Tag: 1924

Gary Miller – Born to Teach, Play Football and Sing

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Gary Miller, born Neville Williams on 3 May 1924 in Blackpool, was a popular singer and actor during the 1950s and 1960s. His passion for show business emerged early, often distracting him from his schoolwork and even influencing his wartime service in the Royal Navy, where he combined active duty with performing in concert parties. After the war, a grant allowed him to pursue a university degree in languages, but he left to focus on singing full-time. Over the years, he worked as a schoolteacher, interpreter, yachtsman, footballer, and cricket coach for Blackpool. He also owned a 20-acre property near… Read more »

The Viking Hotel

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The Viking Hotel in Blackpool, established in 1924, has been a significant fixture on the town’s South Shore for nearly a century. Built during a period of significant growth in Blackpool, the hotel was designed to meet the needs of an increasing number of tourists flocking to the seaside resort. From its early years, the Viking Hotel has been known for offering high-quality accommodations and a range of amenities. As Blackpool developed into a major destination for entertainment and leisure, the Viking Hotel played a key role by hosting various events and performances. Within the hotel, “The Talk of the… Read more »

Blackpool Cricket Club Opens

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Blackpool Cricket Club has a long and storied history, dating back to its origins in 1890. The club was initially based in various locations within the town before it found a permanent home at Stanley Park. The land, a sprawling 256-acre site, was gifted to Blackpool Corporation in 1924, as part of a grand vision for the development and expansion of the town’s public amenities. This ambitious project led to the creation of Stanley Park as a key community space, with facilities for leisure and sports. As part of the broader development, a cricket pitch was laid in 1925, alongside… Read more »

Lucy Morton, Britain’s first Women’s Olympic Swimming Champion

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Lucy Morton was born in 1898 in New Tatton, Cheshire, but her family relocated to Blackpool when she was a child. At the age of ten, she joined the local amateur swimming club. Blackpool Council supported her training by opening the local swimming baths early in the mornings and late in the evenings, long before the Olympic-sized Derby Baths opened in 1939. Lucy achieved considerable success, winning an Olympic gold medal in the 200m breaststroke at the 1924 Paris Summer Games. Her accomplishments began even earlier, as she held world swimming records in 1914, 1916, and 1920. From 1919 to… Read more »