Tag: Born

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 »

Empowerment Gets off to an Impressive Start

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Mike Crowther MBE is the Chief Executive Officer of Empowerment, a leading local charity based in Blackpool dedicated to supporting people to transform their lives. Born and raised in Blackpool, Mike has spent over 30 years volunteering and working in the charity sector, driven by an unwavering belief that change is possible for everyone. Under his leadership, Empowerment has become a beacon of hope for individuals who have faced significant challenges, including those who have experienced homelessness, imprisonment, or social exclusion. Mike is committed to giving people a second chance, ensuring that those who have been written off early in… Read more »

Lesley Daine Stars with Sir John Mills

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Lesley Daine was born ‘Lesley Dainty’ on 20 May 1947 in Blackpool. She was an actress, best known for ‘Without a Clue’ (1988) and ‘The Family Way’ (1966), the latter being a film featuring music by Beatle Paul McCartney. The film also starred Sir John Mills with his daughter Hayley Mills. The two clips below show Lesley Daine appearing in the 1970s drama series ‘Within These Walls’. But she also appeared in ‘Coronation Street‘ in two roles: firstly in August 1976 as stripper Josie Steel; and she returned to the programme as Irene Sherratt, an old school friend of Audrey Potter, who attended… Read more »

Molly Wright Wins London Film Critics Circle Award

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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 »