15-Year-Old Audrey Mosson, British Railway Queen, Visits Moscow
Elsie Audrey Mosson (born 3 September 1920 in Preston, died 1 September 2009 in Hastings) was an English teen celebrity and professional dancer who became one of Lancashire’s most admired young figures of the 1930s. Born in Preston, she rose to fame at just fifteen when she was crowned the 10th Railway Queen of Great Britain during the Railway Carnival and Pageant at Belle Vue, Manchester, in August 1935. That same year, she travelled to the Soviet Union on a goodwill peace visit, where she famously met Joseph Stalin — an extraordinary moment in her early life. Later in 1935,...
Rare Post Box Still Situated at Stanley Park
Edward VIII post boxes are rare due to his short reign (326 days in 1936) and subsequent abdication. Approximately 161 pillar boxes and a smaller number of other types were produced during his time on the throne. These boxes are now sought after by collectors and enthusiasts of British post box history. They feature Edward VIII’s distinct royal cypher, which is an ornate font with the letters “E” and “R” (Rex/Regina) distinct and separate. The short reign and subsequent abdication led to a limited production of boxes with his cipher. Pillar boxes (type A) are rarer than narrower type B... Read more »
Bette Davis Escapes to Blackpool
Bette Davis’s first visit to Blackpool was in September 1936 when she stayed at the County Hotel. During her stay, she crossed the Promenade to be photographed and interviewed by the Gazette. She checked into the hotel under her married name as Mrs H.O. Nelson, California. It was the answer to the question newspapers were asking on both sides of the Atlantic: Where is Bette Davis? She vanished from Hollywood after a row with film magnate Jack Warner, head of the mighty Warner Brothers organisation. Bette, reaching the peak of her career, felt her scripts were declining in quality and, after... Read more »
Blackpool & The Fylde College
The technical college, originally completed in 1936, has evolved through several mergers over the years. A school for fishermen has been based in Fleetwood since 1892, and in 1987, this nautical college merged with Blackpool and the Fylde College to form the institution that exists today. The college’s main campus is in Bispham, with a network of additional campuses across the Fylde coast, many of which are connected to the University Centre on Palatine Road. Altogether, the college operates from nine campuses along the 17-mile stretch of coastline in the Fylde. Bispham Campus The primary site for school leavers and... Read more »