Tag: Born

Molly Wright Wins London Film Critics Circle Award

Molly Florence Wright is an actress who was born 20 March 1996 in Blackpool. For her debut film Apostasy (2017), she was named Young British/Irish Performer of the Year in 2018 by the London Film Critics’ Circle and nominated for two British Independent Film Awards. On television, she is known for her role in the BBC drama ‘The A Word’ (2016–2020). Wright attended Blackpool Sixth Form College and took the Foundation Acting course at the Academy of Live and Recorded Arts (ALRA). She joined an extras agency and made her television acting debut when she starred in the BBC One… Read more »

Bunny May was off to a Good Start with Enid Blyton

Bunny May was born ‘Bernard Lawrence May’ in 1940 in Blackpool. He was an actor, perhaps best known for EastEnders (1985), Up Pompeii! (1969), Some Mothers Do ‘Ave ‘Em (1973) and for the first episode of Going Straight (1985) (see full episode below). He was also in Coronation Street from September to October 1963 and played Ethel Tyson’s nephew Jim Pickup. He began his career as a teenager on BBC children’s television in the early to mid-1950s, but later moved into adult roles in series such as Emergency-Ward 10, The Chem. Lab. Mystery, The Liver Birds, Crown Court, Some Mothers Do ‘Ave… Read more »

Robert Lawrenson Lands Role in SyFy’s Sanctuary

Robert Lawrenson was born in Blackpool on 12 November 1971. He is an actor, film editor and director, perhaps best known for his role of Declan MacRae in the SyFy TV show Sanctuary (2008) – where he appeared for three series, and Underworld Awakening (2012). He began acting as a child in musical theatre, and went on to study acting in York, and performed in theatre in York, and in several productions at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe. Lawrenson played P.C. Glaister and a police officer in Coronation Street from 2002 to 2007. He also appeared in Crossroads, Holby City, Heartbeat,… Read more »

Retailing Giant Richard Lefton Dies at Age 54

Richard Lefton, one of the most well-known figures in Blackpool’s retail sector, passed away in January 2020 at the age of 54. He died at Blackpool Victoria Hospital after being admitted with sepsis, a sudden loss that came as a devastating shock to his family. Richard was born in St Annes in December 1965 and went to Devonshire Road School and Warbreck High School. He went to both schools with Ian Rainford, now a very successful property developer, and remained friends with him until Richard passed. Ian developed the Lefton’s warehouse building on Walker Street in Blackpool as well as the… Read more »

Granthams: 135 Years of Signage and Printing

Originally established as a sign-making business in 1890 by William Grantham in Blackpool, the company emerged in response to the increasing demand for sign-writing services in the rapidly expanding town. By the early 20th century, Blackpool was experiencing exceptional growth. Recognising the need for professional signage, William Grantham’s business had, by the turn of the century, become the leading sign-writing company in the area. The firm retained its position as the premier sign company in the region until the mid-1930s. However, between then and the outbreak of the Second World War, the business gradually reduced in size, eventually being run… Read more »

Mark Yates Carries on the Brooks Collectibles Tradition

Brooks gifts was started In 1949 by Mr Brooks when he returned to Blackpool after having his home and all his positions destroyed during the second world war. The shop he chose was situated at the Talbot court building on the corner of Waterloo Road and the Blackpool promenade. It was built years earlier but was requisitioned as a munitions store during the second world war. Where Mr brooks is stood in the shop door way of this photo (taken in the 1950s) once stood an armed soldier guarding the munitions store entrances, and to the right on the forecourt… Read more »

David Hyland Hands Over the ARC Reins

David Hyland, the company’s founder, went to Palatine High School in Blackpool and studied Industrial Engineering from 1971 – 1987. He launched ARC in 1982, with just 1 apprentice in a small unit but soon grew out of it, and in 1988 he moved the business into the Palmer Avenue site. Since then the company has grown to 48 employees and has moved to their current location on Amy Johnson Way, servicing some of the largest insurance companies in the UK. Back in 2007, they were the first bodyshop in Lancashire to achieve the then PAS125, which became BS10125, an accreditation they… Read more »

Mac Barlow Becomes Manager of Blackpool FC Ladies

Mac Barlow was born on 31 May 1967 in Blackpool and is an English football manager and former football player. She became the manager of Blackpool FC Ladies in May 2009 and is well known amongst women’s football fans, having had a long playing career. For more on women’s football, have a look at our post featuring a 1937 match between France and England in Blackpool. Barlow played for Preston Rangers WFC and was part of the team reached the semi-finals of the FA Women’s Cup in 1982–83 and 1989–90, where she played left back. In 1997, they became Preston… Read more »

Derek Woodman Rides in His First TT Race

Derek Woodman, born in Blackpool on April 26, 1959, is a former world-class motorcycle racer and the longtime owner of one of the UK’s top BMW dealerships. Raised in a working-class family, he wasn’t expected to go far academically, but his love for motorcycles and mechanical work led him to become a skilled toolmaker. Despite his mother’s objections—due to a past family tragedy involving motorcycles—Derek’s passion for racing grew, and at 14, he visited the Isle of Man to watch the famous TT races, which left a lasting impression. After leaving school at 15, he worked at a motorcycle shop… Read more »

Anthony Cocker Becomes CEO of E.ON UK

Anthony David Cocker, born on 26 April 1959 in the Borough of Fylde, is a prominent figure in the energy sector. He served as the chief executive of E.ON UK, one of the UK’s “Big Six” energy providers, and is also the chairman of Infinis Energy Management Limited. Cocker attended Kirkham Grammar School and has a younger brother. He married Madeleine Parker in September 1991 in Oxford, and the couple has two children: a son, born in November 2000, and a daughter, born in August 1998. They currently reside in Warwickshire. Cocker studied mathematics at Lincoln College, Oxford, where he… Read more »