Tag: Community

Blackpool’s First Pride Event

Posted by

Blackpool’s Pride event, which began in 2006, has since become an annual celebration that continues to grow in both size and significance. The festival includes a lively parade, a rich lineup of live performances, and an eclectic mix of entertainment. A standout feature of the event is Youth Pride, specifically tailored for those under 18, offering a range of activities, stalls, and performances designed for younger audiences. A signature element of the Pride celebrations is the playful use of rainbow wigs, often worn by participants. On 9th June 2018, the town’s Pride event was a dazzling display of colour, as… Read more »

Fleetwood RNLI Shop & Coastguard

Posted by

Fleetwood Lifeboat Station, located on The Esplanade at Fleetwood Port in Lancashire, has been an integral part of the town’s maritime history since its establishment in 1859. The station was set up by the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) after a request was made by Captain Edward Frodsham Noel K. Wasey, RN, H.M. Coastguard, to provide a lifeboat service for Fleetwood. In response, a Peake-class 30-foot rowing lifeboat was constructed and stationed at Fleetwood, and a new boathouse was built opposite the North Euston Hotel at a cost of £174-18s-6d. The lifeboat arrived on 20 March 1859, and John Fox… Read more »

Santa Dash on the Prom

Posted by

The 3km Santa’s dash takes place on the promenade between the Sandcastle Waterpark and the Central Pier. Hundreds of santas take part every year from all ages, including some doggy santas! The dashers always get cheered on by spectators and event volunteers, flooding the promenade with good Christmas cheer, all in aid of the Trinity Hospice charity. Trinity provides the Santa suits and only requires its participants to get down to the Sandcastle to join everyone else! Thanks goes out to all the Santa Dashers who’ve taken part over the years and to those planning to take part in the future.

Counter-Terrorism and the Big Food Project

Posted by

On Wednesday, 11 September 2024, Victoria will speak at Fylde Coast Resilience about her involvement in The Big Food Project at Blackpool Foodbank and her extensive work as an international counter-terrorism consultant for both the UK Government and the United Nations. Currently, Victoria serves as the Director of Offender Management and Specialist Services at Prospects Services. Before this role, she spent several years advising the UK Government and the UN on counter-terrorism efforts, focusing on offender rehabilitation and prison management in countries such as Somalia, Kenya, Nigeria, Bangladesh, Algeria, and Tajikistan. Victoria’s career also includes a significant role as Head… Read more »

Lytham St Annes RNLI Shop

Posted by

There isn’t much information online about when the Lytham St Annes RNLI Shop was built but RNLI shops have humble beginnings, starting in the early 1920s as small cake stalls organized by volunteers to raise funds for local lifeboat stations. As the charity’s popularity grew, these stalls began to sell RNLI-branded souvenirs and Christmas cards. The first official shop within a lifeboat station was established in 1990, creating a dedicated space for supporters. The RNLI shop in Lytham St Annes, run entirely by dedicated volunteers, offers a variety of gifts and souvenirs, from homeware and clothing to toys, greeting cards,… Read more »

St Annes Kite Festival

Posted by

The St. Anne’s Kite Festival is a beloved annual event that lights up the skies over St. Anne’s beach, attracting thousands of visitors each summer. The festival owes its current success to Patrick May, a local primary school teacher whose passion for kite flying was sparked by a single visit to the Catch the Wind Festival in Morecambe. Inspired by the experience, Patrick didn’t just take up kite flying as a hobby; he took it a step further and decided to revive the St. Anne’s Kite Festival in 2012 alongside his wife, Jenny. With the help of international kite experts… Read more »

Beaverbrooks Blackpool 10k Fun Run

Posted by

The Beaverbrooks Blackpool 10K Fun Run is a celebrated annual event that takes place along Blackpool’s stunning seafront every May. This 10K run, organized by Trinity Hospice and sponsored by Beaverbrooks, has been a staple of Blackpool’s event calendar since it first began in 1983, thanks to the involvement of Andrew Brown MBE, Beaverbrooks’ former chairman. The run draws participants from all over the UK, offering a mix of fitness, charity, and community spirit, all set against the backdrop of Blackpool’s famous promenade. Unlike many charity runs, the Beaverbrooks Blackpool 10K Fun Run allows participants to choose which charity they… Read more »

Ashton Gardens in St Annes

Posted by

Ashton Gardens, a park in St Annes, opened in 1916 on land that still shows traces of its original sand dunes. It was first created in 1874-75 as St George’s Gardens by landscape gardener E. Thomas for a local development company. In 1896, the gardens were offered to the council for £12,000, but they declined. Later, O.J. Porritt took over the lease and in 1912 proposed building on the site. This sparked interest from the council, but the cost seemed too high. Just in time, Lord Ashton donated over £25,000, allowing the council to buy the land and improve it…. Read more »

Blackpool Transport

Posted by

Blackpool Transport was established by the town council in 1885, marking the beginning of its operations with the opening of its tramway on 29 September 1885. The tramway initially utilised a conduit system for electric operation, but this method faced significant challenges. Consequently, in 1899, the system was upgraded to a 550V overhead wiring system, which proved to be more reliable. In July 1920, Blackpool Transport expanded its services to include buses, launching its first route between Cleveleys and Thornton railway station. The introduction of bus services within Blackpool itself began in December 1922, with the inaugural route running between… Read more »

Lytham St Annes Lifeboat Station

Posted by

The name change of the lifeboat station was a result of the merger of two RNLI branches: Lytham and St Annes. The St Annes Station had been closed in 1925, and the two towns had combined to form Lytham St Annes in 1922. This consolidation led to the renaming of the lifeboat station to reflect the new unified town. The first lifeboat at the station was named The Clifton and served from 1851 to 1855. It was provided by the Shipwrecked Fishermen and Mariners’ Society, with additional funding coming from local subscriptions. The Clifton played a crucial role in the… Read more »