Author: Ed

John Sumner – From Blackpool to King Kong

Posted by

John Sumner, born on 14 October 1951 in Blackpool, England, moved with his family to New Zealand at the age of nine. He began his career in the entertainment industry at 19, performing live on Auckland’s nightclub circuit. His talent quickly earned him a following, and within months, he appeared on local variety television shows. Over the next few years, Sumner became a versatile performer, gaining both popular and critical acclaim. Notable early roles included playing “Charlie Brown” in You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown and the character “Emory” in The Boys in the Band, showcasing his range from light-hearted… Read more »

Robert Smith Co-Founds The Cure

Posted by

Robert James Smith, born on 21 April 1959 in Blackpool, is a renowned British musician, singer, songwriter, and record producer. He is best known as the co-founder, lead vocalist, guitarist, and primary songwriter of The Cure, a pivotal band in the post-punk and gothic rock movements. Smith remains the band’s only continuous member, having shaped its sound since its formation in 1976. Raised in a musical household, Smith was the third of four children to Rita Mary (née Emmott) and James Alexander Smith. His father was a singer, and his mother played the piano, which likely influenced his early musical…

Ricky Tomlinson Becomes a Royle

Posted by

Eric ‘Ricky’ Tomlinson, born on 26 September 1939 in Burleigh House, Bispham, Blackpool, is an actor, comedian, and musician, best known for his television roles, including Bobby Grant in Brookside (1982–1988), DCI Charlie Wise in Cracker (1993–2006), and Jim Royle in the iconic sitcom The Royle Family (1998–2012). Despite his roots in Blackpool, he has lived in Liverpool for most of his life. Tomlinson’s early life saw him evacuated to Blackpool at the outbreak of World War II due to fears that Liverpool would be bombed. He attended Walton Technical College in Liverpool after passing an exam at the age… Read more »

Nick McCarthy Joins Franz Ferdinand

Posted by

Nicholas John McCarthy, born on 13 December 1974 in Blackpool, is a versatile musician known for his work as a rhythm guitarist, backing/lead vocalist, keyboardist, and songwriter. Although born in England, McCarthy grew up in Vagen, near Munich, Bavaria, Germany. His younger sister is the artist Anna McCarthy. As a teenager, McCarthy earned the nickname “McCarThief” after an incident where he and friends stole a car. He completed his high school education in Bad Aibling, Germany, and was classically trained as both a pianist and a double bassist at the Munich Conservatory. Initially drawn to drumming, McCarthy later settled into… Read more »

The Federation of Small Businesses

Posted by

The Federation of Small Businesses (FSB), originally founded as the National Federation of the Self-Employed (NFSE) in 1974, has its roots in Blackpool and a response to government tax changes. The organisation was created by Norman Small in Lytham St Annes as a direct reaction to the introduction of the Class 4 National Insurance contributions, which added extra taxes on the self-employed and small business owners. Small invited affected individuals to a meeting in his hometown, where he proposed the creation of an organisation to represent self-employed workers and sole traders. This meeting was the beginning of a movement that…

Chadwicks Timber Since 1896

Posted by

Chadwicks Timber has a rich history that is deeply intertwined with the development of Blackpool and the wider Fylde Coast. Established in 1896, Chadwicks built its reputation over more than a century by providing high-quality materials and exceptional service to builders, tradespeople, and the local community. By 1956, the company had relocated to its iconic site on Mowbray Drive, where it became a cornerstone of Blackpool’s construction industry. Initially focused on timber, Chadwicks expanded over the decades into a multifaceted builders’ merchant with seven distinct departments. These included not only timber and sheet materials but also hardware, ironmongery, kitchens, bathrooms,… Read more »

3 Police Officers Die Trying to Save a Man and His Dog

Posted by

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=""]Some 40 years have gone by since three heroic Blackpool police officers gave the ultimate sacrifice while attempting to save a man and his dog from the choppy Irish Sea. On 5 January 1983, a Scottish holidaymaker had been walking along the Blackpool coast near Gynn Square. 25-year-old Alistair Anthony was with his terrier, Henry, along the prom. The next twelve hours would see Alistair and three officers lose their lives with a fourth hospitalised as they tried to retrieve the dog. To this day it remains the greatest loss of police life to Lancashire officers. It was January 5 when…

Blackpool Pride of Place Partnership

Posted by

Blackpool Pride of Place Partnership calls on Government to further its support to regenerate the Town. The Partnership is part of Business in the Community (BITC), The Prince’s Responsible Business Network. It has released a fourth edition of its Blackpool Town Prospectus to help respond to the current and future needs of Blackpool, by building on its strategic partnership with the UK Government formed in 2022. The Blackpool Pride of Place Partnership, founded in 2017 by BITC, is a partnership of the private, public, and voluntary sectors working together to create long-term transformational change in Blackpool. BITC has been working in… Read more »

The Fylde’s Forgotten Roller Coasters

Posted by

Aside from the Pleasure Beach, there were two more roller coasters, one in Blackpool at the Winter Gardens called the Les Montagnes Russes, and the other in Cleveleys called the Big Dipper. Records show that the Winter Gardens Company was registered on 7th August 1875. And by the end of 1876, many of the foundations and basements of the main buildings had been built along with an outdoor and indoor skating rink. The circular switchback railway, Les Montagnes Russes, was installed in 1902. The Cleveleys Big Dipper The Cleveleys roller coaster ride occupied the stretch of land between Beach Road… Read more »

Blackpool’s Victorian Great Wheel

Posted by

Blackpool’s iconic tower dominates the skyline at the famous seaside resort with nothing to challenge it, however that wasn’t always the case. In 1896 it had a rival in the form of the ‘Giant Wheel’ although in reality it was never a genuine challenger and lasted a mere 32 years. At around the same time, a roller coaster was built around the corner. See more on that here. Designed by Walter B Bassett and situated next to Blackpool Winter Gardens, the structure was the second wheel out of four that the British Naval Engineer was to erect between the years…