Author: Ed

Yuri and Tonya Gridneff Launch Blackpool Circus School

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Blackpool Circus School was founded in 1999 by former circus artistes Yuri and Tonya Gridneff. Established to teach circus skills, promote well-being, and boost confidence in the local community, the school later incorporated as a Community Interest Company (CIC) in May 2008. Yuri, who sadly passed away in March 2023, devoted his life to circus, performance and inspiring young people. He came from a rich Russian circus heritage. His father was part of the Amazing Gridneffs ladder-balancing act, touring internationally and appearing at venues including the London Palladium alongside stars such as George Formby, Gracie Fields and Max Miller, and…

£90.4 Million Blackpool Central Housing Regeneration

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Blackpool Council has set out a long-term plan to transform housing and neighbourhoods across Central Blackpool, where some of the poorest housing conditions in the country currently exist. The council’s ambition, set out in its Council Plan and Local Plan, is to make the inner area fit for modern living through significant and lasting change. To support this, the government has awarded up to £90.4 million to improve housing quality and neighbourhood conditions. Investment will focus on tackling poor private landlords, demolishing unsafe or substandard homes and replacing them with high-quality housing, refurbishing properties to improve safety and energy efficiency,…

From Opportunity to Enterprise: Julie’s Story

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In 1986, Julie began working at the Sandcastle Water Park in Blackpool, just as it opened its doors to the public. She was placed in charge of the newsagent shop inside the park, a role that gave her early experience in retail and responsibility. For three years she built her confidence there—until an unexpected change altered her course. When her manager’s contract was not renewed, Julie suddenly found herself out of work. Rather than seeing this as a setback, she treated it as an opportunity. Julie enrolled on a business course at Blackpool College, determined to gain the skills she…

King Edward VII Visited The River Wyre Hotel

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Set back from the main roads of Poulton-le-Fylde, close to the slow curve of the estuary, The River Wyre occupies a landscape that has long attracted travellers, sportsmen, and those seeking refuge from the formality of towns and cities. In the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, this quiet stretch of Lancashire was fashionable in a way that now feels distant — valued for fresh air, shooting estates, fishing, and the privacy offered by its flat, open horizons. It was within this context that King Edward VII, then Prince of Wales, is said to have visited the River Wyre during…

Origins of the Town Fleetwood

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On the low, exposed edge of the Wyre Estuary, where marshland once stretched toward the Irish Sea, the town of Fleetwood was created not by gradual settlement, but by vision. It was a product of the Victorian age, born from confidence in progress, engineering, and the power of planning. At the centre of this ambition stood Sir Peter Hesketh-Fleetwood, a wealthy landowner and Member of Parliament who, in the 1830s, believed the future of transport lay at the meeting point of rail and sea. He imagined a modern port town that would serve as a gateway between England and Scotland,…

Blackpool Graces Christmas Markets With Snow

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Snow fell across Blackpool in the early hours of 5 January 2025. By morning, a light covering had settled along the promenade, the beach, and residential streets from North Shore to South Shore. Footage recorded by residents (above) shows snow collecting on attractions, railings and pavements, with the sea remaining active and dark in contrast. Travel continued, though slowly, and most activity was local—people stepping out briefly to document conditions before returning indoors. The timing mattered. Seasonal events, including the Christmas Village and related attractions, had already closed hours earlier. As a result, the snowfall passed without crowds or organised…

Sean Conboy and the Architectural Heritage of Blackpool

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Photographer Sean Conboy has a long and deeply rooted connection with Blackpool, one that begins with his early life and extends through decades of professional work centred on the town’s architectural heritage. Although internationally recognised for his architectural and interior photography, his relationship with Blackpool is both personal and long-standing. Conboy grew up in England’s North West, and it was during his school years in Blackpool that his interest in image-making first took shape. A film camera inherited from his grandfather sparked a fascination that eventually led him toward still photography and, later, a distinguished career. Blackpool’s built environment has…

From Rossall to Dubai: The Creative Journey of Charlotte Hudders

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Charlotte Hudders, an alumna of Rossall School (1999–2005), has built a dynamic international career as a costume and set designer, now based in Dubai. Her creative foundations were laid at Rossall School, where she formed lifelong friendships and immersed herself in the school’s rich artistic environment. The Art and Design Block became her second home, and the support of inspiring teachers helped shape her confidence and direction as an emerging artist. Her years at the school were filled with vivid memories — from House Singing competitions and brisk games of Ross Hockey to festive dinners in the Hogwarts-like Dining Hall….

Charting the Artistic Legacy of Sheryl Hudders

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It could be argued that Sheryl Hudders first came to wider public attention in September of 2002, when she had an exhibition in Blackpool that showcased her rapidly evolving style and creative approach. At the time, she was emerging from her studies at Lancaster University, where her artistic voice had developed considerably. She spoke then of exploring personal relationships as a source of inspiration, drawing on connections and lived experience to shape the emotional core of her work. During this early period, she described her practice as primarily figurative and often executed in black and white — though she was…

Diane Wilkinson Brings Stories to Life Through Art and Words

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Diane Wilkinson (Artydi) began her creative career as a portrait painter, a discipline in which she quickly demonstrated a natural talent. Portraiture remains one of her strongest artistic foundations, but her practice broadened significantly during her university years, when she wrote and illustrated her first children’s book, The Skitlets. The story resonated immediately with young readers; their enthusiastic response encouraged her to continue exploring storytelling as an extension of her visual art. The Skitlets © Diane Wilkinson Building on that early success, Diane went on to write a second children’s story and develop a companion colouring book, eventually bringing all…