Formby Celebrates 250 Years of Lifeboat History in a Weekend to Remember
- Jun 28
- 2 min read
What an incredible weekend it has been for Formby as hundreds of people came together to celebrate 250 years since the opening of the world’s first lifeboat station, right here on our coastline.
The Formby 250 celebrations showcased everything that makes our village so special, bringing together local history, community spirit and entertainment in honour of a pioneering achievement that changed maritime rescue forever.
Saturday saw Formby Village come alive with live entertainment, maritime themed displays, community stalls, historic exhibitions and a special visit from Southport Offshore Rescue Trust, whose rescue vehicles, equipment and inflatable lifeboat proved a big attraction for visitors of all ages.
The celebrations continued today with a commemorative church service followed by a fantastic free community concert at Platinum Jubilee Park on Lonsdale Road. Hundreds of people enjoyed an afternoon of music, entertainment and family activities, with performances from The Wanderers and The Liverpool Shanty Kings, alongside children’s entertainment, community stalls and refreshments, creating a wonderful atmosphere for all ages.
Watch the video here of Sunday 28th June when Formby featured on Granada TV News and also watch some highlights of the Formby 250 event in Jubilee Park…
Adding to the pride of the weekend, Formby’s historic milestone received regional television coverage on both of the North West’s biggest news programmes. The celebrations featured on BBC North West Tonight on Saturday (watch that HERE) and were also highlighted on ITV Granada Reports today, putting Formby’s unique place in world history firmly in the spotlight.
Throughout the weekend, visitors also had the opportunity to purchase copies of the excellent Our Formby Scrapbook Memories – Lifeboat 250 magazine by Alastair Gillies and John Phillips, preserving the fascinating story of how Formby became the birthplace of organised lifeboat rescue.
This has been far more than just a celebration of our past. It has been a celebration of the people who made history, the volunteers and organisations who organised such a memorable weekend, and the community that continues to take enormous pride in its heritage.
Formby is known today for its stunning coastline, red squirrels and beautiful dunes, but this weekend reminded everyone of something equally important.
Two hundred and fifty years ago, history was made here. The world’s first lifeboat station began in Formby, and this weekend our village celebrated that extraordinary legacy in style.
A remarkable new blue plaque has been installed at as near to Formby Point as possible, proudly marking the site of what is recognised as the world’s first lifeboat station, a pioneering achievement that put Formby at the forefront of maritime rescue history.
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