Category: 1974

Lytham St Annes Borough Council – Town Hall

Fylde Borough Council was established on April 1, 1974, under the Local Government Act 1972, as a result of the merging of three former local authorities: Lytham St Annes Borough Council, Kirkham Urban District Council, and Fylde Rural District Council. The council’s main administrative building is the former Southdown Hydro Hotel, which was purchased in 1925 to serve as the town hall after the merger of Lytham and St Annes The district was named Fylde after the coastal plan. It was awarded borough status from its creation, allowing the chair of the council to take the title of mayor. The… Read more »

Poulton Health & Fitness Centre

The Poulton Health & Fitness Centre in Poulton-le-Fylde was built in 1974. It was originally part of the Poulton Leisure Centre, which also included dry-side facilities like a 43-station gym and an 8m x 15m exercise studio. The site also features wet-side facilities including a 3-lane 20m pool and a separate spa. The YMCA Poulton is your local leisure centre where everyone is welcome! Their friendly staff will help you with any aspect of your mental and physical fitness journey. They are fully accessible with a ramped entrance, wet and dry disabled changing facilities and pool hoist/graduated steps for easy entrance… Read more »

The Federation of Small Businesses

The Federation of Small Businesses (FSB), originally founded as the National Federation of the Self-Employed (NFSE) in 1974, has its roots in Blackpool and a response to government tax changes. The organisation was created by Norman Small in Lytham St Annes as a direct reaction to the introduction of the Class 4 National Insurance contributions, which added extra taxes on the self-employed and small business owners. Small invited affected individuals to a meeting in his hometown, where he proposed the creation of an organisation to represent self-employed workers and sole traders. This meeting was the beginning of a movement that… Read more »

Warwick’s Amusements

Warwick and Janet, along with their family, marked 50 years of running Warwick Amusements across the Fylde coast. Looking back on their journey, the couple expressed how much they’ve enjoyed the last five decades. While they continue to play an active role in the business, they’re excited to see their children and grandchildren take it forward as Blackpool undergoes a period of renewal. Both Warwick and Janet come from families steeped in fairground traditions, with their grandfathers being travelling showmen who took rides and slot machines around in wagons. In the early 1970s, as a newly married couple with a… Read more »

Ripley’s Believe It or Not

Opened in 1974, Ripley’s Believe It or Not! in Blackpool is a must-visit for anyone curious about the bizarre and the extraordinary. Spread across two floors, the attraction features eight themed galleries, each showcasing a fascinating collection of unusual artifacts, oddities, and interactive exhibits from around the world. Whether you’re exploring peculiar cultural relics, remarkable people, or the wonders of nature, there’s something to amaze and intrigue at every turn. The concept behind Ripley’s Believe It or Not! comes from Robert Ripley, a cartoonist, adventurer, and collector of strange stories. Ripley traveled the world in search of the weirdest and… Read more »

The Nolan Sisters

The Nolan Sisters, hailing from Blackpool, England, are a prominent pop group known for their success in the late 1970s and early 1980s. The group originally consisted of the sisters Anne, Denise, Maureen, Linda, and Bernadette (Bernie), with Coleen Nolan later joining the lineup. The Nolan Sisters began their musical journey as part of a family act called The Singing Nolans, which included their parents and brothers. The family performed in clubs and cabarets around Blackpool and the surrounding areas. Their big break came when they appeared on the TV show “It’s Cliff Richard!” in 1974, which led to increased… Read more »