Speaker: John Phillips
Formby Lifeboat Station, founded in 1776, was the UK’s and probably the world’s first lifeboat station. Funded by Liverpool merchants, it served the dangerous Merseyside coast for over a century. Crewed by local volunteers, it saved countless lives before closing in 1916. Its legacy remains a proud part of Formby’s maritime heritage.
Our speaker John Phillips was born in Neath, South Wales, but grew up and went to school in Bootle. He read Modern History at Leeds University and worked as a teacher and school manager on Merseyside and in Spain (Valencia and Madrid). He has an M.Ed. in Comparative Education at Liverpool University and an Advanced Diploma in Local History (Online) from the University of Oxford. His special interests other than history include modern languages, Spanish life and culture – and music and reading in general. Since retiring he has played an active role with Formby Civic Society with particular emphasis on recording and preserving local heritage. He has written two short local history studies: “A Community in Wartime – Formby 1914-1918” (with Tony Pawson) and “Learning at Breeze Hill 1932-2012”.
