David Boyle was one of the Fylde coast’s most recognisable figures, often spotted with his partner Julie at club events, arriving in his replica of Jon Pertwee’s Doctor Who car, Bessie. Before gaining local fame, David had already made his mark by founding the model railway company Dapol in the 1970s alongside his late wife, Pauline. Once Dapol was passed on to the next generation, David embarked on a new chapter, relocating to Blackpool where he became a well-known, larger-than-life personality along the iconic Golden Mile. His inventive spirit extended beyond model railways—he held international patents related to solar energy technology, and in July 2014, he and his team were shortlisted for the Business Green Leaders Awards. In 2015, David launched the Blackpool Alien, UFO, Spiritual and Paranormal Exhibition, housed in the former Village Market at the corner of Dale Street and Foxhall Road, close to Central Pier. The exhibition featured an eclectic mix of X-Files-style content, exploring UFOs, conspiracy theories, and their connections to human history and the unexplained mysteries of the cosmos.
Before establishing the Alien and Paranormal Exhibition, David Boyle was best known for running the Doctor Who exhibitions in Llangollen from 1994 to 2003, and later in Blackpool from 2004 until 2009. Alongside his passion for the beloved science fiction series, he was also a devoted UFO researcher, combining his interests in the mysterious and the fantastical. The Blackpool Doctor Who exhibition reopened in 2004 to coincide with the revival of the television series. The following year, David Tennant was cast as the Tenth Doctor, making his first appearance in the 2005 Christmas special, The Christmas Invasion, following a brief debut at the end of The Parting of the Ways. Tennant went on to play the Doctor across three full series and numerous specials between 2005 and 2010. In 2007, to help further promote the show, David Tennant travelled to Blackpool to perform the ceremonial switch-on of the town’s famous illuminations. Despite this renewed enthusiasm for the franchise, the Blackpool Doctor Who Museum ultimately closed its doors on 8 November 2009. Its extensive collection of props, costumes, and classic monsters—including the Tractators, Ice Warriors, and Yeti—was subsequently dispersed to various exhibitions across the country.
Be Reasonable Podcast: Episode #019 – David Boyle – 30 July 2014. In this episode, Michael Marshall spoke with David Boyle, a UFO researcher and alternative historian, best known as the proprietor of the Exhibition of the Universe in Blackpool. Throughout the conversation, David shared insights into his wide-ranging interests, which span from ancient alien theories and psychic phenomena to government conspiracies. A frequent speaker and interviewee, David was well known for engaging the public on numerous fringe and paranormal subjects, blending curiosity, spectacle, and speculation in equal measure.
Dr Who Exhibition signage, Blackpool © Alamy
Lytham resident David Boyle suffered a stroke in 2017 and was lovingly cared for by his partner, Julie Whitfield. Julie shared that David’s health declined rapidly due to a septicaemia infection, and he passed away in her arms on 17 August 2019 at the age of 71, at Blackpool Victoria Hospital. In keeping with his lifelong passion for science fiction, David was taken to his funeral in a TARDIS-shaped coffin. The service was held at St Cuthbert’s Church on Church Road, Lytham, at 1:45pm on the Friday following his passing. A horse-drawn carriage carried him from his home to the church, in a final tribute befitting his eccentric and imaginative spirit. He is survived by his daughter Heather, son Craig, and grandsons Adam and Dylan.
Text source: Wikipedia and theBlackpool Gazette
Images by © Joanna Spitzner
