Author: Ed

Steve Williams Sets up Force Technology

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Force Technology was founded in 2015 to drive development and innovation in the precision, high-duty spring markets. The company chose to establish its operations within the Enterprise Zone, which met several key requirements, with many of the team members hailing from the local area. The location offers access to a strong, potential workforce, supported by Blackpool and the surrounding region’s thriving engineering and advanced manufacturing sectors. Alongside advanced processing facilities, Force Technology boasts a metallurgical laboratory and a component testing facility, including an engine dyno, further solidifying its commitment to innovation within the industry. The business management systems are fully… Read more »

Derek Woodman Rides in His First TT Race

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Derek Woodman, born in Blackpool on April 26, 1959, is a former world-class motorcycle racer and the longtime owner of one of the UK’s top BMW dealerships. Raised in a working-class family, he wasn’t expected to go far academically, but his love for motorcycles and mechanical work led him to become a skilled toolmaker. Despite his mother’s objections—due to a past family tragedy involving motorcycles—Derek’s passion for racing grew, and at 14, he visited the Isle of Man to watch the famous TT races, which left a lasting impression. After leaving school at 15, he worked at a motorcycle shop… Read more »

Leonard Dews, One of the Oldest North West Jewellers

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Leonard Dews has been a cherished part of Blackpool town centre since it first opened its doors in 1877, making it a long-standing fixture of the town’s rich heritage. Established during the reign of Queen Victoria and when Benjamin Disraeli was Prime Minister, the store predates even the iconic Blackpool Tower, which was constructed 10 years later in 1894. For 146 years, Leonard Dews has been renowned for its jewellery and watchmaking expertise, earning a reputation as one of Blackpool’s most respected establishments. The Blackpool store was purchased by the Hyman family in 1959, who had previously operated another jewellery… Read more »

Anthony Cocker Becomes CEO of E.ON UK

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Anthony David Cocker, born on 26 April 1959 in the Borough of Fylde, is a prominent figure in the energy sector. He served as the chief executive of E.ON UK, one of the UK’s “Big Six” energy providers, and is also the chairman of Infinis Energy Management Limited. Cocker attended Kirkham Grammar School and has a younger brother. He married Madeleine Parker in September 1991 in Oxford, and the couple has two children: a son, born in November 2000, and a daughter, born in August 1998. They currently reside in Warwickshire. Cocker studied mathematics at Lincoln College, Oxford, where he… Read more »

Lytham Academy of Performing Arts

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Lytham Academy of Theatre Arts, or L.A.T.A. as it’s affectionately known, was established in 1994 and is based at 15 St Alban’s Rd, Lytham Saint Annes FY8 1UB. The academy was founded with the aim of providing young people with experience and training in all aspects of theatre production. Affiliated with the National Operatic and Dramatic Association (NODA), L.A.T.A. hosts an annual regional awards evening where accolades are presented for the best musicals, plays, and performances from the previous year. The academy has won several awards, including recognition for their productions of The Vackees, and every show since has garnered… Read more »

James Cartmell Gets Voice Role for DreamWorks

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James Cartmell is an English actor known for his work in both theatre and voice acting. He gained recognition for his role in the West End production of Milked and became the voice of the titular character in the British animated series Where’s Waldo. Cartmell also voices Gilber Barker in the 2021 Netflix series Go, Dog. Go!. Born in Lancashire, England, Cartmell attended Kirkham Grammar School and began pursuing acting and voice lessons in 2007. During his school years, he was actively involved in music and sports, competing in athletics at a competitive level with UK Athletics. He later joined… Read more »

Clive Tyldesley Joins ITV as Senior Sports Commentator

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Clive Tyldesley (born 21 August 1954) is a renowned English sports commentator, best known for his long tenure as ITV’s senior football commentator from 1998 to 2020. Over the course of his career, he covered five World Cups, five European Championships, 17 UEFA Champions League finals, and nine FA Cup finals, making him one of the most recognisable voices in British sports broadcasting. Tyldesley currently serves as the lead commentator for CBS Sports’ live UEFA Champions League coverage in the United States and also contributes to Amazon Prime’s Premier League broadcasts. In 2021, he published his first book, Not for… Read more »

Ranvir Singh Joins Good Morning Britain

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Ranvir Singh is a British journalist and television presenter, best known for her work as a newsreader and presenter on Good Morning Britain, as well as for hosting Riddiculous and serving as a relief presenter on Lorraine alongside Christine Lampard. Born on 11 August 1977 in Preston, Lancashire, Singh hails from a Sikh family whose parents emigrated from Punjab, India, in the 1960s. She has two older sisters. Tragically, her father passed away from a heart attack when she was just nine years old. Singh attended Kirkham Grammar School before pursuing higher education at the University of Lancaster, where she… Read more »

The Fylde’s Kirkham Grammar School

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Kirkham Grammar School is a prestigious, selective, co-educational day and boarding school located in Kirkham, Lancashire. Although it holds a Preston postcode, it is situated within the Fylde area. Established in 1549, its origins trace back to a chantry school linked to St Michael’s Church in the 13th century. The school remained on church grounds until 1911, when it moved to its current location on Ribby Road. The main building and the headmaster’s house are both Grade II listed on the National Heritage List for England. In 1585, the Thirty Men of Kirkham, a group managing parish affairs, took over… Read more »

Ross Goodwin Starts Judo Academy

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Ross Goodwin started Kaidokan Judo Academy in Blackpool in late 2015. Within a short time from opening, the academy achieved tremendous success within the community by being awarded the area’s Community Sports Club of the Year along with the Area and Regional Coach of the Year Awards (Fylde, Blackpool & Lancashire twice). Goodwin is also a current…