News Archive: 2019
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Monthly Meetings
Monthly Meetings on the third Monday of the month at 7pm
non-members welcome.
Monday 16th December 2019 at St John's Church
Salvation Army Band Carol Concert and Hot Pot Supper
Monday 20th January 2020
Carl Carrington
Update on Blackpool's Heritage
The Blackpool Civic Trust Christmas Tree can be found in the Town Hall.
Blackpool Civic Trust 45th Anniversary Dinner 2020, with Awards
Friday 27th March 2020
CAROUSEL HOTEL, New South Promenade
Tickets £25, includes 3 opportunities to win Prizes!
Arrivals from 6.15pm
Awards at 7pm
Dinner at 8pm
Finish at 11pm
Dress code: Lounge Suit/Cocktail Dress
MENU
See below for a wide range of dishes from which to choose. Your individual choice of meal/course must be notified to Gill Howard nearer the time of dinner. It is particularly important to let Gill know of any special dietary requirements.
Starter
Carrot, Sweet Potato & Coriander Soup
Chicken Liver & Brandy Pate with Red Onion Marmalade & Garlic Ciabatta
Oak Smoked Trout with Smoked Salmon on a Horseradish Potato Salad
Main course
Beef Sirloin Medallions with Confit Tomato, thick-cut chips & a 3-Peppercorn & Brandy Sauce.
Farmhouse Chicken Breast with Fondant Potato, topped with a Wild Mushroom Veloute
Pan-seared Fillet of Seabass on a bed of Sweet Potato Mash, with Champagne sauce
Wild Mushroom & Squash Risotto with Parmesan shavings
All Main courses served with Sauteed New Potatoes & mixed Vegetables
Dessert
Sticky Toffee Pudding with Salted Caramel Ice Cream
Vanilla Creme Brulee served with Citrus Shortbread
Triple Chocolate Bavarois with Roasted Strawberries & shaved White Chocolate
Trio of Ice Cream & Cafe Curls
All finished with Tea or Coffee and Handmade Amaretto Truffles.
Tickets on sale from January 2020.
Contact our Social Officer gillhoward@talktalk.net or tel 01253 301264.
Christmas Carols and Hotpot Supper at St John's 16th December 2019
Seventy-five members and guests attended the Civic Trust's December meeting with a hot-pot supper, Salvation Army Brass Band and Christmas carols at St John's Church, Blackpool.
It was a particularly enjoyable event this year with a truly festive spirit. Our newest Committee member, Walter Cairns, did the Civic Trust proud by singing a very fine solo verse from 'We Three Kings of Orient'. The Salvation Army Brass Band put in a very good performance under their conductor, Julian, who was also celebrating his birthday.
The evening ended with a presentation of a cheque to Major Sandra Fisher by Cllr David Owen. There was also a collection among members to support the work of the Salvation Army and to express our thanks. And thank you to the Vicar of St John's church, Rev Steve Haskett, for his hospitality and for providing such a welcoming and warm atmosphere.
St John's Church:
Councillor David Owen presents a cheque to Major Sandra Fisher of the Salvation Army
Salvation Army Band Conductor Julian after the announcement it was his birthday:
Visit to the Mayor's Parlour, Saturday 14th December 2019
Members of the Civic Trust were invited to attend the Mayor's Christmas Parlour on Saturday, 14th December. It was an informal and highly enjoyable occasion with mince pies and drinks, and gave our members a chance to rub shoulders with other groups such as the Friends of The Grand Theatre. One of our members, Barbara Walker, distinguished herself by winning the stand-up bingo and a bottle of champagne.
We supported the Mayor, Cllr Amy Cross, in raising monies in aid of her chosen charities.
Photo of prize winner Barbara Walker:
Robert Evans Mills annual lecture, 18th November 2019
The Mayor, Cllr Amy Cross, attended a packed Blackpool Civic Trust Members Meeting to hear Professor Vanessa Toulmin, give the annual Robert Evans Mills lecture. The subject of the talk was Blackpool Tower, including the famous Tower Circus. This was the third time Prof. Toulmin, who has published a number of books on Blackpool, had been invited to give the Robert Evans Mills lecture, and it proved as popular as its predecessors.
Blue Plaque unveiled at site of former Blackpool Collegiate School for Girls
A Blue Plaque has been unveiled to commemorate the site of the former Blackpool Collegiate School for Girls, now Grizedale Court on the corner of Forest Gate and Beech Avenue.
Joan Humble, Chair of Blackpool Civic Trust, said that she had been very pleased to work with the Committee of the Old Girls' Association in creating the new plaque to celebrate their former school.
Mrs Humble added:"Many important buildings have been lost in Blackpool over the years. This Blue Plaque will remind people of where the school was and also the important role it played in the education of girls in Blackpool".
Jenny Aston, last President of the Old Girls' Association, said, "The idea for the plaque came when the Old Girls' Association received a bequest from the late Dr Joan Wilkinson, herself an old girl and former Deputy Head of the school. We wanted to use the money to do something in Dr Wilkinson's memory and when one of our Committee suggested a Blue Plaque, we realised that this would be the perfect way to remember Dr Wilkinson and the Blackpool Collegiate School for Girls".
The Mayor of Blackpool, Councillor Amy Cross, unveiled the plaque and said:"It is a great privilege to be invited to unveil the plaque and be part of this special day to remember Blackpool Collegiate School for Girls".
See our Blue Plaque page for a close up of the plaque.
Jenny Aston, Joan Humble, Amy Cross:
Collegiate Old Girls Association with the Blue Plaque:
Resident with newspaper cutting:
Grizedale Court, the location of the Blue Plaque:
Collegiate School Blackpool, now demolished. Visible on a lot of old photos of Stanley Park.
Blackpool's Locally Listed Promenade Shelters
October 2019, Blackpool Civic Trust has applied to have the unlisted and larger-sized Promenade shelters in the Bispham and Norbreck areas locally listed.
To read the full story click here
Blackpool Civic Trust at the Unveiling of the new Blue Plaque at Blackpool Tower
1st October 2019
The new Blue Plaque at the Blackpool Tower was unveiled by the Countess of Wessex today and marked the opening of the new 5th Floor Family Entertainment Suite. The Countess was visiting Blackpool to celebrate the 125th anniversaries of the The Blackpool Tower and Grand Theatre Blackpool .
In the photo are left to right; Joan Humble, Chair of Blackpool Civic Trust, Kate Shane, Head of Blackpool Cluster, Merlin Entertainments Group, Jan Cresswell, Conservation Officer, Blackpool Council with the Blue Plaque.
See a complete gallery of Blackpool's Blue Plaques, click here
Blackpool Civic Trust Heritage Open Days 2019 at the Town Hall
Blackpool Civic Trust organised tours of the Town Hall on the 20th and 21st of September, as part of Heritage Open Days.
On the Friday pupils from several schools enjoyed tours of the Town Hall conducted by the Chair of the Civic Trust, Joan Humble. They also met the Mayor, Cllr Amy Cross.
Tours for the public took place on Saturday 21st of September and just over a hundred visitors and local residents took the opportunity to inspect the many fascinating historical features of this nationally listed building (Grade 11) and hear about its history. Visitors were particularly impressed by the beautiful illuminated windows, including the recently renovated stained glass ceiling in the Council Chamber. They were also delighted to hear that the Council with the help of Blackpool Civic Trust had succeeded in their bid to bring Lucy Morton?s Olympic gold medal back to Blackpool.
Photographs
Everyone appearing in the photographs gave their consent.
Chair of BCT, Joan Humble, speaking to a tour group in the Chamber on Saturday 21st September:
Vice-President, Barry Shaw, pictured alongside one of his tour groups on Saturday 21st September:
Visitors standing under the Blue Plaque of Lucy Morton on Saturday 21st September:
Blackpool Civic Trust Model Tower and the Grundy Art Gallery Exhibition 28th September 2019
Blackpool Civic Trust has a 3ft high model of Blackpool Tower which will be on display in the reception? of the Grundy Art Gallery from 28th September 2019.
A new exhibition 'A trick of the light' 28th September to 14th December 2019, will feature a? 3D printed 1:1 reproduction of our model made by 3 of the artists in the exhibition.
Photographs of Blackpool Civic Trust's model of Blackpool Tower.
Lucy Morton, Olympic Gold Medallist, Memorabilia Returns
Blackpool Civic Trust made a contribution to the Council's successful bid to ensure that a significant part of Lucy Morton?s memorabilia will return to Blackpool. The memorabilia included, crucially, the gold medal for 200m Breast Stroke that Lucy Morton won at the 1924 Olympics.
Joan, said 'I am so glad that Blackpool Civic Trust was able to support Blackpool Council in securing this important memorabilia to celebrate a remarkable woman. Visitors to the Town Hall can see the Blue Plaque that the Civic Trust put up in 2012, detailing her outstanding achievements. We can now look forward to seeing her Olympic Gold and other medals on display.'
The archive of the memorabilia will be housed at at the History Centre in Blackpool Central Library that preserves and gives access to Blackpool's heritage collections. The story of Lucy Morton will also feature in Blackpool?s first museum when it opens to the public.'
New Patrons Announced: Danielle and John Barnett MBE, DL
Blackpool Civic Trust are very pleased to announce that Danielle and John Barnett MBE, DL have accepted our invitation to become Patrons of Blackpool Civic Trust. They supported us at our Annual Awards and Dinner earlier this year and will come to our AGM in March next year as our guest speakers to talk about their fascinating lives.
Blackpool Civic Trust Awards
Every year we present awards for the Best Building Work and Community Activities in Blackpool.
Please note in your diary that the date for the Annual Dinner and Awards is Friday 27th March 2020. More information will be announced shortly.
2019 Award Nominations are now live, the categories are:
1. Best New Build / New Housing Development
2.? Best Refurbishment
3. Best Community Group
The nomination forms are in pdf and Word format and are available below. Please return them to Carol Neale by 1st January 2020 as stated on the form
.
Nomination Form for 2019 in pdf format
Nomination Form for 2019 in Word format
Read more about our Dinner and Awards Ceremony by clicking here
Blackpool Crazy Golf Course, Metropole August 2019
Blackpool Civic Trust participated in the refurbishment of the Crazy Golf Course outside the Metropole. The course was popular in the 1960s and 70s but has been unused for some time.
Volunteers from Blackpool Fulfilling Lives and the Blackpool and Fylde Street Angels gave it a makeover.
It will be then be used as a stepping stone for Blackpool's homeless to make their way back into full-time work and housing.
Blackpool Rock Gardens Video
A video by Peter Mowbray of Live in Blackpool, and a member of Blackpool Civic Trust, about work the trust is doing with the Friends of the Rock Gardens n Devonshire Road, Blackpool. (the photo below is Andy from the Friends group).
Our visit to the new Boulevard Hotel, 23rd July 2019
Blackpool Civic Trust toured the fabulous hotel now open beside the Pleasure Beach: The Boulevard Hotel. Here's a visit report from our member Peter Mowbray of 'Live in Blackpool'.
Blackpool Civic Trust Art Competition 2019.
Exhibition 7th to 31st July 2019 in the Solaris Centre, South Shore
'What I love about Blackpool'
Joan Humble, Chair of Blackpool Civic Trust, welcomed winners, runners-up and guests to the opening of the very first art competition to be held by the Civic Trust. The theme of the competition was ?What I love about Blackpool?. This theme inspired school pupils, college students, adults and local professional artists to produce exciting and fresh images about the town we love.
-The original work of the 13 winners can be seen at the Solaris Centre, South Shore free of charge.The exhibition closes 31st July.
To accompany and commemorate the exhibition there is a very special art calendar. This showcases the winning entries and is printed by Granthams of Blackpool to a very high standard. A sample copy can be inspected at the Solaris and is available for purchase for ?4.95 from Gill Howard who may be contacted on 01253 301264 or gillhoward@talktalk.net
Joan Humble thanked Gill for making the exhibition possible and also Granthams for their support and generous sponsorship.
Stephen Bruce being presented with the Winners Certificate by Sheryl of Granthams Graphics:
The winning painting by Stephen Bruce: 'Summer of 1962'
Joan Humble, Chairman of Blackpool Civic Trust cutting the ribbon to open the exhibition which is open from 7th July to 31st July 2019 at the Solaris Centre on Blackpool Promenade, South Shore.
Corrine Streetly of Blott Studios being presented a certificate by Sheryl of Granthams:
Sheryl of Granthams with Joan of Blackpool Civic Trust:
The cover of the 2020 Blackpool Civic Trust calendar:
Blackpool Carnival 15th July 2019
Blackpool Civic Trust once again supported the Blackpool Carnival. Photos of the start of the parade.
Blackpool Civic Trust Afternoon Tea
National Civic Day Celebration 2019
On Saturday 22nd June Blackpool Civic Trust celebrated National Civic Day with an afternoon tea at the Art Deco Cafe at Stanley Park.
Blackpool Civic Trust Chair, Joan Humble, commented how much the members and guests had enjoyed themselves. Read more on our Civic Week 2019 page.
Layton Cemetery Boundary Markers
The Civic Trust sponsored two boundary markers to be placed in Layton Cemetery. The marker in the photograph is for section HH, which is devoted to Church of England burials. The majority of the memorials date back to the mid-1920s.
Devonshire Road Rock Garden - June Update
We continue to make good progress working on the Vista in Devonshire Rd Gardens. Work was suspended a few weeks ago in order to protect bird nests and wildlife. A friendly ornithologist carried out an inspection of the particular areas we intended to work on and gave the all-clear, providing we double-checked before actually starting work.
?In the accompanying photograph showing John, Roy and Stan we had to first carefully and gently move some frogs to a suitable habitat before commencing work. All in a day's work!
Read more on our project page.
Our monthly meeting on Monday 20th May 2019 at St Stephens on the Cliffs
Guest Speaker was Bez Cooper on Being a Tiller Girl
Bez Cooper gave an enthralling talk to Civic Trust members and guests on her life as a Tiller Girl. She brought her days performing in such famous theatres as the London Palladium to vivid life with anecdotes and gestures and kept her audience spellbound.
The occasion was made all the more memorable by having the talk at St Stephen?s on the Cliffs, with its unique Actors Chapel. The floor of the Chapel is dedicated to the memory of Jennie Tiller.
Bez Cooper and Joan Humble, Chair of Blackpool Civic Trust, are pictured holding a brass plaque commemorating Miss Barbara Aitken, a key figure in the history of the Tiller Girls.
The next meeting of the Civic Trust is again being held at St Stephen?s on 17 June, 7pm. Bob Milner will be talking about 'The Joy of a Cinema'.
New members are always welcome. For information about the Civic Trust and its many activities, speakers and events please see our webpage http://www.blackpoolcivictrust.org.uk/membership.html
Blackpool Civic Trust Annual Awards and Dinner
Friday 12th April 2019
Held at the Imperial Hotel Blackpool
For a full report and list of award winners please click here
Every year we present awards for the Best Community and Architecture of Blackpool
Blackpool Civic Trust Awards and Dinner at the Imperial Hotel 12th April 2019:
Blackpool Civic Trust Art Competition 2019
This year Blackpool civic Trust is holding an art competition open to any non-professional artists, schools, colleges and youth groups with an aim to producing a calendar for 2020. We have booked Exhibition space at the Solaris, south shore, for the whole of July next year where the shortlisted artworks will go on display, and the final 13 winners will each receive their artwork framed as their prize.
Please read more by clicking here to see our events page
Click here to see a list of our speakers and upcoming events in 2019
Blackpool Civic Trust Commemorative Bench
The Civic Trust's 'Lest We Forget' commemorative bench has now been installed in the Fylde Memorial Arboretum, Moor Park Avenue. The bench has been installed on a purpose-made concrete base diametrically opposite the wooden entrance to the Burma Star Association area of the Arboretum. This is a very appropriate place.
2018 Blackpool Civic Trust Awards
Every year we present awards for the Best Building Work and Community Activities in Blackpool.
You can get involved by nominating places and people for an Award. Closing date 31st December 2018.
Nomination forms are on line using the links below. We encourage you to look around for new buildings, community groups, environmental work at schools and efforts in many more categories.
Link to Award Nomination Form in Word format
Link to Award Nomination Form in PDF format
Below is an image of this years form:
