Category: 2016

Watford Road Park is Brimming With History

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The Loos Trenches Underneath this park lies an important WWI archaeological site. It is important because whilst most trench training sites in the UK were out in remote areas, this one was on the edge of a growing town; What also makes this this site remarkable is that when it was no longer needed by the army, it became a tourist attraction raising money, for the nearby Lancashire Military Convalescent hospital at the old Clifton Racecourse. There are very few photographs or images of the trenches except those contained within the 1916 guidebook, but the fact that the guidebook has… Read more »

Highfield Leadership Academy Joins Trust

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Highfield Leadership Academy in Blackpool is a secondary school for pupils aged 11 to 16, with capacity for around 1,200 students. The school became part of Star Academies — a multi-academy trust that operates a range of schools across the country — on 1 April 2016. Since joining the trust, Highfield has focused on fostering a culture of aspiration and self-belief, aiming to raise standards through personalised learning and consistent monitoring of each pupil’s development. The school implements a structured and data-driven approach to education. Each student has an individual learning plan tailored to both challenge and support them in… Read more »

Three Tower Blocks are Demolished at Queens Park

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Controlled explosion brings down final three tower blocks at the town’s Queens Park on Sunday, 31 July 2016 between 10am and 11am. Blackpool’s skyline changed in seconds as a controlled explosion brought down the final three tower blocks at the town’s Queens Park estate. Twenty-three storey Walter Robinson Court and 16-storey Elizabeth and Churchill Courts – dating from the 1960s and early 1970s – were reduced to rubble to make way for a 190-home Lovell regeneration scheme. As part of the regeneration the rubble will be recycled as a base course for new roads and to raise the western part… Read more »

Feature Film AWAY Focuses on Blackpool

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Away is a 2016 British drama film directed by David Blair and starring Timothy Spall and Juno Temple. It premiered at the 2016 Edinburgh International Film Festival. It was released in the United Kingdom digitally on 8 May 2017 by 101 Films and on DVD on 15 May 2017 by Metrodome. The story takes place in Blackpool, where an unlikely friendship blossoms between a lonely, suicidal widower and a young woman trying to escape an abusive ex-boyfriend. In a nutshell, this is a grim drama set in Blackpool where the older of the two is Joseph (Timothy Spall), a boozy,… Read more »

Stephen Barclay Becomes Commissioner of the Treasury

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Stephen Paul Barclay, born on 3 May 1972 in Lytham, is a British Conservative politician who has served as the Member of Parliament for North East Cambridgeshire since 2010. He held several ministerial roles under Prime Ministers Theresa May, Boris Johnson, and Rishi Sunak, including Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs from 2023 to 2024. After the Conservative Party’s defeat in the 2024 general election, he briefly served as Shadow Environment Secretary before becoming Chair of the Finance Committee in December 2024. Barclay was raised in a family where his father worked in IT for 55 years,… Read more »

Blackpool’s Joe Riley Plays for Manchester United

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Joe Riley, born on 6 December 1996 in Blackpool, is an English professional footballer known for his versatility, playing as both a full-back and midfielder. Currently, he represents National League side AFC Fylde. Riley began his footballing journey at Manchester United, initially as a midfielder before being transitioned into a left-back role for the under-21 team. Riley made his senior debut for Manchester United on 22 February 2016 in a 3–0 FA Cup victory against Shrewsbury Town, coming on as a substitute. Four days later, he earned his first start in a UEFA Europa League fixture against Midtjylland, where Marcus… Read more »

Knitting for a Guinness World Record

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Knitters from around the UK were welcomed to Blackpool sea front on 10th July 2016 to spin their own yarn in an attempt to break the Guinness World Record for having the most people in one spot knitting at the same time. The hardy wool warriors were faced with a blustery cool breeze but were able to knit themselves warm. The world record at the time stood at 3089 people – set in London. With the assistance of Blackpool Town Crier ‘Barry McQueen‘ who opened the event, new recruits were summoned from pavements and were more than happy to join… Read more »

Matt LaBlanc & Chris Evans Filming Top Gear in Blackpool

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On Matt LeBlanc’s first day filming for Top Gear in 2016, things didn’t exactly go to plan. The former Friends star was tasked with driving a Reliant Rialto, decorated in a bold stars-and-stripes design, when the car unexpectedly broke down on its way from Manchester to Blackpool. The vehicle faltered near a KFC in the Orbital Retail Park in Cannock, Staffordshire, forcing LeBlanc to make an unplanned pit stop. His Top Gear co-star, Chris Evans, wasn’t far behind, piloting his own Union Jack-themed Rialto, and he too was forced to halt as their journey took a more chaotic turn. Rather… Read more »

Morecambe & Wise Statue

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The bronze statue of beloved comedians Eric Morecambe and Ernie Wise was unveiled by their families at Blackpool’s Winter Gardens theatre, a fitting tribute to the iconic duo who graced the town’s stages over 1,000 times during their illustrious career. The 8-foot-tall monument was sculpted by Graham Ibbeson, the artist behind the Eric Morecambe statue on Morecambe’s seafront. The statue commemorates the 75th anniversary of the pair’s first performance together in 1941, celebrating their lasting legacy as Britain’s most cherished comedy double act. Eric’s widow, Joan, attended the unveiling alongside their children, Gary and Gail Morecambe. Gary remarked that Blackpool… Read more »

Sir Andrew Palmley Served as Lord Mayor of London

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Sir Andrew Charles Parmley, KStJ, born on 17 October 1956 in Blackpool, is a distinguished British educator, musician, and public servant. He is currently the Principal of the Harrodian School in Barnes, London, and is perhaps best known for his tenure as the Lord Mayor of London from 2016 to 2017. The third of three sons, Parmley was educated at Blackpool Grammar School, which has since become Salvation Army Citadel, is where Parmley developed an early passion for music. He began playing the organ at a young age and achieved significant early success, passing the Associate of the Royal College… Read more »