News Archive
Extracts from the Newsletter - March 2010
The new look awards ceremony in January was a successful event and we have had 3 of our monthly outings. The next outing being on 31st March to Brookes Collectables.
The AGM will be brought into the 21st century and there will be a speaker, as shown above.
Chris Norton, our Secretary, has decided not to stand for re-election at the AGM. We are very sorry about this and hope he will continue his work on transport related issues.
The nomination forms for the committee have been sent out and some places are contested this year.
A number of amendments to the Constitution are to be included.
Thanks to all who helped at Showzam! It was very enjoyable.
A shop will open in the town centre to promote Armed Forces Week, 19th to 27th June. It will also be a week of Civic Pride. We have been asked to man the shop one day a week for 11 weeks. Volunteers please!
At the EGM on the 1st March, 47 voters out of 57 voted to join the CSI and be part of setting up this new organisation. On 17th April we will attend their opening in London and those wishing to attend should let us know as places are limited.
If Corporate Members wish to have information in our quarterly newsletter we will be happy to include it if they advise us.
We will visit Easingwold in Yorkshire, as guests of their civic trust, on Friday 21st May. A visit to a nearby RAF base and it's Memorial Room is included. Contact Joan Greenhalgh to book your place.
Joining Blackpool Civic Trust
Joining Blackpool Civic Trust enables you to join us on both local and distant visits, participate in our events and functions, and receive the newsletter. All are welcome to our talks for a small fee.
Please obtain the membership form by clicking here.
BCT on BBC Radio Lancashire Saturday Breakfast
Click in the window below to listen.
Go to the Blackpool Civic Trust YouTube Channel.
Blackpool, Celebrating 125 years of trams website
2010 is the 125th anniversary of Blackpool's famous electric trams - one of the very first in the world and the first in the UK. Various events will take place during the year, including the showpiece Anniversary Week in 23 to 29 September.
On the website you can find out about:
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Tramway Events on the Fylde during 2010
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The 125th Anniversary Week of Events
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A brief history of the Blackpool Tramway
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Profiles of the Vintage Trams expected to operate in 2010
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Event partners
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The tram driving experience.
Click here go to www.blackpooltramevents.co.uk
January 21st Civic Trust Building Awards
A successful event was held at St Johns Conference Centre for the 2009 building awards. Around 150 people watched His Worshipful the Mayor of Blackpool: Norman Hardy, Joan Humble MP, Gordon Marsden MP, Jimmy Armfield CBE and other dignitaries present the awards.
Click here to view the details
Blackpool Heritage Champions
Blackpool Heritage Champions are a group of specially selected and trained volunteers who are interested in and knowledgeable about Blackpool's heritage and are keen to inform others.
If you think this could be you. Click here to read full details.
Blackpool Heritage Trail is now on the internet
Click on the link 'Heritage Trail' on the left to find out more.
Hot News: Totally Transport, Dine and Ride - extra on 28th February 2010 (note 24th Jan is fully booked)
Departing from the Solaris at 11.20am on Sunday 28th February for a meal at the Ship Inn at Elswick and a drive round the Fylde countryside before tea and biscuits at the Solaris. £19.50.
The 24th January event is fully booked.
Extracts from the December 2009 Newsletter:
Building Awards - 21st January
The judges are: Pippa Greenway of Blackpool Council Planning Dept, Emma Law a Student from Blackpool Sixth Form College, Alison Grant from the NWDA 'Places Matter', Bob Taziker of BCT and Malcolm Hanky of the national Civic Trust Awards.
The winners of the Blackpool awards will be announced at our meeting on Thursday 21st January 2010 at 7pm at St John's Conference Centre.
Please note this meeting is 'ticket only' so that we can ensure adequate catering. To obtain a ticket let Elaine or Chris know by 31st December and you will be given an official invitation.
Andy Mitchell of Radio Wave will announce the citations.
(Note for information: The national Civic Trust Awards announcement of the shortlist of winners is on Monday 19th Jan, and the awards event is on 12 March at St Georges Hall in Liverpool, their website is listed on the links page).
Annual Dinner - 24th February
Wednesday 24th February 2010 at the White Tower. Please call Beryl if you wish to attend, tickets are £20. There is limited accommodation so please let us know early to avoid disappointment.
Chavrah Evening - 22nd January
Many people were disappointed not to be able to get tickets for our last visit to the Synagogue. Another evening is planned for 22nd January. The service begins at 8pm after which tea and biscuits will be served before a talk about Judaism. At our last visit the service and talk were the highlights and we asked so many questions it lasted a long time. There will be no buffet this time.
Totally Transport, Dine and Ride - 24th January and 28th February (note 24th Jan is fully booked)
Departing from the Solaris at 11.20am on Sunday 24th January for a meal at the Ship Inn at Elswick and a drive round the Fylde countryside before tea and biscuits at the Solaris. £19.50.
The 24th January events is fully booked so an extra one has been arranged. This is going to be on 28th February and with all the same details as the other.
Two new Blackpool books published
Winter Gardens, Blackpool by Professor Vanessa Toulmin is full of beautiful pictures and stories. BCT members can obtain a copy for £13.95 at the December meeting. It is normally £20.
Blackpool: The Peoples Playground by Guy Woodland who is a photographer and publisher features photos, stories and essays by prominent Blackpool people. This book is £15 and will be available in Waterstones this week.
Help Wanted
Invigilators are wanted at Showzam between 12th and 21st February 2010.
Civic Society Initiative Convention
On the 15th and 16th October Blackpool hosted the national convention for the Civic Society Initiative. There was much debate about how it should be organised. It has been suggested that a national levy of £2 - £3 a member a year should be applied to fund the central organisation. This could be offset by free entry to a National Trust building. The BCT annual membership fee pays for our excellent speakers and we are reluctant to add this but it appears to be the best way forward.
Royal Engagements
Elaine received her MBE from Princess Anne who revealed she visits Blackpool frequently and has noticed the regeneration work. Only days later Elaine sat near the Queen at the Opera House during the Royal Variety Performance. Well done Elaine!
Blackpool Trams 125yrs Old - 24/25th September 2010
Plans are being made for a weekend to remember. Watch this space!
Speakers for Jan, Feb, Mar 2010 announced.
As listed on the Speaker page (don't forget Decembers):
18th January 2010 Brian Hellewell - The Golden Age of Comedy Part II
15th February 2010 Polly Hamilton (Ass. Director of Culture & Communities foe Blackpool Council) Culture in Blackpool
15th March 2010 Dr Colin Penny The History of Lancaster Castle
Extracts from the October 2009 Newsletter:
Blackpool in Bloom - Beautiful Blackpool
We had a record number of entries in all categories and the standard this year was very, very high. Beryl Radcliffe, Jean Mildren and Betty Bradford were three of the judges and I didn’t envy them their jobs.
If you know anyone (or anywhere) who had a garden you admired please make a note of them and let me have the addresses as soon as you can for me to enter on a data base ready for next year. (Five addresses from each member would help!)The trouble is that at the time of sending out the entry forms it is too soon to see how a garden is going to look so with your help we have to remember from this year.
Blue Plaque Trail
Our Blue Plaque trail has increased in size this summer. Since unveiling the one at the Cricket Club in July we have unveiled one on the Sentry Box in the Salisbury Woodland and one at the Cottage Fish & Chip Shop at Marton. Both these are features of bye gone times and we thank the Mayor & Mayoress for their assistance on both these occasions. Another Blue Plaque has been put on the new St John’s School replacing the one that was previously there and bringing it up to date.
Heritage Open Days
Because we had such a selection English Heritage used us as one of their ‘stars’ for advertising the Open Days this year. I would like to thank everyone involved in this tremendous weekend. Blackpool Sixth Form College took loads of pictures of the various venues and made them into a little film for us so we are very grateful to them, too.
Building Awards
It is that time of year again when we ask for your suggestions re our building awards. This year we have changed the criteria slightly so we hope you might find something that fits one of the categories.
These categories are:
- Best new build
- Best refurbishment
- Best open space
- Best community group award
- Best shop front
- Best night time economy
The criteria is:
- Overall quality and design
- Aesthetic appeal
- Respect for street scene/townscape
- Accessability
- Landscaping
Message from Prince Charles to the Civic Society Initiative Convention in Blackpool
Prince Charles was patron of the Civic Trust sent a message to the convention.
Civic Society Convention was hosted by Blackpool Civic Trust on Oct 15th / 16th 2009. Click here to read the programme.
Heritage Open Days 2010, September 9th to 12th (Thursday to Sunday)
Plenty of notice to be ready for 2010. Keep your diaries free and watch this space.
- 2009 Heritage Open Days for the record
Looking back on 2009 we had the booklet containing details of open buildings in Blackpool, Fleetwood, Lytham and Thornton Cleveleys. A copy can be read by clicking here or on the image below (pdf file).
BCT were assisted on the booklet by Heather Morrow of Blackpool Council and Patrick Burke from English Heritage.
Below is the list of 2009 places open in Blackpool.
The booklet gives a fuller description of the times and any extra features.
Blackpool Tower
Blackpool Pleasure Beach
Blackpool Winter Gardens
The Grand Theatre, Blackpool
Cocker Clock Tower, Stanley Park
Salisbury Woodland Gardens
Little Marton Mill
Chapel of Our Lady of Lourdes
North Shore Methodist
St John the Evangelist
Blackpool Hebrew Congregation
Blackpool Reform Jewish Congregation
Marton Mere
Layton Cemetery
St Stephens on the Cliffs
Blackpool Magic Club
The Guard’s Club
Donna’s Dream House
Funny Girls
Blackpool Masonic Hall
Blackpool Town Hall
Holy Trinity Church
Salem Methodist Church
New Central Methodist Church
Town Centre Heritage Walking Tour
Heritage Bus Trips
Blackpool Comrades Club
Stanley Park
Bethesda Congregational Church Hall
The above is repeated on our 2009 Heritage Open Day page. Click here
Four Stars for the Grundy Art Gallery
The Times gave the latest display at the Grundy Art Gallery 4 stars out of 5 on the 4th August 2009.
It's called Rank - Picturing the social order 1516 - 2009. On show 25th July to 12th September.
Worthy of a page and a half in the Times, you can read it on-line. Click here to read it.
New section on the website July 2009
We are adding a photo gallery with description of interesting buildings in Blackpool. This can be found on the buildings link on the left or;
Click here for listed buildings.
Click here for a list of Blue Plaques.
Blackpool Totally Transport 2009
We worked in conjunction with the Lancastrian Transport Trust to support the Totally Transport 2009 event on Sunday 28th June. There was a great turn-out of vehicles including buses, cars, lorries and trams. The Solarium hosted exhibits, stalls, refreshments and entertainment.
Chairman, Elaine, is awarded MBE
The Queens Birthday Honours list had a familiar face in the list. Elaine Smith Chairman of our group was awarded an MBE. Elaine has worked tirelessly for many years to care for Blackpools heritage and we give her the biggest congratulations.
Blue Plaque Trail
Do you know:
Where George Formby greeted guests at its opening?
Where Blackpool Football Club was started?
Where the Empire Theatre was situated?
Where can you find Blackpool’s ‘three graces’?
What was once the Dickson’s Hotel?
What was once called Ye Olde Glue Pot?
These and many more interesting facts may be found by following the Blackpool Civic Trust Blue Plaque trail around the town.
Trail booklets may be purchased for 99p at the Central Library, the Tourism Centre and at the Stanley Park Visitor Centre.
Further Plaques are added each year and a list can be found on this website. Click here