Author: Ed

Margaret Thornton Gets Her First Book Published

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Margaret Thornton was born 21 June 1934 in a boarding house on Pleasant Street, Blackpool and lived in the town all her life. She had two children and five grandchildren, and was a qualified teacher at Grange Park, Mereside and Devonshire Road (background image) junior schools. She left teaching in her early 50s in order to concentrate on her writing and wrote short stories before turning her hand to full-length novels with her debut, It’s a Lovely Day Tomorrow, in 1992. Her son got her a computer but she only used it as a word processor and didn’t use it… Read more »

Aiden Grimshaw Gets into X-Factor

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Aiden Samuel Grimshaw (born 4 December 1991 in Blackpool) is an English singer, songwriter and actor who was formerly known by the stage name Butterjack. He studied at the Michael Hall Theatre School in North Shore, Blackpool. He played Tom Holmes in an episode of CBBC show Half Moon Investigations. He successfully made it to the live shows in the seventh series of The X Factor in 2010 and was the eighth contestant eliminated. After his elimination, Grimshaw was signed by RCA Records. On 3 June 2012, he released his debut single “Is This Love”, which debuted at number 35… Read more »

David Slattery-Christy – Ivor Novello Consultant for Gosford Park

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David Slattery-Christy, who writes both fiction and nonfiction, was born in 1959 and brought up in Oxford. His parents moved to Blackpool in the late 1960s to run hotel businesses so he has spent many years living in Blackpool. The house David lives in on Whitegate Drive has an ongoing connection with Hollywood and the theatre. The house was also home to Hollywood actress Janet Munro – her stepmother Lilias Munro, who owned the house at that time, was also the make up artist for the BBC TV series The Good Old Days. He graduated for London’s City University with… Read more »

Marilyn Chapman Releases First Book

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Marilyn began her career in 1967 as a trainee journalist on the Lytham St Annes Express – part of the Gazette’s empire, later being promoted to Women’s Page Editor. On leaving the Express she became co-director of HB Publishing and PR Associates, Lytham, along with her father, Harry Brown, former Public Relations Officer of The Football League, St Annes, and founder of the Football League Review. In 2014 Marilyn was shortlisted for the Festival of Romance New Talent Award with her first novel Baggy Pants and Bootees, set in World War Two. A member of The Society of Authors, she… Read more »

Alan Whelan Publishes His First Book

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Alan Whelan’s first novel, African Brew Ha-Ha, was published on 31 May 2012. African Brew Ha Ha: A Motorcycle Quest from Lancashire to Cape Town Tea-drinking is a ritual that binds people together. Alan Whelan was on a unique quest: to find the people at the hidden heart of Africa… and sit down for a nice cup of tea with them. On the 14,000-mile solo journey through Morocco, Mauritania, Mali and all the way to Cape Town across deserts and the toughest roads imaginable, he met sporting legends and ministers, peacekeepers and outlaws, and countless people who shared their last…

Nigel Hanson Publishes His First Novel

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Nigel Hanson lives on the Fylde Coast and published his first book Murder Mapped Out on 30 October 2022. It’s part of a series of three books, which are all available on Amazon. Aside from being a terrific writer, Nigel has had a great influence on Blackpool, both with the Town Centre Forum and Blackpool BID. MURDER MAPPED OUT On his stroll through the estate grounds, his beagle alongside him, Selwyn sniffed the air and looked about with a rapturous smile. ‘A good wife, if a bit spirited, a gorgeous son, good staff, all this – and, of course, you.’…

Les Dennis Joins Dustin Gee at the North Pier

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In 1982, Les Dennis joined Russ Abbot’s Madhouse and The Russ Abbot Show before forming a comedy double act with fellow impressionist Dustin Gee. The duo launched their own television series, The Laughter Show, which first aired on 7 April 1984. For its third series, it was retitled Les & Dustin’s Laughter Show. On 24 May 1985, during the opening night of a summer season at Blackpool’s North Pier, Gee fell ill on stage but continued performing. After the show, he was taken to Blackpool Victoria Hospital, where doctors diagnosed him with a minor heart attack and dilated cardiomyopathy. Despite… Read more »

Lennie Bennett Leaves the Gazette for the BBC

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Michael Berry, born on 26 September 1938 in Blackpool, was better known by his stage name, Lennie Bennett. An English comedian and game-show host, he became a familiar face on British television throughout the 1970s and 1980s. After attending Palatine Secondary School in Blackpool, Bennett began his career as a journalist for the West Lancashire Evening Gazette. He later transitioned into entertainment, initially working as a professional hypnotist before making his television debut on the BBC light entertainment programme The Good Old Days in 1969. His breakthrough came when he partnered with Jerry Stevens to create The Lennie and Jerry…

Anna Jobarteh Plays Star Pupil on Waterloo Road

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Anna Jobarteh was born on 3 April 1996 in Blackpool and is best known for her work in television, including Paradox (2009), In From the Cold (2022), and Coronation Street (1960). She made her on-screen debut at the age of 13 in BBC One’s Waterloo Road, portraying Ruth Kirby, a gifted but headstrong student in the school-based drama. A former pupil from Marton, Anna was thrilled to step onto the Waterloo Road set, where she swapped her Highfield school uniform for that of her on-screen counterpart. Her character made an immediate impact, running away on her first day and prompting… Read more »

Chris Wiggins Stars in Friday the 13th TV Series

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Chris Wiggins was born on 13 January 1931 in Blackpool. Before pursuing a career in acting, he initially worked as a banker in the UK. However, after emigrating to Canada in 1952, he transitioned into the entertainment industry and built a successful career in television, film, and radio. He is perhaps best remembered for his role as Jack Marshak, the knowledgeable and kind-hearted expert on the occult, in the syndicated horror series Friday the 13th: The Series, which aired from 1987 to 1990. Another notable role was that of Johann Robinson (the father) in Swiss Family Robinson, appearing in all… Read more »