It is the centre of the ancient parish of North Meols and was formerly a detached settlement, on the northern fringe of what is now Southport.
Gulval has two football teams competing in the Trelawny League; two cricket teams competing in the Penwith area League; the Old Inn - a public house in Gulval Churchtown – was given to the Coldstream Guards Association in memory of Capt Michael Lempriere Bolitho and renamed “The Coldstreamer” (Capt Bolitho was killed in HMS Walney, a Royal Navy tug; her task was to crash through the boom at the entrance to Oran Harbour in Operation Torch on 8 November 1942).
Joanne attended Churchtown Primary School, Stanley High School and King George V College ("KGV"), all in Southport, Merseyside.
Marshside has surprisingly few pubs (compared with neighbouring Churchtown), possibly in part due to the strong tradition of Methodism in the former village.