale in the Library (cash only please) or on the door.
We are currently organising a Library Garden Party to be held on Saturday 2 September, 10-30 am – 3.30 pm. This event is to raise funds for the repair and maintenance of the library garden.
There will be plenty of activities for the whole family. St Anne’s in Bloom will be organising a plant swap, as well as children’s activities – filling lavender bags and making bird feeders with pine cones and fat. There will be a flower quiz, stalls for cakes, second hand books and much more.
Please spread the word. We hope to see you there!
A talk by Mick Downer. Ninety-three years ago, in July 1930, six youths, who were on a camping holiday from St Aiden’s Nautical School for Roman Catholic Boys, drowned in St Annes. At the time the Lytham St Annes Express headline said, “Six youths drowned at St Annes: camping holiday ends in terrible disaster”. Speaker Mick Downer describes the event as, “Possibly one of the worst beach drowning incidents in the UK.”
The talk will be followed by refreshments, after which a representative from the RNLI will provide an historical perspective on the event and discuss safety issues which were different back in the thirties.
Tickets costs £5 pp or £4 pp for FOSAL members – on sale at the Library or pay on the door.
Fiona Boismaison, Chair of St Annes in Bloom, will give a talk – How Green is Your Garden. Come along and get some gardening tips from an expert! The talk will last about 35 minutes and will be followed by a Q&A session.
Tickets costs £5 pp or £4 pp for FOSAL members (includes refreshments) – on sale in the library or pay on the door.
Trouble At’ Mill describe themselves as a band from ‘Deepest Lancashire’. They sing Lancashire and Irish songs, which, are interspersed with a few gags and funny stories.
Further information will be made available soon.
We held our Annual General Meeting on 27 April 2023. The following members were re-elected/volunteered for the FOSAL Committee:
Chair: Barbara Mackenzie
Secretary: Vacant
Minutes Secretary: Pam Foster
Treasurer: Allan Foster
Membership Secretary: Olga Depledge
Anne Fielding: Garden/Knitting
Annette Ford
Meg Greenfield
Rowland Taylor
Roy Winter
Library representative: Aileen Smedley
If you would like to join the committee or have any ideas for future events please do get in touch – our email address is info@fosal.org.uk.
The AGM was followed by a talk by Alan Ridgway, former Front of House Manager and volunteers coordinator at Lowther Pavilion, who spoke about growing up in the world of entertainment as a professional child actor from the age of 12. His journey over five years introduced us to many famous names and aspects of the profession.
We are holding our Annual General Meeting in the Library on Thursday 27 April at 7.30 pm.
The meeting will be very short (click here for an Agenda), and will be followed by refreshments and a talk by Alan Ridgway, Growing up under the spotlights age 12+. Alan’s talk will cover his time in the original cast of Oliver to being in the very first National Theatre Company under Olivier. He has worked with Ron Moody, Sarah Miles, Dame Maggie Smith, Peter O`Toole, Lord Olivier, Sir Derek Jacobi, Sir Ian McKellen and the one and only Judy Garland to name but a few. The talk takes in the ups and downs of a child actor – good and bad
Please do come along and support the Friends and your Library. We are planning a social calendar of events for 2023-24 and your help would be greatly appreciated. There will also be an opportunity to renew your Friends membership which still remains at £5 for the year.
The minutes of our 2022 AGM can be viewed/printed here alongside our Chair’s and Treasurer’s reports and Accounts.
Our first social event of 2023 is a talk on when the railway first came to Lytham St Annes, by Roy Winter. We’re sure that this will be of interest to a wide audience – local history enthusiasts, as well as rail buffs! Discover how the construction of the railway lines in the 19th century not only opened up St Annes and Lytham to visitors, but also ensured that Fylde businessman could easily get to Manchester.
Tickets cost £5.00 pp or £4.00 for FOSAL members (includes refreshments) – pay on door.
The Knit Together group have been busy creating colourful decorations for the Library. The festive items include lanterns, angels, Father Christmases, bells, candles and much more, providing a lovely seasonal display.
The knitting group meets every two weeks, on Fridays, in St Annes Library, 10.00 am – 12.00 pm. Both experienced and novice knitters are welcome.
As well as doing their own knitting, members of the group also undertake various charitable projects. These have included knitting soft woollen toys for children who are victims of war, HIV babies, orphans and those who suffer from plain want.
Knit Together members with their decorations
Library Manager Aileen Smedley admiring the deorations
Thursday 8 December 2022 at 7.30 pm
Forget about shopping, writing cards, etc and join us for a fun Christmas Quiz in the Library!
Tickets are now on sale in the Library or you can pay on the door. The cost is £5 per person which includes refreshments and mince pies.
If you can display a copy of the poster above then please download it here. Thank you!
Hope to see you there!
The Final Assembly – A Deadly Reunion
Ah, schooldays! The happiest days of your life! Not for everyone, though. Even many years later, there can be lingering bitterness, simmering resentment, scores not yet settled. Then you receive an invitation to a school reunion, an ideal opportunity to see what your past schoolmates have been up to in the intervening years – though you may not even recognise some of them!
And for one old school friend, it’s an opportunity – for murder!
Join The Windmill Players Murder Mystery Company for their new production, The Final Assembly – A Deadly Reunion, and test your powers of deduction!
Tickets are now on sale in the Library – or pay on the door (£5 pp or £4 pp for FOSAL members; includes refreshments).
Our popular Bingo evening is back! Thursday, 7 July at 7.30 in St Annes Library.
Tickets are £5 (£4 for FOSAL members) for three games. Additional game cards can be purchased for £1.
Tickets are on sale in the Library now – or pay on the door on the night.
Thanks to all who contributed to our Jubilee Garden Party on Saturday 28 May – the library staff, FOSAL volunteers and friends, and the families and people who came along and joined in the fun. All agreed that it was lovely to be able to hold a ‘proper’ event again after the limitations of the last two – three years.
Click on the photos below to see everyone enjoying themselves in the Library Garden.
The Library has organised a Jubilee Garden Party for Saturday 28 May, 10.00-12.00. There will be face painting; crown and badge making; raffle and bran tub; plant and book sales; ice cream and refreshments; treasure hunt; music; games; and lots more, including an opportunity to take a selfie with the Queen!
The Friends will be helping out; any prizes for the raffle would be greatly appreciated. There will also be a plant stall – if you have any cuttings or spare plants please think about donating them.
Please do come along for what promises to be a fun event for all ages.
For photos this event please click here
The Knit Together group has ‘yarn bombed’ St Annes Station! The knitters have created some fabulous nautical creatures which went on display at the station to mark the beginning of Community Rail Week.
From left Dorothy, Anne, Joan, Marjorie, Meg, Marie and Norma.
The Knit Together group meets in St Annes Library on the first and third Fridays of the month.
A big thank you to the handful of volunteers who came along to help plant geraniums in the Library Garden. We can look forward to a colourful display in a few weeks time.
Aileen Smedley, Library Manager (centre) helps out Pam Foster FOSAL secretary (left) and Anne Fielding garden volunteer
Our Garden Gang meets weekly on Tuesdays 2.00 pm – 3.00 pm (unless it’s pouring!) – all equipment is provided.
Apart from the mowing of the grass, which is undertaken by the local authority, the Friends of St Annes Library look after the garden themselves – planting, weeding, pruning, general maintenance, etc. – so the more help the better. If you have any queries please contact Anne Fielding 01253 711123.
Please note that this event was postponed from Wednesday 4 May due to the weather. It will now take place on Friday 6 May.
As part of National Gardening Week, we are holding a Gardening Morning. Come along and meet the Friends of St.Annes Library and find out about joining the group. Help make the garden look more colourful by getting involved with geranium planting.
Refreshments will be available. There’s no need to book, just turn up!
St.Annes Library has been offered the chance to take part in a fantastic opportunity. We are having a visit from The Jubilation Project on Thursday 12 May, 10am to 3pm. We are the only library in Lancashire that will be visited.
“The Jubilation Project will work with libraries from across the North West of England to create a ‘book of Jubilation‘, celebrating jubilant events that have taken place throughout the reign of HM Queen Elizabeth II. Artist Thomas Byrne will be setting up the Jubilation Station within St Annes Library to speak to members of the community and to record their jubilant memories.” Details can be found on the website at The Jubilation Project
As part of the visit Thomas Byrne is offering the opportunity of a one hour workshop at 11am to work with him to share your celebration stories. The Library is offering the Friends of St.Annes library the first chance to book a place on the workshop. Click here for more information on the artist’s original concept document for more general guidance.
The Jubilation Station will be in place all day if you’d prefer to just call in. We hope to see you there!
Children and adults spent time on Saturday 3 April 2022 decorating bird boxes donated by the Friends of St Annes Library (FOSAL). The Friends were also on hand to help out with refreshments. Thanks to all who turned up and especially to those who made donations.
We’re delighted to announce that we shall be holding our first Annual General Meeting since before Covid. It will be held in the Library on Thursday 21 April at 7.30 pm.
The meeting will be very short and will be followed by refreshments and a talk, A Brief Tour of St Anne’s Without Leaving Your Chair, by Tony Ford, which will provide a virtual tour on the history of our town.
Please do come along and support the Friends and your Library. We hope to be able to offer a social calendar of events very soon and your help would be greatly appreciated.
You can download/print the Agenda and Minutes of the last AGM by clicking here: Agenda; Minutes of the last AGM
We look forward to seeing you on 21 April.
Aileen receiving her Manager of the Year Award at the Lancashire County Council Staff Excellence Awards
St Annes Library Officer, Aileen Smedley, has won the Manager of the Year Award at the Lancashire County Council Staff Excellence Awards, which were held on 25 November 2021, at the Crow Wood Hotel in Burnley.
LCC said: “With this award we were looking for managers who motivated and inspired their team. Our finalists all demonstrated a forward thinking approach and a commitment to continuous improvement.”
The Friends of St Annes Library would like to offer their congratulations to Aileen and to thank her for her ongoing support and encouragement.
Winner: Aileen Smedley – Library Officer, Cultural Services
The Friends held their first Committee Meeting in the Library at the beginning of November 2021 – our first since just before the Covid pandemic. Although we are still limited in organising some social events, we’re delighted that we can organise other safe events such as a Christmas Quiz evening – please keep checking our website for further information.
Meanwhile, the Garden Gang have been back meeting for a couple of months or so now. They meet in the Library Garden on Tuesday afternoons between 2.00 pm – 3.00 pm. We’d be delighted to welcome any new volunteers, especially at the moment with so many leaved to clear!
Our Knit Together group is also up and running again. Both experienced and novice knitters are welcome. Social distancing is observed and, currently, no drinks will be provided. Further information about the group is available here.
We’re delighted to announce that our Knit Together group will be up and running again from Friday 15 October 2021, 10.00 am – 12.00 pm. Both experienced and novice knitters are welcome.
Social distancing will be observed and, currently, no drinks will be provided.
Further information about the group is available here.
We are delighted to announce that we are able to start up our Library gardening sessions again. As from next week (17 August 2021) the Garden Gang will meet weekly on Tuesdays 2.00 pm – 3.00 pm (unless it’s pouring!) – all equipment will be provided.
Apart from the mowing of the grass, which is undertaken by the local authority, the Friends of St Annes Library look after the garden themselves – planting, weeding, pruning, general maintenance, etc. – so the more help the better. If you have any queries please contact Anne Fielding 01253 711123.
All volunteers are welcome. We hope to see you there.
The Friends Cake and Bake Sale on Saturday morning, 29 February, raised over £100 for the Library. As you can see from the photograph we had a lovely selection of different types of large cakes, cup cakes, scones, buns, tiffin, etc.
A huge thank you to all of our bakers and to those of you who came along and bought cakes to either enjoy with a cuppa in the Library or to take home.
We hope to see you again soon at our next event – Bingo Night on Thursday 19 March 2020 at 7.30pm.
We are selling postcards of a water colour painting of St Annes Library. These beautiful cards are only 50 pence each and are currently on sale in the Library.
All proceeds go towards supporting the Library
In January 2020 the Lytham St Annes Embroiderers’ Guild presented St Annes Children’s Library with a beautiful embroidery of popular book character Elmer the elephant.
There were a number of after school Elmer activities and stories. Anne Fielding (right) from FOSAL helped with the event.
When: Saturday 29 February 2020 at 10.30 am – 12.00 pm
Where: St Anne’s Library
Our popular coffee morning and bake sale is back! Please come along, have a chat and a coffee, and buy some delicious confectionary.
Can you bake? If so would you please be willing to donate some buns, scones, tray bakes, Victoria sponges – any sort of cake – to our event. All proceeds will go to helping St Annes Library and maintaining the Library Garden.
If you can display a copy of the poster below then please download it here. Thank you!
Date: Thursday 19 March 2020 at 7.30pm
Venue: St Annes Library
Cost: £5 (£4 for FOSAL members)
Come along and try your luck at a fun Bingo evening in the Library. Tickets are £5 (£4 for FOSAL members), which will give you three games. Additional cards will be available to purchase at £1 each. Refreshments will be available.
Tickets can be purchased in the library. A poster is available to download, please print and display it, and help make this event a huge success.
The Friends of StAnnes Library (FoSAL) would like to wish all our members and supporters a very Merry Christmas, and a Happy and healthy 2020.
If you haven’t visited the Library lately do pop in and see the festive decorations made by the KNIT Together group. There’s a lovely crib and an amazing Twelve Days of Christmas. Our KNIT Together group meets twice a month – both novice and experienced knitters are welcome. Click here for further information.
When: Wednesday, 11 December 2019, 10:00 – 10:30 am
Where: St Annes Library
Children from St.Thomas’ Primary will be singing Christmas carols between 10.00 and 10.30am. Please come along and join in the festivities with the Library staff and the Friends of St.Annes Library (FOSAL) who will be providing refreshments from 9.30am.
All welcome.
When: Tuesday 3 December at 7.30 pm
Where: St Annes Library
Cost: Tickets are £4.00 per person; £3 for FOSAL members
Come and join us for an evening of seasonal readings, refreshments and a quiz!
When: Saturday 5 October 2019 at 7.00 pm
Where: St Annes Library
In response to popular demand, we have arranged a Murder Mystery event for Saturday 5 October 2019 at 7.00 pm. Once again the play will be performed in the Library by the Windmill Players.
A retirement home – you expect it to be peaceful, tranquil. A haven of calm and serenity….
Not when the residents are all ex-theatricals, with their egos and their secrets!
Join us at Woodland Hills Retirement Community, and decide who gives the best performance – as a murderer!
Our knitting group has been busy making Worry Monsters. These are used to help children who have maybe suffered from abuse, neglect or other serious problems. When a worrying or troubling thought comes into the child’s mind they can write it down, or draw a picture, and feed it to their monster – they will often be willing to tell the monster about the worry rather than ty and explain to an adult.
A therapist can get out the piece of paper on which the child has written or drawn the worry, and they can discuss it and offer reassurance and help.
Our knitters donated their Worry Monsters to carers in Blackpool.
KNIT Together sessions are held every other Friday in St Annes Library, 10.00 am – 12.00 pm. Both experienced and novice knitters are welcome.
A former Lancashire Librarian, Andrew left Kirkham library in 2015 after releasing his novel The Loney. His third novel Starve Acre was published this year. You could be the proud owner of a signed copy of Starve Acre.
Enter a sealed bid to the library (including contact details) by the end of Thursday 19 December.
All monies raised will go to the Friends of St.Annes library. Good luck!
When: Thursday 5 September 2019
Where: St Annes Library at 7.30 pm
Cost: Tickets £4 (£2 FOSAL Members) or pay on the night; includes refreshments
This popular event is back again. Come along and pit your wits against our quizmaster Roy. Teams will be four people – teams larger than four will have a point deducted for each additional person.
A poster advertising the event can be downloaded here.Please print it out and advertise this event if possible. Thank you.
When: 17 August 2019 at 10.30 am – 12.00 pm
Where: St Anne’s Library
The Great British Bakeoff comes to St Annes Library! Can you bake? If so would you please be willing to donate some buns, scones, tray bakes, Victoria sponges – any sort of cake – to our Coffee Morning & Bake Sale. If baking isn’t your thing, then please come along and buy some delicious confectionary. All proceeds will go to helping St Annes Library and maintaining the Library Garden.
If you can display a copy of the poster below then please download it here. Thank you!
The Garden Gang meets weekly on Tuesdays 2.00 pm – 3.00 pm (unless it’s pouring!) – all equipment is provided.
Apart from the mowing of the grass, which is undertaken by the local authority, the Friends of St Annes Library look after the garden themselves – planting, weeding, pruning, general maintenance, etc. – so the more help the better. If you have any queries please contact Anne Fielding 01253 711123.
Date: Thursday 4 July at 7.30pm
Venue: St Annes Library
Cost: £5 (£4 for FOSAL members)
Come along and try your luck at a fun Bingo evening in the Library. Tickets are £5 (£4 for FOSAL members), which will give you three games. Additional cards will be available to purchase at £1 each. Refreshments will be available.
Tickets can be purchased in the library.
Date: Thursday 23 May 2019, 5.00 – 6.00 pm
Venue: St Annes Library
Cost: Free
We look forward to welcoming back Dean Fraser, who gave us an afternoon of poetry a couple of years ago. This time Dean will talk about natural ways to combat stress. His talk will be followed by an informal Q&A session.
Dean will also be signing copies of his book, You But Stress Free. More information about Dean Fraser is available on his website.
This is a free event. Refreshments will be on sale.
Following a steering group committee meeting on 10 April 2019, a new FOSAL committee has been formed:
Chair: Barbara Mackenzie
Treasurer: Allan Foster
Secretary: Vacant
Minutes Secretary: Pam Foster
Membership Secretary: Vacant
Anne Fielding
Hilda Spencer
Ron Spencer
Rowland Taylor
Roy Winter
We’d like to thank our past Chair Annette Ford for her hard work and, more recently, for dealing with all the paperwork involved in ensuring that the Friends were able to re-form following the long closure of the library.
We look forward to welcoming old and new members to our upcoming events.
Hard copies of both our Chair’s and Treasurer’s Reports were made available at the cheese and wine event, held in the library of 28 March 2019.
Copies are also available for downloading: Chair’s Report; Treasurer’s Report.
When: Thursday 28 March 2019, 5.30 – 7.00 pm
Where: St Annes Library
PLEASE NOTE THE START TIME OF 5.30 PM. UNFORTUNATELY SOME LETTERS SENT OUT TO MEMBERS SAY 7.00PM. SORRY FOR ANY INCONVENIENCE THIS MAY HAVE CAUSED
Now that the Library has re-opened we’re looking forward to welcoming existing and new members to FoSAL and get their feedback on the sort of events they’d like to see the Friends organise.
Bureaucracy demands that we must hold an Annual General Meeting before we embark on a new programme of events. A short AGM will be held on Thursday 28 March at 5.30 pm. We will also be serving cheese and wine to all attendees.
Please do come along along, get involved and support your local library. We look forward to welcoming you!
The entrance doors to St Annes Library were ceremonially opened at 9.00 am on 4 March. A crowd of residents had gathered outside and were welcomed inside by library staff to look at the renovations and find out more about the new layout. Below are some photos.
Councillors, Lancashire County Council staff, school children and others enjoyed tea/coffee and cakes, served by the Friends.
The Friends are looking forward to organising some public events very soon – keep an eye on our website for further information. We’ll also be updating information on our regular events such as KNIT Together and Together Wii Play.
We hope to see you there!
We have just received the following press release:
St Anne’s Library gets ready to open its doors again
Monday, February 11, 2019
St Anne’s Library will reopen on Monday 4 March at 9am following the completion of extensive specialist repair work to preserve the historic building.
The library will be reopened jointly by County Councillor Peter Buckley, cabinet member for community and cultural services and County Councillor Edward Nash.
As the library is over 110 years old and Grade II listed, specialist heritage surveyors had to be brought in to support county surveyors to carry out the work. The repairs have been ongoing since August 2017 after some plaster fell from the ceiling which meant the library had to be closed for safety reasons.
Areas where work has been carried out include the masonry, windows, foundations to the 1930s extension, weather sealing, roof trusses and the cupola.
County Councillor Peter Buckley, cabinet member for community and cultural services, said: “I am absolutely delighted that our much treasured Carnegie Library will be reopening again very soon.
“This has been a massive job with many specialists involved and when opened we will have a fantastic library that will serve St Anne’s residents for many decades to come.
“The work required to a building of this age and nature has proved to be both time intensive and complex due to the very specific requirements and I would like to thank all those involved. The contractors have now finished on site and handed the building back to the county council to re-shelve over 11,000 books and configure the new PCs.
“In addition, the Local History collection will be in place and we will continue to provide newspapers and access to comprehensive online reference materials. The fiction and non-fiction stock has been refreshed and a significant buying and selection process carried out so that library users will have lots of new stock available to borrow.
The library opening hours will be:
Monday 9am -5pm
Tuesday 9am -5pm
Wednesday 9am -5pm
Thursday 9am -7pm
Friday 9am -5pm
Saturday 9am -5pm
Anyone who lives in the UK can join a Lancashire library, either online or by visiting in person. Membership is free and there are no age restrictions.
For more information, phone 0300 123 6703, or go to www.lancashire.gov.uk/libraries
Anyone who lives in the UK can join a Lancashire library, either online or by visiting in person. Membership is free and there are no age restrictions.
Ends
Below is a copy of the letter sent to the Chief Executive of Lancashire County Council from St Anne’s Town Council re: St Annes Library closure.
Ms A Ridgwell – Chief Executive Officer Lancashire County Council
County Hall
Lancashire County Council
Fishergate, PRESTON PR1 8XJ
Dear Ms Ridgwell
RE: ST. ANNES LIBRARY – CLOSURE
I am writing to you on behalf of both the Town Council and the residents of St. Anne’s regarding concerns for the future of St. Anne’s Library which has been closed since 4thAugust 2017. Initially the closure was attributed to ceiling/plaster repairs, however the closure appears to be ongoing and the library is still closed 8 months later.
The Library is a local and important community hub, residents being without access for a considerable time. It is a Grade 2 listed building which has been awarded a well-deserved Blue Plaque for historical significance. It should be noted that Lancashire County Council are custodians of this highly important and valuable building and has both a legal and moral requirement to ensure it is correctly maintained.
It is now considered that it has taken too long for Lancashire County Council to share a report as to the true state of the fabric of the building; it appears that successive administrations at County Hall have failed to maintain the building correctly.
Whilst it is acknowledged that there is now the temporary provision of a Library van, it only holds a finite stock of material. With the increase in the number of services and organisations who insist upon on-line responses; (Lancashire County Council being one of these organisations) residents without a computer no longer have access to the very popular public computers which were available in the now closed St. Anne’s Library building.
The provision of the mobile Library unit within St. Anne’s and the extra hours opening of Ansdell Library do not in any way provide reasonable cover for a town with a population nearing 30,000 residents. I am sure you are aware that St. Anne’s is the largest populated parish within the Fylde coast.
At the Town Council meeting held on the 24th April 2018, it was unanimously agreed that the Town Clerk be requested to formally write to both the Chief Executive and the Leader of Lancashire County Council expressing the Town Council’s concerns over the delays in repairing and reopening St. Anne’s Library permanent building. The Town Council also wishes to have sight of the formal report on the current state of repairs, an indication of the building work, a time scale for the completion of the repairs and a projected opening date.
The Lancashire County Council website states that St. Anne’s Library will reopen “next year” but does not give any tangible dates nor provide any reassurance to local people. The library also accommodated the Registrar service and the displacement of this service is extremely inconvenient to residents.
I would be grateful if you could explain/provide the formal report on the current state of repairs, an indication of the building work required, a time scale for the completion of the repairs and a projected opening date. The Town Council wishes to reassure residents that their library does have a future; as things stand it seems that it is at risk of closure by “stealth”.
I look forward to receiving your response to the requested information.
Yours sincerely
Sally Taylor
Town Clerk
On behalf of St. Anne’s Town Council
If you’ve noticed a lack of any sort of work being carried out on St Annes Library that’s because there hasn’t been any. Even worse, Lancashire County Council can’t promise a date as to when the work will even begin.
It is now months since part of the ceiling collapsed and the library was temporarily closed with the promise that it would re-open shortly. It appears that the main beam holding up the library roof is in a bad state of repair, so it’s likely that repairs will be lengthy and costly.
Years of complacency and a lack of basic maintenance by Lancashire County Council means that they are facing a huge repair bill before it can re-open again.
Why haven’t we been kept aware of this lack of progress? Why haven’t our councillors been upfront and honest with us? Is the funding even in place to ensure that the building will re-open as a library again? This lack of transparency is inexcusable; the people of St Annes deserve better.
There will be a meeting of the Town Council at 7.00 pm on 22 May in the St Annes Palace, 18 Garden St. St Annes. Please do try and attend so that our town councillors are in no doubt about how we feel and can put pressure on Lancashire County Council.
A press release issued by Lancashire County Council today (27 February 2018) claims that LCC is in discussion with Fylde Borough Council about proposals to put a mobile library on land near the Public Offices on Clifton Drive in St Annes, to ensure people have access to library services.
The plan is to transfer 3,000 books from the main building to the mobile library.
Lancashire County Council is currently considering the results of specialist heritage conservation surveys which have been carried out to inform repairs needed to the grade 2 listed St Annes Library.
Areas under consideration for repair include the masonry windows, foundations to the 1930s extension, weather sealing, roof trusses and the cupola.
It looks like St Annes library will be closed for a considerable time yet.
The below is the latest statement from Lancashire County Council (end January 2018) on the situation at St Annes Library. Please keep badgering your county councillors and especially Peter Buckley (Email: peter.buckley@lancashire.gov.uk) -we need to ensure enough of us are seen to care about our local library.
Lancashire County Council is considering the results of a detailed survey to inform repairs needed to St Annes Library.
The library had to be closed in August 2017 after some plaster fell from the ceiling. It had been due to be closed later that year for survey work, but the unexpected event meant the library had to be closed for safety and the survey work brought forward.
As the library is over 110 years old and grade 2 listed, specialist heritage surveyors have had to be brought in to support county surveyors to undertake the work.
An initial survey has now been completed, with the results being considered by the council’s design team to identify the work needed before the library can reopen.
Areas under consideration include the masonry windows, foundations to the 1930s extension, weather sealing, roof trusses and the cupola. Due to the nature of the findings in the initial survey, it has been necessary to undertake a secondary survey of the building’s foundations.
County Councillor Peter Buckley, cabinet member for community and cultural services, said: “We’re sorry for the continued disruption caused by the unexpected closure of St Annes Library last year and I know that local residents are keen to learn how things are progressing.
“It has taken some time to commission and carry out these specialist heritage surveys, which are necessary because of the age of the building and the fact that it is Grade 2 listed. I’m pleased we’re now nearly at the point of fully identifying all the repairs that are needed.
“So far we’ve had the results of the initial survey, but it has been found necessary to undertake a further investigation of the foundations. Our design team will continue to work closely with the surveyors, identify all the work needed, and propose a comprehensive scheme of repairs.
“At this stage, we do not know exactly how long it will take to complete the repairs, but we will continue to keep people updated as soon as we know more.”
Opening hours have been extended at Ansdell Library and Kirkham Library to cover the hours St Annes would normally be open.
News of when St Annes Library will re-open is patchy.
As of 13 December 2017, we have learned that the the planned survey has not yet been completed, but that it hoped it will be finished before the end of January. Apparently, the foundations under the extension need work. All the books, etc are still in the building.
No date is available for when the Library will re-open but it seems likely that the building will re-open as a library and not as a community hub as was originally planned
Freckleton Library is planned to re-open on 9 January 2018; Ansdell Library staying open; Lytham Library’s future is still uncertain.
The latest news from Lancashire County Council
St Annes library had to be closed at very short notice on Friday 4 August after plaster fell from the ceiling and was deemed structurally unsafe. As it is a Grade 2 listed Carnegie building, a specialist heritage surveyor has inspected the site alongside Lancashire County Council’s own county surveyors.
The amount of work needed to repair the building is significant but has been approved by LCC. At this stage it is not possible to give a precise timeframe for reopening since further complications may arise, but it is not expected to reopen until next year.
Meanwhile, Ansdell Library will maintain its extended opening hours.
St Annes Library will be closed from today (Friday 4 August) while Lancashire County Council investigates structural issues with the building.
Lancashire County Council have issued the following statement:
Friday, August 04, 2017
St Annes Library will be closed from today (Friday 4 August) while Lancashire County Council investigates structural issues with the building.
Specialist surveyors have advised that the building should be closed for the safety of the public and members of staff until further investigations can be carried out, after some plaster fell from the ceiling.
The library had been scheduled to close for four weeks later this year to enable a structural survey to be carried out but these unexpected events mean that work has had to be brought forward.
The closest alternative libraries to St Annes are Ansdell Library and Kirkham Library, which will extend their opening hours to cover the hours St Annes is normally open. (Please see below for revised opening hours.)
Customers of the Registration Office at St Annes have been contacted to make alternative arrangements. During the duration of the closure the service will operate from the Preston Registration Office. Anyone who needs to access the Registration Office is asked to call Lancashire County Council’s Customer Service Centre on 0300 123 6705 or email registrarslytham@lancashire.gov.uk
County Councillor Peter Buckley, cabinet member for community and cultural services, said: “We are very sorry for having to close St Annes Library at such short notice, however we must act upon the safety advice of our surveyors while we investigate this issue. The safety of library users and members of staff has to be our paramount concern.
“I represent residents from St Annes on the county council so I know how much people value this library and how busy it is at this time of year. We are working very hard to minimise disruption and reopen the library as soon as possible. We anticipate the detailed survey will take four weeks and any necessary work will then have to be carried out so this won’t happen overnight, but we will keep people updated as we know more.”
Revised opening hours for Ansdell and Kirkham libraries are as follows:
Ansdell library
Monday 9-6
Tuesday 9-5.30
Wednesday 9-6
Thursday 9-6
Friday 9-6
Saturday 9-5
Kirkham library
Monday 9-6
Tuesday 9-1
Wednesday 9-6
Thursday 9-6
Friday 9-6
Saturday 9-5
Date: 19 July 2017 at 2.00 pm
Venue: St Annes Library
Cost: free
Dean Fraser – The Quantum Poet will be performing at St Annes Library on Wednesday 19 July at 2.00 pm. Dean is a performance poet and author of poetry collections: Beyond Poetry; The Cheshire Poems; The Lancashire Poems; The Mind, Body & Soul Poems; and Travels With My Notebook & Pen. He also presents the radio show Beyond Poetry.
Refreshments will be on sale.
Gary wants to borrow five-bob from his sister so he can go dancing down the Town Baths. Gary wants her to iron his trousers – because no-one puts a crease in like she does. Gary wants Keith’s bird, but gets in a fight, loses, then asks the nurse putting in the stitches to make sure it leaves a scar.
This bright, beautiful, funny play by former Cheshire Poet Laureate, Joy Winkler, is about one age becoming another, about the monochrome 50s being pushed aside by a bright new world. Lightning Under their Skirts offers a night of Babycham and liberation, of dancing… and also the world’s best music ever written.
A Storm In The North production, in association with Action Transport Theatre.
Alex Hulme and Ben Paveley will be performing at St Annes Library on 21 April at 7.00 pm. This will be an evening of original music from two up and coming ‘Neu Folk’ singer/songwriters.
Tickets are £3 per person, available in advance or pay on the door.
When: Thursday 23 March at 7.00 pm
Where: St Annes LIbrary
Cost: £7 per person (£5 concessions). Includes refreshments sponsored by the FRiends of St Annes Library (FOSAL). Available from the library or reserve by emailing stannes.library@lancashire.gov.uk
The Churchfitters is a folk band like no other. A bass guitar made out of a frying pan. Heart-wrenching vocals accompanied by a musical saw. Foot-stompingly fast fiddle mixed with infectious funk-rock bouzouki. And traditional tunes reinvigorated with mesmerising jazz sax.
The three virtuoso musicians from England and France strut their stuff on a stage that bristles with instruments – adding flute, banjo, dulcimer, tin whistle, guitar, ukulele, stand up dustbin bass and a sackful of percussion to their ensemble. And let’s not forget the unique ‘bing-bong’ machine made out of hack-saw blades.
Throw in some exquisite harmonies, a slew of startlingly original songs and a few jokes that create instant rapport and you’ve got a high energy show that always leaves audiences cheering. How do you adequately describe such a musically diverse, uplifting band? You leave it to Mike Harding, a self-confessed ‘huge, huge fan’. He calls them ‘totally brilliant and beautiful’.
We are delighted that the St Annes Library building has been saved to become a neighbourhood centre that includes a library service. The building is to undergo some alterations to accommodate the Registrar from Lytham, meetings rooms, etc. During this phase it will not be possible for FOSAL to hold its Wii Keep Fit sessions or any evening events. As such, we will not be planning any events until further notice, including the upcoming AGM.
We are pleased that we can still offer our Knit Together sessions on the third Friday of each month. The Library Garden will still need us – perhaps even more so given the planned building work – so please do come along and help out to ensure that it will continue to look attractive and cared for. To find out more about helping in the garden please contact Anne on 01253 711123 or email friendsofstanneslibrary@gmail.com
Please keep checking back on this site for any further news. The Friends are a committed bunch of volunteers and will be planning a new season of events as soon as the Library work is finished.
Press release from Lancashire County Council re future of libraries and the establishment of ‘Neighbourhood Centres” (26 August 20160
The county council’s cabinet will be asked to agree revised plans to change the way frontline services are delivered, and save millions of pounds, by reducing the number of buildings the council owns and rents, after seeking people’s views during an extensive consultation.
Feedback from 7,700 responses has been taken into account in forming the alternative proposals to bring services together to form a network of multi-functional buildings known as Neighbourhood Centres, which would provide a base for a range of different services in one place.
The plans, which form part of the council’s property strategy, propose changes to where some services including libraries, children’s services, children’s centres, young people’s centres, youth offending teams, older people’s daytime support services, adult disability day services and registrars are delivered in the future.
Meanwhile more than 100 buildings would no longer be used for county council services and the number of places at which some services are available would reduce.
The cabinet will also be asked to agree to explore proposals made by a number of community groups and other organisations to take on responsibility for running some of the affected buildings and services.
The changes are in response to Lancashire County Council’s need to save £200m by 2020/21 as a result of ongoing government cuts to its budget and rising demand for services.
A report to the council’s cabinet published today outlines changes to the original plans, following a 12-week consultation held from 18 May to 14 August, with a number of revisions to which buildings are being proposed to house future services.
County Councillor David Borrow, deputy leader of Lancashire County Council and portfolio holder for finance, said: “We’d like to thank everyone who took the time to respond to the consultation – their feedback has been invaluable in helping to shape the final proposals and the Cabinet will be giving the report careful consideration.
“Our aim is to find a solution that still gives everyone in Lancashire good access to good services, despite the pressures on the council’s budget. We have done a lot of work to assess where services should be located in future, taking account of things such as geographic spread, accessibility and the needs of different communities. Some of the changes to the proposals reflect what people have told us about the way they access these services.
“We’re also keen to continue exploring the potential for other groups and organisations to take on responsibility for some of the affected buildings and services, so we’re grateful for the interest that has been shown in that possibility over the last few months. The report acknowledges that more work will be needed to assess the business cases that have been put forward.”
The report also asks councillors to agree plans to explore alternative options for the future delivery of library services, with a focus on examining whether community-run libraries could add to the statutory service provided by the county council.
A package of help is proposed to help establish any community-run library, including £5,000 to cover set-up costs, shelving, an initial supply of books from the county’s store, and advice from a dedicated community library development officer.
When: Friday 29 July 2016 at 7.00 pm
Where: St Annes Library
Cost: Free. Donation for Pancreatic Cancer Research (includes refreshments)
For his 70th birthday, Vic Heaney set up a project which had him walking 14,500 kms to raise funds for pancreatic cancer research. For his 80th birthday a new project will have hime writing, talking, signing and seeking donations towards his target of £8,000 for the same cause.
The author of two books, Living in the Real Cyprus and Vic’s Big Walk, from SE France to NW England, Vic will share his adventures of traversing large distances by foot.
Free tickets are available from St Annes Library or on the door.
Vic also writes a bog which can be accessed here.
It has been brought to our attention that not many of St Annes residents have not voiced their support for the current proposal to keep St Annes library open. Lancashire County Council could decide to close St Annes library because of a perceived lack of interest in keeping it open.
Please do respond to the consultation questionnaire and register your ongoing support for St Annes Library. We must ensure that positive support for St Annes Library is expressed loud and clear, otherwise the town could be left without a library.
The questionnaire can be completed online here (paper copies are available in libraries and children’s centres).
If you have not done so already, please could you sign the ePetition here.
When: Saturday 2 July 2016 at 7.00 pm
Where: St Annes Library
Cost: £5 per ticket; £4 for members (includes refreshments)
Once again we are hosting a murder mystery play by the Windmill Players. This has become on of our most popular annual events attracting large audiences of locals and visitors alike.
The title this year is Death on the SS Amounderness and the action centres around a cruise ship, its passengers and crew. There are many ways to commit a murder on a ship, so which will it be? And where can the perpetrator hide?
Tickets are on sale in the library – or pay on the door.
According to the list of libraries to be closed – published late this afternoon (6/5/16) – St Annes Library isn’t on the list! Great news if true but not so good for Ansdell and Lytham libraries. More news as we get it.
A list of proposed closures is available here.
Today’s (5/5/16) LSA Express includes an item that says LCC’s plans for the retention of certain public buildings (including libraries) and the closure of others will be released online tomorrow (Friday) 6/5/16). The period of consultation on these proposals will take place thereafter.
We will update as and when more news becomes available.
When: 5 April 2016 at 2.00 pm
Where: St Annes Library
Cost: Free
Have you ever wondered how St Annes keeps its beaches so clean? As well as local council services, our lovely beaches are kept litter free by a group of dedicated volunteers. Come along and hear all about them!
Councillor Peter Buckley has created a ‘Save St Annes Library’ ePetition on the Lancashire County Council website which can be accessed here. You will need to register, if you haven’t already – registration is quick and easy – it just requires an email address, password and your postal address.
Please sign the petition, spread the message and encourage friends and colleagues to register and sign the petition also. Thank you.
When: Friday 11 March at 2.00 pm – 3.00 pm
Where: St Annes Library
Cost: £3; £2.50 for FOSAL members
Come along and meet local author Philip Caine and chat to him about his book Picnic in Iraq.
Philip has over 35 years’ experience, operating projects across three continents, within the Oil & Gas Industry, providing support in facilitates & project management, in remote and hazardous locations.
The end of the Iraq War in 2003, took Philip to Baghdad, where he directed the operations and project management, of multiple accommodation bases for the American Military. A challenging, hazardous & demanding location that required him to provide and deliver full support for over 30,000 troops, over nine separate locations, throughout Baghdad and Northern Iraq; a prioject that lasted almost seven years.
Philip, semi-retired in 2014 and began writing his first novel Picnic in Iraq in February 2015. He is currently working on a sequel.
You can read more about Philip and his writing here.
The Lancashire Libraries Big Book Walk is taking place on Saturday 12 March. We will meet at 9.30am outside St Annes Library and walk to Ansdell Library, where we will meet up with others (at approximately 11.00 am) and then walk on to Lytham Library. The idea is to read stories and poems along the way, as well as share local history.
As you are probably aware Lancashire County Council is to close 40 of our 70 public libraries. Only one of the three libraries in Lytham St Annes will survive. The Big Book Walk is taking place across Lancashire as a way of raising awareness of our libraries and their importance in the communities they serve.
Please do come along and walk part, if not all, of the way to Ansdell Library and please ask your family, friends, colleagues, etc to join us. Please bring your own refreshments.
We were delighted to purchase a new camera and memory card for use by the staff of St Annes Library. The camera will be used to photograph various library events and will be used for publicity purposes as well as providing a photographic record of past activities.
FOSAL was able to make the purchase from funds raised from our events. Thank you to all who came along and supported us. WEehave a number of varied events planned for 2016, information is available here. Further details will be made available shortly.
The cuts are forcing Lancashire County Council to cut back on services. The Council may have to shut 40 of Lancashire’s 70 public libraries. The feeling is that only one of the three libraries in Lytham St Annes will be funded in the future.
LCC is undergoing a consultation process whereby residents can have their say on library services. A short questionnaire is available here. Please do take the time to fill it in – your library’s future depends on it.
Thank you.
What: Author talk
Who: Andrew Michael Hurley
Where: St Annes Library
When: Friday 20 November 2015
Cost: £3, includes refreshments
Andrew Michael Hurley used to be one of the managers at Kirkham Library before he left to pursue his writing career. His debut novel ‘The Loney’ has been published to great acclaim- there are many outstanding reviews in the national newspapers which you can view online, and he’s even had a review from Stephen King himself! The film rights have also been bought, so we can expect to see it on the big screen in the future.
We are delighted to announce that we have arranged for Andrew to come along to talk to us about his book and writing at St Annes Library on 20 November at 7.00 pm. Tickets are £3 each, including refreshments.
Please do come along and please tell your friends about the event. It’s a fantastic opportunity to see a new novelist as his career is really taking off. Tickets can be purchased from the Library, Tel: 01253 643900.
FoSAL Committee members Pam Foster, Meg Greenfield, Annette Ford and Anne Fielding receiving the RHS Award at Clifton Memorial Housing, 4 November 2015
The Friends of St Annes Library have won an In Your Neighbourhood award for the Library Garden. The award is part of the RHS North West In Bloom awards.
Our thanks go to the ‘Garden Gang’, a group of dedicated volunteers who turn out in all weathers to ensure the garden is maintained, and also to St Annes in Bloom for their help and advice.
Can you spare a couple of hours a month to help look after the garden? If so please ring Anne on 01253 711123 or email friendsofstanneslibrary@gmail.com
When: 12 November 2015 at 7.00 pm
Where: St Annes Library
Our AGM will be held on Thursday 12 November in St Annes Library.
The short meeting will be followed by a talk – Gardening in the Fylde, by Fiona Boismaison, gardener and newly elected Chair of St Annes In Bloom.
The event is open to all. Please do come along and find out more about the Friends of the Library, and get some expert gardening tips!
Free admission.
When: 22 September 2015 at 2.00 pm
Where: St Annes Library
We are holding a Bingo afternoon on Tuesday 22 September, from 2.00 – 4.oo pm in the library. Cost is £5 per ticket which includes tea/coffee and biscuits.
The first two games are free. Additional games will be £1 each, with prizes of £5 for 1st single line and £10 for a full house.
Tickets are available from the Library – or pay on the door.
The Friends of St Annes Library and other guests proved to be a canny group of sleuths on Saturday (1 August), when they put their detective skills to good use in solving the mystery of who murdered the guest at the Majestic Hotel.
The Windmill Players acted out a mystery play where everyone had a motive for murdering the unpopular guest. After the play had finished, the audience was invited to question each of the ‘suspects’ Once the questioning had finished, members of the audience enjoyed a glass of wine while they identified the murderer and gave their reasons why.
Congratulations to ‘Team Bostock’ who not only identified the killer but also provided the correct clues that led them to the right decision. They won a pair of tickets of see an upcoming performance by the Windmill Players and a box of chocolates.
It was lovely to see so many new faces at this event and FoSAL would like to thank everyone who attended. We hope to see you at some of out future events.
And an especially big thanks to the Windmill Players for making this evening such a success!
When: 9 September 2015, at 7.00 pm
Where: St Annes Library
Cost: £5 includes glass of wine/juice
A talk by Pete Stych on his 25 years as a special constable. There will also be an exhibition of police memorabilia.
When: Saturday 1 August, 7.00 pm – 9.00 pm
Where: St Annes Library
Who: Adults
Cost: £5 per ticket (includes glass of wine/juice)
Once again the Windmill Players are returning to St Annes Library to stage a murder mystery, Murder at the Majestic
Move around the library as events unfold and solve the mystery.
Tickets are on sale in the Library.
As part of the St Annes Music & Arts Festival, Fylde DFAS (Decorative & Fine Arts Society) sponsored a kite making event at St Annes Library on Saturday 18 July 2015. Our contribution enabled the library to purchase art materials, paper, etc.
Once completed and decorated the kites could either be taken home or used to decorate St Annes Library in advance of the St Annes Kite Festival, which took place the following week.
We have scattered some wild flower seeds in the Library Garden in memory of Margaret Richmond. The seeds were given to the library staff by a friend of Margaret’s. We hope the eventual display will provide a happy reminder of a special friend.
We are holding our annual garden party in St Annes Library garden on Saturday 4 July, 1.00 pm
Cakes, plants, books, games, story telling and more. Free admission.
Please come along and support your local library.
St Annes Library Knit Together members Marjorie, Nolene, Dorothy, Anne, Meg and Rhondda.
If you don’t know what a “twiddle pocket” is just take a trip to St Anne’s Library. The St Anne’s Library Knit Together group have set up a display of their Charity Projects, which includes twiddle pockets for the Alzheimer’s Society.
Following the example of other hospitals around the UK the Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust is asking knitters in the community to “cast on‟ and make twiddle-pockets that will help people suffering from Dementia or Alzheimer‟s. A twiddle pocket is a pocket or glove that has attachments added to it, inside and out, that patients can twiddle and fiddle with. They are used to calm patients with dementia or Alzheimer‟s by giving them something to do with their hands.
Paul Jebb, Assistant Director for Nursing (Patient Experience), said: “Twiddle-pockets have become very popular in the caring environment thanks to their simplicity. Patients respond really well to them as it gives them something to occupy their minds. People suffering from Dementia often think they should be working or keeping themselves occupied which is why they often become irritated or anxious. These knitted twiddle-pockets have been shown to fulfil that need.”
The Trust is asking community-minded, caring knitters to turn their needles to knit a supply of twiddle-pockets to donate to the trust so they can be given to patients. Paul adds: “We estimate around 70% of patients to the Trust are over 65 years of age and of those 25% will suffer from dementia or some kind of delirium. Dementia is a growing concern and caring for people with dementia is one of our priorities. The Trust is doing some great work already around dementia; particularly with its work on the dementia corridor and memory pods. Twiddle-pockets are just a simple way to add to that work and the community can also get involved.”
Making a twiddle-pocket is simple. They can be basic “sleeves” of wool or can be more extravagant. Some versions include details that make them look like animals that some patients will actually treat like a pet.
The St Annes Library Knit Together group meets the 1st and 3rd Friday of each month, 10.00 am to 12.00 pm. both novice and experienced knitters are welcome.
When: Saturday 20 June, 1.00 pm – 3.00 pm
Where: St Annes Library
Who: Children – all ages
Cost: £1 per child (includes refreshments)
This is a family event exploring the life of bugs. After a quick introduction to the activity hunt for mini beasts, the children will be supervised to search for insects in the library garden. Bug pots, mini beast trays, ID sheet and spoons to pick up the mini beasts will be provided.The children will then learn some exciting facts about the things we have found and then with the aid of quick drying clay, they will make mini beasts to take away with them.
When: Wednesday April 15th at 7.00
Where: St Annes Library
Cost: Free + refreshments
Simone Cowgill is the owner of the Angel Lounge in Alexandria DRive, Lytham St Annes. Inspired by angels to open The Lounge, Simone’s background is in teaching and metaphysical counselling. She is also a tarot reader and lay preacher at the local Unitarian Church where she is registered to conduct christening, weddings and funerals. Her vision for The Angel Lounge is as a centre for spiritual teaching and learning (where you can also get a great cup of coffee). She is also a fully qualified Reiki Master.
Simone has agreed to talk about what she does – Tarot, Reiki, mediumship and metaphysics, as well as being a lay preacher – on Wednesday 15 April at 7.00 pm. The evening will finish at approximately 9.00 pm. Refreshments will be served.
More information on the Angel Lounge is available at http://www.theangellounge.com/
When: Thursday 12 February 2015, 7.30 – 9.30 pm
Where: St Annes Library
Cost: Tickets are £4 each for FoSAL members; £5 each for non-members. Tickets are on sale in the Library
A romantic evening event, comprising readings, romantic quiz and music from Mike Taylor. Wine and nibbles will be served.
We look forward to seeing you there.
Annette Ford is the new Chair of the Friends of St Annes Library. She was voted in at the AGM held on 19 November at St Annes Library. The other official posts were uncontested. We are, however, without a Vice Chair. Please do contact us if you are interested in this pot or if you would like to join the committee. We are always looking for new people with new ideas!
Current Steering Group officers are:
Thanks to all those who attended the meeting and a special thanks to Marie Riley who gave a lively, informative and often humorous talk on the life of Victorian novelist Elizabeth Gaskell. Thanks also to Angela Brown who provided the readings. It was a most successful evening.
When: 19 November 2014
Where: St Annes Library at 7.00 pm
We will be holding our Annual General Meeting on 19 November 2014. This will be a short meeting and will be followed by a talk on the Victorian author Elizabeth Gaskell, by popular lecturer Marie Riley.
The event is open to everyone ie, it is not restricted to FoSAL members. The AGM will take a maximum of 30 minutes. Please come along and support us. The meeting will give you an idea of the type of events we organise and how we support our library. Maybe you will consider getting elected onto the committee or joining the Friends for the first time!
Refreshments will be served.
When: 24 September 2014, 7.30 pm
Where: St Annes Library
Cost: £4, includes glass of wine and nibbles
The Windmill Players present ‘A Schooling in Murder!’ What lies beneath the facade of a respectable girls’ boarding school? Move around the Library and solve the murder mystery.
Tickets are on sale in St Annes Library.
When: 31 October 2014 at 7.00 pm
Where: St Annes Library
Cost: Tickets are free (donations accepted)
Cork Jackets and Drill tells the story, through original songs and narration, of the 1886 Southport lifeboat disaster, which claimed the lives of almost all the crew members of the Southport and St Annes lifeboats. The songs and script are by Southport-based playwright, Len Pentin, whose work has been performed at Liverpool’s top theatres, BBC Radio Merseyside and the London fringe.
The musical performance, with its folk roots, is skilfully steered by the Cork Jacket Crew (Chris Nelson, Siobhan Nelson, Len Pentin, Clive Pownceby and Pete Rimmer) who are all active singers and musicians in the Southport area. The narrator is actor Colin Wayte.
Cork Jackets and Drill tells how the dreadfully impoverished fishermen of the northern towns of Southport, Lytham and St Annes bravely gave battle one terrible storm-ridden December night in 1886, in an attempt to save the crew of the German ship Mexico, in distress off Southport sands.
At the time, the tragedy touched and deeply affected the whole of the UK but it is now, sadly, largely forgotten. Cork Jackets and Drill attempts to rehabilitate the memory of the brave lifeboatmen (mostly fishermen by trade) who risked and gave their lives that evening for others – many going out to sea with empty stomachs, such was their desperate financial plight. Further information about the company and performance is available here.
When: 2 August 2014
Where: St Annes Library Garden
Cost: £5 adults; £2 children
We are holding a summer flower festival in the Library. Floral arrangements, with a literary theme, will be on display and a florist will provide a demonstration in flower arranging. There will also be music, a garden tombola, stalls and other attractions.
Our cream tea will be a mix of homemade scones, jam, cream and cake. We’ll also have some of our famous cup cakes for the children.
Please do come along and support the Friends of St Annes Library. This is an important fundraiser. All funds will go towards much needed items for the St Annes Library service.
When: 14 February 2014, 7.00 – 9.00 pm
Where: St Annes Library
Cost: Tickets are £4 each for FoSAL members; £5 each for non-members. Tickets on sale in the Library
A romantic evening event, comprising music, poetry, readings from novels, etc. Wine and nibbles will be served. If anyone wants to read, please bring a short poem or piece of prose.
We look forward to seeing you there.
When: Thursday 17 October 2013 at 7.00 pm
Where: St Annes Library
Cost: Tickets £2.50 each
Sid Calderdale performs stories, songs and poems told in Lancashire dialect. He has been called a “Lancashire Dialect Historian”, (a description coined by Paul Martin of BBC2’s Flog It) with almost 40 years of experience of researching, collecting and performing dialect works from our literary heritage. He’s Chairman of “The Lancashire Society”, committee member of the “Edwin Waugh Dialect Society” and founder of the “National Dialect Day” to be held this year in Exeter on 18th – 20th October. He’s been on BBC radio & TV, made several recordings, appeared at folk, arts and literary festivals up and down England but mainly in Lancashire
This Community History event, ‘Lancashire Garland: songs, poems and stories of St Annes, the Fylde and Rossendale’, is part of the ‘St Anne’s on the Sea: the Rossendale connection’ project which has been running all summer. Further information about the project is available here.
When: 9 October 2013 at 7.30 pm
Where: St Annes Library
Cost: Free
The Annual General Meeting will be held on 9 October at 7.30 pm in the Library. All members should have received a nomination form for the election of Honorary Officers.
The AGM is open to both members and non-members.
Mosaic in St Annes Square
Following the short meeting, Paul Drinnan, Head of Regeneration Fylde Borough Council, will give a presentation ‘Love it or Hate it’ on the regeneration of St Annes Square.
Refreshments will be served
The Lancashire County Council Community Heritage project ‘St Anne’s on the Sea: the Rossendale connection’ explores the links between the Fylde Coast town and Rossendale. It looks at the associations between the two areas and the importance of Rossendale people in the emergence of the seaside town. The project includes talks in both St Annes and Rossendale, Local History walks and a project working with local schools. The Community Heritage team would be interested in hearing from anyone with any further information, stories and images about this subject. You can email them at ch.enquiries@lancashire.gov.uk
SunnyBank Mill c.1900
The Clifton family, owners of the Manor of Lytham, guided by their land agent James Fair, began planning for the new town of St Anne’s on the Sea as early as the 1840s. During the 1850s they invested in the railway between Lytham and Blackpool which was opened in 1863. In the early 1870s a road was laid from what is now Fairhaven to the present St Anne’s Square and a further road continued to the Parish Church of St Anne, built in 1872/3 and funded by Lady Eleanor Cecily Clifton. The name of the new town comes from the Parish Church.
In 1874, the St Anne’s on the Sea Land and Building company was formed by eight Rossendale men led by the chairman Joseph Wood Whitehead. This company negotiated 999 year leases with Thomas Fair who had succeeded his father James as the Clifton’s agent and sought to develop what became known as the Square Mile. The architects for the project were Maxwell and Tuke of Peel Chambers, Bury. James Maxwell himself was from Haslingden.
The ambitions for an exclusive and select resort can be seen in an early company document which states, “of late years Blackpool has become so much the resort of Excursionists that a decided want is felt for a watering place which, whilst possessing the same bracing atmosphere and commanding position, shall secure a more select and better class of visitors”!
W.J.Porritt cuts first sod for drainage scheme – St Anne’s 18th August 1892
The first lease between the Company and the Clifton estate was signed on 14 December 1874. Work began on the development of the Promenade and the St Anne’s Hotel began in February 1875 and the foundation stone of St Anne’s on the Sea was laid on 31 March of that year.
Perhaps the most important Rossendale influence on the development of St Anne’s was William John Porritt who was born in Ramsbottom in 1828. With his father Joseph he built Sunnybank Mill in Helmshore in 1866 and bought Higher Mill in the same town in 1880. He was present at the laying of the foundation stone of St Anne’s and soon after joined the board of the Land and Building Company, being the chairman from 1881 -1896.
Construction of 1 Oxford Rd., St Anne’s , 1912
The success of the scheme to develop St Anne’s on the Sea wasn’t guaranteed. In the 1880s and 1890s it was struggling financially and various factors such as the opening of the pier and, most significantly, the continued investment of William Porritt ensured its success. He is particularly well known for the ‘Porritt Houses’ that were built north of the pier. It’s thought that he built property to the value of £100,000 in St Anne’s – by today’s standards he invested millions of pounds in the area.
Porritt Houses, C.1900 – 16700
To some extent Porritt can be seen as the saviour of St Anne’s on the Sea but many Rossendalians contributed in smaller ways to the success of the town. As a new town St Anne’s attracted people from all over the country to work on its development and in its new businesses, shops, hotels and guest houses.
Given the links through the Land and Building Company it perhaps isn’t surprising that, looking at the 1891 census, we find many people from Rossendale. Amongst these people we find joiners, corporation labourers, laundresses, housekeepers, domestic servants, stonemasons, char-women, slaters, timber merchants, tin plate workers, boarding house keepers and grocers. So, as well as providing some of the investment Rossendale was embedded into the working fabric of St Anne’s on the Sea from its earliest days.
Beach and Porritt houses, North Promenade, St Annes on Sea c.1884
Lifeboat and Pier, St Annes on Sea c.1920
These and other photographs are from the image archive available at http://lanternimages.lancashire.gov.uk/index.php?a=collections&s=item&key=C&pg=22
Other useful resources include:
Peter Shakeshaft’s book, ‘St Anne’s on the Sea: a history’ and www.amounderness.co.uk
When: Thursday 26 September 2013 at 7.00 pm
Where: St Annes Library
Cost: Free
Learn all about William Calcraft – England’s longest serving hangman – in this fascinating talk by Colin Penny. Don’t miss this interesting event at St Annes Library by this ever-popular speaker!
Further details to be made available shortly.
When: Thursday 22 August 2013, 7.00 pm – 8.30 pm
Where: St Annes Library
Cost: £2.50 per person
Did you know that there are historical links between Rossendale and St Annes? Local Historian and author Ken Bowden from Bacup is visiting St Annes Library to give a talk ‘Rossendale comes to St Anne’s’, as part of the ‘St Anne’s on the Sea: the Rossendale connection’ project. Ken will be looking at the links between the two areas and the importance of Rossendale people in the emergence of the seaside town. Further information is available here.
The event comes from Lancashire County Council’s Community Heritage Team, in association with the Friends of St Annes Library. The talk is a follow up to that given by St Annes-based local historian Peter Shakeshaft at Haslingden Library a short time ago.
Tickets are on sale at St Annes Library. Further information: Tel: 08450530005. Email: stannes.library@lancashire.gov.uk
When: Saturday 29 June 2013
Where: Library
Lovely cakes!
We are holding our annual garden party in the Library garden on 29 June, 11.00 am – 3.00 pm .
This is a fun packed event for all of the family, with children’s entertainment, music, plants and seeds, gardening equipment, books and refreshments.
The programme is:
11:00-13:00 Facepainting by Funky Monkey
11:30-12:00 Heyhouses Community Choir
12:00-12:30 Storytelling
12:30-14:30 Family Craft Workshop with Lisa Wigham
There will be a bottle tombola, as well as home-made cakes and chutneys.
We would welcome any donations of bottles and cakes!
We hope to see you on Saturday 29 June!
The Friends have planted a new medicinal garden in front of the library. The bed includes herbs and plants that all have healing qualities. Each plant has been labelled and you can read more about all the plants on information sheets situated in the noticeboard.
We hope to add more plants over time. If you have any cuttings of medicinal plants you would like to donate then please do get in touch at info@fosal.org.uk
When: Saturday 4 May 2013 10.30 am – 12.30 pm
Where: Library
Our popular book sale will be held on Saturday 4 May at the Library. A book ‘swap shop’ will be available for children, who can bring along their books and swap them for some different ones.
We need donations of good quality – preferably fiction – books, so if you’re spring cleaning and are clearing out your shelves, please remember us! Books can be left at the Library from the 15 April onwards.
Refreshments and home made cakes will be available, so come along and buy a coffee and cake and browse the books before purchasing.
When: Thursday 7 March 2013 at 7.30 pm
Where: Library
Cost: £3 per ticket
The Bronte Sisters by Patrick Branwell Bronte
The 7 March is World Book Day and to celebrate we have organised ‘An Evening With the Brontes’. There will be a Bronte quiz, a biographical introduction to Charlotte, Emily, Anne and Branwell, together with readings from their novels. Refreshments will also be served.
Tickets cost £3 each and are on sale in the Library.
World Book Day is a day set aside every year to celebrate reading, books, authors and illustrators. It’s marked in more than 100 countries around the world and will be celebrated for the 16th time
in 2013.
When: Tuesday 22 January 2013 at 7.30 pm
Where: Library
Cost: £3 per ticket
Robbie Burns
Come and celebrate Burns’ Night at the Library with readings from Tam O Shanter and other poems, plus a quiz on all things Scottish. A local piper will address the haggis.
Of course, no Burns’ night would be complete without food and, while we can’t quite manage a sit down meal of haggis, tatties and neeps, we can offer you a taste of haggis, oat cakes, Scottish cheese, Dundee cake and shortbread.
Tickets on sale at the Library.
Unveiling of the mosaic by members of FoSAL
FoSAL’s latest gift to the Library Garden was finally unveiled on Saturday 17 November. The Friends commissioned artist Patricia Lee to create an Owl and the Pussycat mosaic to celebrate the bicentenary of author and poet Edward Lear, who also created the children’s poem.
Following the unveiling of the work of art by members of FoSAL, library staff members Stephaine and Sandra performed a reading of the popular poem in front of a large crowd of adults andchildren. Once back inside, the children’s Library was quickly packed with children attending Patricia’s workshops, which saw them making Owl and the Pussycat bookmarks and masks. The children were also able to purchase themed cup cakes, which proved to be very popular.
Owl & the Pussycat Mosaic
The event was organised in conjunction with Fylde DFAS (Decorative & Fine Arts Society). During the summer, DFAS organised a series of workshops for both adults and children to design birds for the It’s A Birdie! Community arts
project which celebrated the Open Golf competition. The Library birds were exhibited at various locations throughout St Annes for several weeks during th summer. DFAS used the Owl & the Pussycat event to return these birdies to their owners, together with a certificate of participation,. Any unclaimed birdies are being stored at the Library, so if you wish to claim your birdie please contact the Library staff.
Meanwhile, the hard work of maintaining the garden continues and the Friends have been busy planting hundreds of bulbs. We look forward to seeing their colourful presence in the spring!
When: Saturday, 17 November 2012, 10.30 am – 12.30 pm
Where: Library
Cost: Free
Who: All
The autumn garden party will mark the unveiling of the new Owl and The Pussycat mosaic in the Library garden. The mosaic has been created by Patricia Lee, the same artist who created ‘Birdsworth’ our mosiac bird who roosts next to the pergola. The artwork has been commissioned by FoSAL in recognition of the bicentenary of Edward Lear, creator of the children’s poem, the Owl and the Pussycat.
There will be a reading of the poem and workshops, led by the artist, for children to create bookmarks and masks.
Refreshments will be available.
The event is also an opportunity for people to collect any birdies they designed at the Its A Birdie! workshops, held during the summer.
The Friends of St Annes Library KNIT Together group have been working on a project to create tiny garments that can be used for stillborn babies. The project is in support of the charity Lisa’s Star’s, which was set up in the Autumn of 2010 in order to make a difference to those who are unfortunate enough to lose a child prematurely. More information can be found at http://www.lisasstars.org.uk/.
The photo show a selection of the cardigans, hats and bootees made by the Friends’ knitters and, below, staff at Blackpool’s Victoria Hospital Maternity Unit receiving them.
The KNIT Together group meets at the Library on the first and third Friday of each month, 10.00 Both novice and experienced knitters are welcome. As well as doing their own knitting, members of the group also undertake various charitable projects. These have included knitting soft woollen toys, called ‘Izzy’ dolls, for children who are victims of war, HIV babies, orphans and those who suffer from plain want. Another project saw the group knitting miniature bobble hats for Age UK, who forwarded them to a juice company for their Christmas promotion. The company paid Age UK for their efforts..
New members are always welcome and also the group would appreciate any donations of knitting wool. More information is available here.
When: 30 October 2012 at 7.30 pm
Where: Library
Cost: £3 per ticket
Who: Older children and adults
Come and be spooked at the Library by listening to excerpts from readers’ favourite horror books – Bram Stoker, Edgar Allan Poe, etc. Take part in our quiz and test your knowledge of horror.
Fancy dress is encouraged!
Partake of some blood punch and nasty nibbles.
See you there if you dare!
Tickets are currently on sale in the library – £3 each which includes refreshments
FoSAL Steering Group with their Award
The Friends of St Annes Library have won a Fylde Together Volunteering Award, in recognition of their contribution to volunteering. FoSAL was the winner of the Best Volunteer Team category. FoSAL Chair Anne Fielding and Sheila Woodburn, Library District Manager at Lancashire County Council, attended the Award Ceremony at Lytham Hall on 12th September. The Award was presented by the Mayor of Fylde.
Fylde Together recognises the contributions made by volunteers each year across Fylde and acknowledges this with a number of awards.
Thanks to the very kind person who nominated us, whoever you are!
Best Volunteer Team Award
When: 9 October 2012 at 7.30 pm
Where: Library
Who: FoSAL members and non-members
The Annual General Meeting will be held on 9 October at 7.30 pm in the Library. All members will receive the necessary documents prior to the meeting.
The AGM is open to both members and non-members. Following the short meeting, Roy Winter will give a talk on ‘How the Railway Came to St Annes’.
Refreshments will be served.
We do need new members, so please do come along – and bring a friend!
When: 7 and 8 September 2012, 9.45 am – 12.00 pm
Where: Library
Who: Older children and adults
As part of the St Annes Music and Arts Festival, the Library is holding two dance workshops on Friday 7 September and Saturday 8 September, at 9.45 am to 12.00 pm.
The workshops will be led by dance artist Anna Daly and are described as “an eclectic mix of learning and creating dance, inspired by literature, music and the garden”.
The workshops are free of charge but places are limited. To reserve your place please call Paula on 01253 720191.
Birdsworth is now official! He was formally unveiled at our Garden Party by the Chair of Fylde DFAS, Hilary Alcock, on 21 July. And what a lovely day it was. The warm and sunny weather was perfect for a party in our beautiful garden and it was a pleasure to welcome both local residents and visitors – we did get some passing traffic from folk on their way to the Open Golf, who nipped in for a quick coffee and a cake whilst en route.
Fylde DFAS Chair Hilary Alcock unveils Birdsworth
This year’s event was a little different from previous years as we involved Fylde DFAS (Decorative & Fine Arts Society) and their ‘It’s a Birdie’ project. As well as unveiling Birdsworth, books were also presented to the children from Home Start Fylde, who have also been participating in the It’s a Birdie project.
Fiddle Faddle entertained us in the marquee, while Nochas de Salsa demonstrated their salsa skills. There was plenty of entertainment for the children too – face painting from Funky Monkey, badge making with the RSPB and a very lively puppet production of ‘The Very Hungry Caterpillar’.
We can’t do all this without your help, so a very bigl thanks to all who gave up their time to make this a very special event. And a specially big thank you to those people who made cakes – what a lovely selection!
Lovely cakes!
Further information about the Its A Birdie project, plus photos of all the birdies made at the library workshops are available here.
The Summer 2012 newsletter is now available. Those of you who have email accounts should have received your copy electronically by now. Printed copies can be picked up from the FoSAL table at the Library.
This latest issue includes lots of information on the It’s A Birdie! project and the important role FoSAL and the Library have played in making this arts project so successful. It also includes a piece on Patricia Lee, the artict who
created our lovely mosaic bird Birdsworth. You can also read about past events and get an update on the garden.
Please click here for the latest issue.
When: 21 July 2012 at 11.00am – 3.00pm 
Where: St Annes Library Garden
Who: All
Fylde DFAS Chair Hilary Alcock unveils Birdsworth
This year, FoSAL is holding its annual Garden Party to coincide with the Open Golf Championship. So if you’re a golfing widow or just uninterested in what’s going on down the road come along and join in the fun.
The event is a little different this year as we are involving Fylde DFAS (Decorative & Fine Arts Society) and their ‘It’s a Birdie’ project. Not only will we have a range of stalls, cakes, crafts, refreshments, salsa dancing and musical entertainment but we will also be unveiling ‘Birdsworth’ a lovely mosaic sculpture for the library garden, and we’ll also be handing out books to children from Home Start Fylde – these two latter events are part of the It’s a Birdie project. And because this is a birdie event, the RSPB will be there with their badge making equipment. During the afternoon, there will be a puppet show for the children.
The timetable of events is as follows:
11.00 am -Opening of Garden Party and official unveiling of Birdsworth
11.45 am Fiddle Faddle – enjoy coffee/tea and cakes in the marquee and listen to the music
12.45 am Fiddle Faddle
1.00 pm Funky Monkey face painting
1.00 pm Nochas de Salsa – work off those cakes by salsaing your way round the library
1.30 pm Presentation of books to children from Homestart Fylde – come and see the children dressed in their owl costumes
1.45 pm Fiddle Faddle – time for a rest and some refreshments while you listen to the music
2.00 pm Puppet show for the children
If you would like to help out at this event please email info@fosal.org.uk. Thank you.
Further information about the Its A Birdie project is available here.
If you’ve visited the library this weekend (30 June) you will have noticed a new feature in the garden. Our beautiful mosaic bird sculpture has been installed, close to the pergola where he can be seen from the road. Go and have a sneak preview of him before he is officially unveiled at our garden party on 21 July. I’m sure you’ll agree that he’s a real asset for the garden.
Birdsworth
The Library Garden is to get a ‘literary bird’ sculpture as part of the It’s a Birdie! project, currently being organised by Fylde DFAS (Decorative & Fine Arts Society). Nearly 80 birdies were created at the St Annes Library workshops, held in May. All ages took part, ranging from toddlers to grandparents. Working together with DFAS, artist Patrica Lee took away all the ideas behind these 80 birds, in order to decide on a winning design that would be the basis of her sculpture for the library garden.
Birdsworth
The winning bird is ‘Birdsworth’, a literary bird, which will now be transformed into a beautiful mosaic and fused glass permanent piece of art. Patricia has given him a bit of a Wordsworth look with the hair and collar! He has a host of golden daffodils on his breast – individually made from fused glass. His beak is golden and his wings are red and gold; his back and head are a sky blue. Well known quotes from books will be incorporated on the wings, encapsulated in yellow fused glass.
Fused glass daffodils
Birdsworth will be unveiled at our Garden Party on 21 July 2012.
The 80 perspex birdies will be used to decorate shops, hotels and restaurants in St Annes during the Open Golf Championship. They can all be viewed on the It’s A Birdie! web site at itsabirdie.com.
In July 2012 The Open Golf Championship is coming to St Annes. Fylde Decorative and Fine Arts Society (DFAS) has plans to transform our town into a public art exhibition. Fylde DFAS is working with various community groups, including the Friends of St Annes Library.
To help them to do this they have been incredibly fortunate to obtain the services of celebrated mosaic artist Patricia Lee. Patricia would like to hold workshops with members of the public, in St Annes Library, to design birds and create beautiful stained glass hangings. The more imaginative the birdies the better! Inspired by all our ideas Patricia will then create our very own bird for St Annes!
The workshops will take place on Saturday 5th May, between 10.30 and 1.30; and Saturday 12th May, between 12 and 3.pm. All ages are welcome. The workshops are free, but limited to 72 places so early booking is essential.If any children and their families would like to take part in this amazing opportunity then all they need to do is to hurry down to the library where they can meet a special visitor, “Posh Bird” Henrietta and book a place.
Come and help transform St Annes into a work of art!
On Saturday, 31 March, the Garden Crew had its third and final garden workshop. Expert advice was provided by Jim Carey from Myerscough College , who spent all morning and part of the afternoon with the volunteers, offering advice and tips on how to treat the plants and shrubs to get them in tip-top condition for the summer months.
Jim showed us the best way to prune each individual plant, how to take cuttings, how to train the clematises, and much more. Each individal plant was assessed to see how it had fared obver the winter months. Unfortunately, some of the evergreen shrubs aren’t doing as well as expected, given the relaively mild winter we’ve had. It appears that the quality of the soil is poor in some areas of the garden and we were given advice on how best to treat it.
A well deserved lunch break
As usual, this workshop was both informative and fun and we’d like to thank Jim Carey for his help and advice over the last year or so.
As any gardener knows the spring and summer months are the busiest, and the Library Garden is no exception. We do need help in maintaining and looking after the Garden. Whether you have lots of experience and know-how or are a complete novice, please come along and join the Garden Crew.
We don’t ask for a lot of your time – every other month you will be asked to help for a few hours doing seasonal planting, weeding, tidying and watering.
To find out more, call Paula on 01253 720191 or email friendsofstanneslibrary@gmail.com
When: 12 April 2012 at 7.30pm
Where: St Annes Library
Who: All
Cost: £2.50
Fom Malleus Fatuarum. Two of the accused witches, Anne Whittle and her daughter Anne Redferne
This year marks the 400th anniversary of the Pendle witch trials. The Friends of St Annes Library present this talk on the notorious 1612 Witch Trials, by Colin Penny from Lancashire Museums at Lancaster Castle. The trials of the Pendle witches are among the most famous witch trials in English history, and some of the best recorded of the 17th century. The 12 accused lived in the area around Pendle Hill in Lancashire, and were charged with the murders of 10 people by the use of witchcraft. For more on the trial please see the Wikipedia entry here.
Colin Penny is a very popular speaker, so be sure to get your tickets early. Last year he gave a fascinating talk on the graffiti created by prisoners in Lancaster Castle some 300 years ago. 
The talk is part of the ‘Lancashire’s Criminal Past’ project. For a fascinating insight into crime and Lancashire’s history, please see the ‘Lancashire’s Criminal Past’ blog.
Tickets are on sale in St Annes Library for £2.50 each, including refeshments. All proceeds from the event will be donated to the Friends of St Annes Library.
When: 16 February 2012 at 7.30pm 
Where: St Annes Library
Who: All
Cost: £2.50. Tickets are available from Library
How well do you know your Dickens? Come and celebrate the bicentenary of one of England’s greatest authors with readings, fun quizzes, music, refreshments, etc.
Why not get in the mood by dressing as your favourite Dickensian character!
ICROSS (International Community for the Relief of Starvation and Suffering) Canada has awarded a certificate to the Knit Together Group in recognition of their efforts in helping babies and children in developing countries.
The certificate says, ‘In recognition of knitting, gathering and shipping of Izzy African comfort dolls and Boomer Newborn Baby Caps for the children of war, the HIV and AIDS orphans, the child survivors of natural disasters, and the poorest of the poor in the global village on our battered and bleeding wee planet.’
Congratulations to the group for all their hard work.
The Knit Together Group meets on the 1st and 3rd Friday of the month. New members are always welcome. The group would also appreciate any donations of knitting wool.
More information is available at http://fosal.org.uk/2011/07/knit-together/
When: 7th February 2012 at 2.00pm
Where: St Annes Library
Who: All
Cost: Free
The Library, together with FoSAL, has organised a special Family History Meeting. The speaker will be frelance historian Alan Crosby, author/editor of more than 65 books and articles including, ‘Leading the Way: a History of Lancashire’s Roads’ and ‘A History of Lancashire’. He is also currently editor of the ‘Local Historian’.
When: 14 April 2012 at 11.00 am
Where: St Annes Library Garden
Who: All
Cost: Free
Lots of second hand fiction and non-fiction books will be available to browse and buy in the Library Garden. Come along and buy a book and read it in the garden with a coffee and a cake.
The Knit Together Group have a new project. They are knitting for the charity Lisa’s Stars.
Angel wrap & hat
Lisa’s Stars was set up in the Autumn of 2010 to make a difference to those who are unfortunate enough to lose a child prematurely. Their Founder is a lady who has sadly experienced this and felt something was massively missing from the aftercare of those babies and their parents. Lisa’s Stars initially started out as a way to support her local hospital, and her aim was to supply them with tiny blankets, hats and angel wraps so that any baby born too early would be kept warm and wrapped in love. Within three days of starting the group on Facebook, Lisa’s Stars had a website, a forum to give support to families and nearly a thousand members (now currently having over 5000 members on Facebook alone), not to mention an army of ladies loving knitting and sewing a mountain of angel clothes. More information can be found at http://www.lisasstars.org.uk/
The Knit Together Group, which meets on the 1st and 3rd Friday of the month, are knitting small blankets and tiny wraps. These will go to the Victoria Hospital, Blackpool.
New members are always welcome and also the group would appreciate any donations of knitting wool.
More information is available at http://fosal.org.uk/2011/07/knit-together/
We did it! St Annes has won the North West in Bloom Award for Large Coastal Resort, finally beating Southport after six years of trying! Overall, Fylde scooped 25 awards, more than any other area of the North West.
It seems a long time since the judges visited the Library Garden on a hot and sunny morning during the summer, but they were obviously impressed, not only with the beauty of the garden but also by how much of an asset it is for the local community.
Congratulations to all gardeners in St Annes but especially to FOSAL’s green-fingered Garden Crew volunteers!
We’re planning to put on a lovely show of flowers next spring by planting lots and lots of bulbs. And we asked for your help! Thanks to the four volunteers who turned up to ensure that the garden will be full of tulips, daffs, aliums and lilies after the winter.
Keep your Thursdays free and come along and help out in the Library Garden! The Friends decided that it would be easier for the Garden Crew and other volunteers to dedicate one day a week to garden maintenance.
There’s plenty to do. The recent warm weather means that the weeds, as well as the plants, are flourishing and, of course, there are always leaves to be picked up and bagged. Later this month we’ll be planting spring bulbs. Come along and help keep our garden beautiful and ensure that we have a wonderful display next spring,
For further information please contact Paula on on 01253 720191 or email friendsofstanneslibrary@gmail.com
When: 12 October 2011 at 7.30 pm
Where: Library
Who: FoSAL members and non-members
Waiting for the meeting to start
FoSAL held its Annual General Meeting in St Annes Library on 12 October, at 7.30 pm. The meeting was open to all members and non-members. It was very pleasing to see so many people there to help us celebrate our achievements over the last year, and assist with the election of officers and share your ideas.
The meeting also provided the opportunity to display FoSAL’s latest awards from the Lancashire Environmental Fund. The Fund recently visited the Garden at St Annes Library as part of the judging for its LEF Best Practice Awards 2011, and selected the Friends’ group as one of the winners. The glass plaque and certificate will be hung in the library very soon.
Guest speaker was Fred Moor, local activist and editor of Counterbalance. He provided an informative presentation of the history of the Fylde Civic Awareness Group
When: 24 November 2011 at 7.30 pm
Where: St Annes Library
Who: All
Cost: £2.50; £2.00 FoSAL members. Tickets available from Library
Originally dating from the eighteenth century, Heyhouses Endowed Church Of England School can claim a unique history as the oldest school in St Annes and also the largest church primary school.
Local historian John Booth has compiled a book on the school’s history, detailing its development and successes. John has kindly agreed to provide a talk on the history of Heyhouses School on 25 November at 7.30 in the Library.
The FoSAL Garden Crew has been getting some expert tuition on how to look after the Library garden’s plants over the winter months. Jim Carey from Myerscough College spent a morning with the volunteers on 24 September advising on all sorts of winter maintenance.
Each plant was examined carefully to see how it had flourished (or not) since the planting a few months ago. Most are doing well, but next spring some will be moved to a more sunny/shady position as needed. Volunteers also learned about the best time for pruning, splitting plants, taking cuttings and soil analysis.
This was a very informative and fun event. And, of course, as well as gaining knowledge on how to look after the Library Garden, volunteers also took away a lot of hints and tips for their own gardens. Another session has been arranged for next year. Would you like to join us? We do need your help in maintaining and looking after the Garden. Whether you have lots of experience and know-how or are a complete novice, you’re invited to join the Reading with a View Garden Crew
We don’t ask for a lot of your time – every other month you will be asked to help out in the garden for a few hours doing seasonal planting, tidying and watering.
To find out more, call Paula on 01253 720191 or email friendsofstanneslibrary@gmail.com
The Fylde Coast – some aspects of its history and wildlife: a talk by well known local historian Peter Shakeshaft.
Peter Shakeshaft entertaining the Friends at a previous event
Born in St. Annes, Peter Shakeshaft has had a lifelong interest in history, and has published two books covering the history of Freckleton and St. Annes.
Peter is a regular and popular speaker at Friends events, and his latest talk on Fylde’s history and wildlife, on 22 September, was a sell-out.
Peter and his wife Maureen are keen birdwatchers and have taken part in the Wetland Bird Survey for the last 40 years. Peter emphasised the importance of the Ribble Estuary as a site of international importance for identifying population sizes, and determining trends in numbers and distribution.
Peter also spoke about the importance of the area’s sand dune system and, in particular, marram grass. Such is the importance of the grass for providing structure for the dunes that there were (and maybe still are) laws preventing locals from taking the grass for thatch, etc.
We also heard about how eighteenth century practices relating to common pasture land are still in operation today. Owners still allocate ‘cow/common gates’ on the Freckleton and Newton marshes.
FoSAL would like to thank Peter and Maureen for providing a fascinating insight into Fylde’s wildlife and its historical importance.
Glass plaque
FOSAL members Paula Fodor & Seetha Shearer receive the LEF Award
FoSAL has won another award, this time from the Lancashire Environmental Fund! The Fund recently visited the Garden at St Annes Library as part of the judging for its LEF Best Practice Awards 2011, and selected the Friends’ group as one of the winners.
On 16 September, FoSAL members Paula Fodor and Seetha Shearer attended LEF’s Annual Event at the Brockholes Nature Reserve to receive the award, which includes a beautiful glass plaque and certificate, together with a small cash prize. The day’s programme also included a guided tour around this innovative new nature reserve and the viewing of the Fund’s film, ‘From Blank Canvas to Brockholes’, which charts the development of the site. Keynote speaker was Ben Osborne, wildlife photographer, who has worked on the BBC’s ‘Planet Earth’ and ‘Life in the Freezer’ series with David Attenborough.
The plaque and the certificate will be hung in the Library.
This is the second award FoSAL has won in just a few weeks. In August, the Garden won a Highly Recommended prize in the New Fylde Housing garden competition.
Lancashire Environmental Fund is a partnership between SITA UK Ltd, Lancashire County Council, The Wildlife Trust for Lancashire, Manchester and North Merseyside and Community Futures. Formed as a non-profit company in 1998 the Fund has allocated over £15m to more than 500 environmental, community and waste management projects throughout the county to date.
We held a book sale and Children’s Book Swap Shop in the library on Saturday 3 September. The original plan was to hold the 
event outside, so that everyone could relax, read their new books and enjoy some refreshments in our lovely garden. Unfortunately, the weather had other plans and we had to hold the event indoors.
We were delighted with the number of books we received and would like to thank everyone who kindly donated them. And, of course, we’d like to offer a special thanks to those who came along and bought books.
The annual book sale is an important date in FoSAL’s calendar as it is one of our major fund raising events. Money raised enables us to plan more events for FoSAL members and the local community.
St Annes Library garden has been awarded a Highly Recommended prize in the New Fylde Housing garden competition. This 
is wonderful news for FoSAL as the garden is still relatively immature. It’s also very encouraging for the volunteers who have worked hard this summer tending to the new plants and trees.
The certificate from New Fylde Housing is to be displayed in the garden noticeboard.
Come along and visit our prize winning garden and purchase some books from our second hand book sale on Saturday, 3 September at 10.00 am. There will be a children’s Book Swap Shop as well.
Our Knit Together group meets every two weeks, on 2nd and 3rd Fridays in the month, in St Annes Library, 10.00 am – 12.00 pm. Both experienced and novice knitters are welcome.
If you enjoy knitting and nattering why not come and join us; or maybe you need a bit of emotional support when it comes to decreasing, increasing or turning a heel!
As well as doing their own knitting, members of the group also undertake various charitable projects. These have included knitting soft woollen toys, called ‘Izzy’ dolls, for children who are victims of war, HIV babies, orphans and those who suffer from plain want. Another project saw the group knitting miniature bobble hats for Age UK, who forwarded them to a juice company for their Christmas promotion. The company paid Age UK for their efforts.
More recently, the group made Worry Monsters. These are used to help children who have maybe suffered from abuse, neglect or other serious problems. When a worrying or troubling thought comes into the child’s mind they can write it down, or draw a picture, and feed it to their monster – they will often be willing to tell the monster about the worry rather than ty and explain to an adult.
For further information please concat Anne Fielding 01253 711123.
Preston-based author Jenn Ashworth read from her books ‘Cold Light’ and ‘A Kind of Intimacy’, and talked about her writing. She explained how her plots and characters are often based on untruths or personal interpretations of the truth.
Jenn was selected as one of the best 12 new British novelists by the BBC2’s Culture Show and was a finalist for Waterstones’ New Voices in 2009. ‘A Kind of Intimacy’ was runner-up for the 2009 Guardian ‘Not the Booker’.
Further information about Jenn and her books can be found at http://jennashworth.co.uk/
In June, we hosted a Birdy Day event in The Reading With a View Garden. This was a hugely successful family event, which provided children with the opportunity to make and take home a nesting box. RSPB volunteers from the RSPB Ribble Discovery Centre were on hand to help build the boxes and provide lots of information on local birds.
Hard at work making a birdy box
Local children’s book shop, Storytellers Inc, provided a display of bird-related books and Katie read some birdy stories to young children in the garden’s pergola.
If you thought graffiti was a modern phenomenon, think again!
Dr. Colin Penny gave a fascinating talk on the graffiti created by prisoners in Lancaster Castle some 300 years ago. One piece from 1741 was particularly interesting and Dr. Penny explained how it could be interpreted to tell us a great deal about the prejudices inherent within eighteenth century society.
Our Wii sessions were suspended due to the library closure. We hope to get them up and running again very soon.
If you’re looking for a fun way to keep fit and active then why not come and join our monthly ‘Together Wii Play’ sessions. Using a Nintendo Wii, the sessions offer various activities such as playing virtual tennis and bowling, as well as providing a programme of exercises.
Don’t worry if you’ve never used a Wii before as students from Lytham St Annes High School are on hand to help all participants. As numbers are limited, booking through the library is essential – please phone 01253 643900.
Keep fit and have fun as well!
Students from the High School help participants get to grips with Wii Fit
If you’re reading this then you will know that we now have a new web site. The Friends thought it was important to have a web presence for lots of reasons – to serve the increasing number of silver surfers, to attract a younger audience, to embrace social media such as Facebook and Twitter, and to reach a wider community. The site enables us to keep members up-to-date on what’s happening and to view photographs of events, as well as allowing us to make our presence more visible to a wider audience.
We’d love to have your feedback on the site and any suggestions you have for improving it. Please send your comments to info@fosal.org.uk.
You may also have noticed that some of our forms, posters and other materials now display our new Friends of St Annes Library logo. The logo is based on Thompson Dagnall’s wooden sculpture which stands in the Reading With a View Garden.
We celebrated Burns’ Night with readings from Tam O Shanter and other poems, plus a quiz on all things Scottish.
Statue of Robbie Burns
Of course, no Burns’ night would be complete without food and, while we didn’t quite manage haggis, tatties and neeps, we did enjoy oat cakes, Scottish cheese, Dundee cake and shortbread.
St Annes College Grammar School pupils enjoying the reading garden
When walking past the library you can’t help but notice that the garden is proving popular with library users, passers-bys, library staff, schools and other groups. Whether you’re looking for ten peaceful minutes to read the paper, eat your lunch or just generally relax in a lovely environment, then the garden is for you!
Don’t forget to check out the two new noticeboards too, which display posters and other information about upcoming events.
The Friends have been awarded a sustainability grant of £3,500 by Community Spaces. Over the next 12 months we will use this money to organise community events, focusing on seasonal activities in the garden and the support of other library events. The grant will also be used to purchase gardening equipment and to pay for volunteers to be trained in horticulture and first aid.
It was with great sadness that the Friends learned of the untimely death of Ian Shearer in May this year. As well as being a founder member of the Friends of St Annes Library, Ian was well known in the community for his activities with Amnesty International, the World Development Movement and more. He also worked tirelessly on the Library garden project but, sadly, missed the grand opening.
The Friends are currently in discussion with Ian’s wife Seetha regarding the planting of a tree in the Library garden, together with a plaque.
We did it! After years of planning and hard work, the Friends, together with the local community, celebrated the official opening of the Reading With a View Garden at the beginning of May. The rainy start didn’t dampen spirits and everyone agreed that the event was a huge success.
The grand opening was conducted by Taffy Thomas, the Storyteller Laureate, who later entertained the children with a range of exciting stories, both inside the library and, once the rain had stopped, outside in the pergola.
A host of other entertainment was laid on. There were musical interludes from Fiddle Faddle, the Guardian Band Ensemble, and the KEQMS Singers. There was dancing too. The Fylde Coast Cloggers treated us to a display of traditional North West Morris dances, and children from Heyhouses School danced around the maypole. In between stories, children could have their faces painted for free and join in other activities.
This wasn’t a fun raising event. The Friends wanted to create a fun day for everyone and to celebrate a long-held dream – the creation of a beautiful reading garden for everyone to use.
Maypole dancing performed by children from Heyhouses School
Morris dancing by the Fylde Coast Cloggers
Face painting fun
Following a consultation with Community History Manager Andrew Walmsley, the Friends have obtained, as a gift to the Library, a copy of the Gough Map, plus an accompanying book from the Bodleian Library.
The Gough Map is a map of Great Britain, dating between 1355 and 1366, and is the oldest surviving road map of Great Britain. Its precise date of production and authorship are unknown. It is named after Richard Gough, who donated the map to the Bodleian Library in 1809.
The map has been laminated and endorsed with the text ‘A Gift from Friends of the Library’.
Our patron Jenny Eclair
Local stand-up comic, actor and writer Jenny Eclair has agreed to be a patron of the Friends of St Annes Library. She was unable to attend the opening of the Reading With a View Garden, but she sent us a message about her love of books and gardens.
She said, ‘Basically, there are two things in life that keep me sane and they are books and gardens. Life is nothing without reading and green spaces, so enjoy your garden, enjoy your books, and when the sun comes out, enjoy both and take some time to think how lucky you are. Hope you have a great day.’
We hope to see Jenny at future events.
