Author: Ed

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 »

Ron Sharples Starts Blackpool’s First Professional Recording Studio

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Berlin Recording Studios was founded in the 1980s by Blackpool entrepreneur Ron Sharples, who recognised that despite the town’s thriving music scene, there was no professional recording facility. At the time, he was also running a sign-making business, RS Plastics, one of the first in Blackpool to use cut vinyl lettering technology. Seeing the demand for a high-quality studio, he embarked on a project to create a space where artists could record professionally.   The studio was carefully designed and acoustically treated by professional builders, incorporating sand-filled walls and sound-absorbing carpet to ensure optimal sound quality. After extensive preparation, Berlin… Read more »

Sonny Flood Lands Role in Hollyoaks

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Sonny Flood, born on 18 November 1989 in Blackpool, was educated at Rossall School near Fleetwood, where he excelled academically. In 2006, he achieved ten GCSEs, all graded A or A*, followed by four A grades at AS level in English Literature, History, Media Studies, and Philosophy in 2007. The following year, he attained an A in English Literature and a B in History at A2 level, opting to focus on just two subjects to balance his studies with his acting commitments on the Channel 4 soap opera Hollyoaks. A devoted Blackpool FC supporter, he appeared on Sky Sports’ Soccer… Read more »

Mike Peters MBE Launches Universal Products

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Mike Peters, formerly of Horne, Brooke & Shenton Accountants in Blackpool, set off on his own and launched Universal Products (Lytham) Manufacturing Ltd on Boundary Road in Lytham in Jun 1976 at the age of 21. He led the company through rapid growth, so much so that the company built its own new facility in Kirkham in 1995, employing several hundred employees until Mike left the company in October 2014, some 38 years later. He changed the name of the company to UPL along the way and was awarded an MBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List in recognition of his services…

Cuffe & Taylor Bring Major Acts to the Fylde Coast

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One of the UK’s top 10 live music and event promoters, Cuffe & Taylor are experts in promotion, production, and event management. Offering exceptional experiences for artists and audiences like no other, they produce and promote major festivals, stadium tours, arena concerts and theatre shows across the UK and internationally. Founded in 2010, business partners Daniel Cuffe and Peter Taylor dipped their toe into the live music world with the one-night Lytham Proms in their hometown of Lytham, Lancashire. This has now grown into the huge five-day Lytham Festival attracting in excess of 100,000 fans each summer. Alongside Lytham Festival, Cuffe…

Jonathan & Kevin Cropper Set up Kingswood Business Supplies

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On 19 September 2023, Kingswood Business Supplies moved into larger premises at 11-12 Holly Close, Whitehills Business Park, Blackpool, FY4 5QP. Prior to that they were at Fylde House Skyways Commercial Campus on Amy Johnson Way. They moved there on 28 April 2009 from 12-18 King Street, Blackpool, where directors Johnathan and Kevin Cropper started the business under the name Kingswood Office Supplies Limited, on10 May 2005. Kingswood Business Supplies provide all the items you need to keep your business running smoothly, to coin a well-used phrase – A one stop shop. This includes stationery, packaging, FM, and much more, all… Read more »

Stringers First Opens its Doors in Lytham

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Stringers is a family-run independent department store at the heart of Lytham, offering a carefully curated selection of fashion, home, and lifestyle products. Dedicated to providing an exceptional shopping experience, it has become a well-loved retail destination for customers across the Fylde coast and beyond. The business dates back to 1852, originally opening as a drapery store, and has been owned and operated by three generations of the Clarke family since 1957. Over the years, Stringers has built a reputation for quality, style, and excellent service, with every product carefully selected to reflect on-trend design, craftsmanship, and originality. At the… Read more »

Greyhound Racing Finishes at Clifton Park Racecourse, Squires Gate

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Clifton Park Racecourse at Squires Gate was a short-lived greyhound track in Blackpool, operating for just four years before closing in 1937. Often mistaken for the nearby Blackpool Greyhound Stadium, Clifton Park had an unusual layout that ultimately contributed to its decline. Originally, the site was relocated in 1911 to a large area of land south of Blackpool and north of St Annes-on-Sea, intended to become a long-term venue for horse racing. A grandstand was constructed on the south side of Squires Gate Lane, while 144 stable boxes were built near Blackpool Golf Links. To the east of the racecourse,… Read more »

Blackpool Greyhound Stadium Closes

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Blackpool Greyhound Stadium was a greyhound track that closed down on 30 October 1964 with the site being sold for housing. It was called Stadium Avenue after being sold to builders for £80,000 and should not be confused with the Clifton Park Racecourse at Squires Gate, a short-lived track that was nearby to the south. The stadium opened on the Saturday afternoon of 30 July 1927 in front of the 5,000 spectators. The six race card included one hurdle race with all races over the 500 yards distance, the first race was won by Carrow Boy at 3-1 odds in… 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 »