What’s On at the Atkinson in Southport with Armed Forces Day events, Sefton Art Group and Construction Club

FREE Fun Across The Week!

Construction Club

Saturday 29 June 2024, 10:30 am – 12:30 pm
Children’s Library
Free. Donations welcome.

Young inventors, creators and builders are invited to drop in and play with our massive supply of LEGO. Join us and let your imagination run wild!

Admission is free.
Please note last entry is at 12pm.
Ages 5+. Children under 12 must be accompanied by an adult.
Spaces limited. First come first served basis. You may be expected to wait until a space at a table becomes available.

 You’re Invited!

Private Viewing: Sefton Art Group

Saturday 29 June 2024, 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm.
The Landing
Free. Donations welcome.

Immerse yourself in creativity! The Sefton Art Group’s exciting new exhibition is here. Meet the talented artists behind the works and chat with them about their inspiration. Group tutor Roy Munday will also be there to answer your questions about The Sefton Art Group and their artistic journey.

Unique artwork available for purchase.

No booking required. Just drop in and enjoy!

As part of our Armed Forces Weekend…

The Story of 611 (West Lancashire) Fighter Squadron, RAuxAF

Saturday 29 June 2024, 11:00 am
The Atkinson – Studio
Free. Donations welcome.

611 (West Lancashire) Squadron Royal Auxiliary Air Force was formed in 1936 at Speke airport Liverpool as part of the massive expansion of the RAF to counter the Nazi threat. One of the first auxiliary units to receive Spitfire fighters it was at summer camp when war was declared and it was immediately embodied into the regular RAF.

Manned by personnel from Lancashire the squadron had an illustrious war career fighting at bases all over Britain, operating over Dunkirk, Normandy on D-Day and was the first squadron to meet Russian aircraft over Berlin towards the end of the war. It retained many of its pre-war Lancastrian ground crews. Disbanded at the end of the war it was reformed at RAF Woodvale in May 1946, again with Spitfires.

Spitfires gave way to Meteor jets in 1951 and the squadron moved to Hooton Park on the Wirral providing fighter cover for the north of England.  Due to defence cuts in 1957 the squadron disbanded together with all auxiliary units in the RAF.

With increased world tensions in 2013 the Sqn was reformed at RAF Woodvale as a ground based auxiliary unit providing a reserve of specialists ready to slot directly into regular RAF service if needed and backing up our RAF personnel across Britain, Europe and Cyprus offering highly skilled and professional services but as a reserve function.

All will be revealed at this talk, delivered by Aldon Ferguson.

Southport Armed Forces Day 2024

Sunday 30 June 2024, 10:00 am – 4:00 pm
Free. Donations welcome.The Atkinson is usually closed on Sundays.
The building will partially open for this special event.
Southport Library and the Museum remain closed on this day. 

The Atkinson Salutes The Armed Forces

Armed Forces Day is an annual opportunity to thank the Armed Forces community for their work and to learn more about life in the Armed Forces.

Come along in your a period vintage uniform or vintage civilian dress on the day, we would love to see you.

Foyer, 10am – 4pm

Find out about the centenary of the the Royal Auxiliary Air Force and history of 611 Squadron in a new exhibition.

View the Royal British Legion portrait exhibition ‘Face to Face’ by photographer Dave Brown.

Take part in a free camouflage netting workshop with Nina Karetska and Vita Mahlovana.

Chat to different military charities and services including ‘Veterans in Sefton’ and ‘Forces Employment Charity’.

Discover accurate and professional living history displays from Axis-Allied (AX-AL) WW1 and WW2 re-enactment group.

Artist Tony Bramham will present a selection of his oil paintings and large scale pencil drawings on the subject of military history.

Find out how you can support the important work of The Atkinson Development Trust.

The Box Office and Shop will also be open.

Art Gallery, 10am – 4pm

1:30pm – Free talk. The history of RAF Woodvale with Neil Blair MBE.

In the Philip Connard exhibition you can see works on loan from Imperial War Museums. Connard became a Captain in the Royal Field Artillery soon after enlisting in the Army in 1915. By the following year he was suffering severely from shell shock after serving on the front line at the Battle of the Somme. After a short spell back in London working with a camouflage unit, he was recruited as an Official War Artist by the Navy.

Café, 10am – 4pm

A Great Little Place will be open to serve great coffee and delicious fresh food.

Outside The Atkinson

10.30am – Drumhead service at Southport War Memorial
11.00am – Military Parade
12.oopm – Pipers

Throughout the day numerous exhibitors, vendors and attractions will be open in the Town Hall Gardens. Find out more about the activity outside The Atkinson here: armedforcesday.org.uk/event/southport-armed-forces-day-2024/

Shop

Family Theatre Fun:

Uncovering the story of The King’s Plate

Anglia Research are global experts in probate genealogy. angliaresearch.co.uk

Thank you to Your Southport (Southport BID) for the video.