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Our next meeting is:
Monthly Meetings
Monthly Meetings are on the third Monday of the month at 7pm
Our next meeting will be on Monday 16th December at 7pm
This meeting is the Christmas Carols with the Salvation Army Brass Band and Hotpot Supper
to be held at the Holiday Inn, Blackpool.
This is a members event and they have been contacted about obtaining tickets.
The January 2025 meeting will be our 50th Anniversary Dinner
at the White Tower Restaurant in the Casino at Blackpool Pleasure Beach
Tickets are available from Elaine Smith.
Robert Evan Mills Lecture with Guest Speaker Professor Stephen Hodder MBE PPRIBA
Monday 18th November 2024 7pm in the Louis Room at the Imperial Hotel
Every year we hold a special lecture called the Robert Evans Memorial lecture.
This year, 2024, our guest speaker was Professor Stephen Hodder MBE PPRIBA, Professor of Architecture at the Manchester School of Architecture and founder of Hodder+Partners a long standing and award winning architectural practice in Manchester.
His chosen topic is 'Blackpool Town Prospectus: the value of good design'
Last night's Annual 'Robert Evans Mills lecture' was this year given by Professor Stephen Hodder MBE PPRIBA.
He provided insights to the scope and potential of architecture to achieve Blackpool's 2030 Prospectus. He also spoke about two of his better known projects including the recent RHS Bridgewater Welcome Building which has many sustainable features.
Held at The Imperial Hotel Blackpool the audience showed their involvement through a range of questions at the end. Prof Hodder was presented with a silver plate in appreciation.
Photo: The Mayor Cllr Peter Hunter and Mayoress Anne-Marie Hunter with the audience at the Imperial Hotel Blackpool Louis Room:
Photo: Prof Hodder with Joan Humble, Margaret Moussadis, Nigel Patterson of Blackpool Civic Trust.:
Click here to read more on the News page
We've recently been presenting awards:
Blackpool Civic Trust Awards for Achievement in 2023
Presentations Autumn 2024
Read the full account click here
Best Community Group 2023 - Blackpool Freedom Runners
Best Refurbishment Award 2023 - Blackpool Victoria Hospital A & E Ward/Village
Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Transforming Blackpool Award 2023 - Frasers/Flannels/Direct Sports
Transforming Blackpool Award 2023 - Highly Commended - Abingdon Street Market
Blackpool Civic Trust Awards for Achievement in 2024
We are inviting everyone to nominate a building or organisation for a Blackpool Civic Trust Award for achievement in 2024.
There are 6 categories which must meet the guidelines all listed below. The nominations form and guidelines can be downloaded in Word and pdf format. Work must have been completed in Blackpool in 2024.
The closing date for receipt of forms is 31st December 2024.
Note that the Open Spaces Award closure date is 31st March 2025.
Please click here to visit our Awards page for the award nomination forms and information
Meeting Speakers for 2024/5
Report on our Heritage Open Days tours:
Heritage Open Days 2024 - Town Hall Guided Tours
The photograph above shows the original Blackpool coat-of-arms (middle carving) above the east entrance to Blackpool Town Hall. The coat-of-arms was rejected by the College of Heralds as it could not be described properly in heraldic terms. It had to be redesigned and resubmitted. (The original coat-of-arms depicts a lifeboat, a sailing ship, a bathing hut and a pier.)
Heritage Open Days: Blackpool Town Hall
Blackpool Civic Trust opened the Town Hall to the public as part of Heritage Open Days. It proved a busy, enjoyable and very successful day. This year we had a big team of volunteers, which allowed us to put on more tours for visitors and not keep them waiting for a tour guide to be free. A simplified and updated version of the Council’s History of the Town Hall was produced, specifically, for tour guides this year. We were very pleased that the Mayor and Mayoress joined us in the morning and pointed out to visitors the many features of interest of the Mayor’s Parlour, including the highly impressive Mace.
Heritage Open Days 2024
Saturday 14th September 2024 Blackpool Civic Trust will be guiding tours round the Blackpool Town Hall. 10am to 4pm. Booking is not required.
Blackpool Civic Trust promoting excellence since 1975
Founded in 1975, Blackpool Civic Trust seeks to promote excellence and community spirit in Blackpool for people of all ages. We are interested in all things Blackpool, particularly its heritage and future for people. We have monthly meetings, visits to places of interest, and community activities such as Civic Week. We'd love you to join us.
Join Blackpool Civic Trust
Download our membership form for 2024/25 renewals or new members, both individual or corporate:
Blackpool Civic Trust Monthly Meeting
NOTE THE CHANGE OF VENUE FOR MEETINGS
Barry Shaw, RIP
It is with great regret that I have to tell you that Barry Shaw, one of our Vice Presidents, has died.
Barry was always busy on behalf of Blackpool Civic Trust. He held many positions over the years. To name but a few, he was the hard-working Vice Chair from 1993, and then became the Chairman, President and finally Vice President.
He spoke regularly to the Members Meetings. On 15th May 2023 he gave a talk about the Foundation of the Civic Trust and his role as Chairman. He gave the Robert Evans Mills lecture on The Winter Gardens in 2013. He gave two talks on the seaside. One was 'Seaside Traditions' and another on 'Seaside Frolics'. Barry wrote many articles, including, how the origin of Blackpool’s name evolved from the Ice Age!
Barry cared passionately about Blackpool, its history, its people and visitors. In recent years, he took part in several practical projects, including a three-year long project cleaning the Burmantoff tiles of the Imperial Hotel’s Turkish baths. He also helped paint a listed Promenade Shelter.
Barry will be missed as a local historian, as a gifted and humorous speaker and as a key figure in his beloved Civic Trust to which he contributed so much over so many years.
Joan Humble, Chair of Blackpool Civic Trust
Renewed Blue Plaque unveiling on Blackpool's War Memorial
A very special blue plaque was unveiled on Tuesday 12th December 2023 to mark the 100th anniversary of Blackpool’s War Memorial, Princess Parade.
The Mayor Cllr Gillian Campbell unveiled the new plaque. Photographed with Mr John Barnett DL MBE, a patron of Blackpool Civic Trust.
The revised Blackpool War Memorial Blue Plaque, 12th December 2023
Blue Plaque unveiled for the Nolan Family
at the Cliffs Hotel Blackpool
16th October 2023
Blackpool Civic Trust were pleased to be involved in placing a plaque at the Cliffs Hotel marking the venue where the famous Nolan Sisters, later the Nolans, were discovered in 1973. Present were sisters Anne, Coleen, Linda, Denise, Maureen and brother Tommy. Photos also of Joan Humble, Chair of Blackpool Civic Trust and the blue plaque. The Deputy Mayor of Blackpool Adrian Hoyle unveiled the plaque. Monday 16th October 2023.
The Blue Plaque for the Nolan Family at the Cliffs Hotel in Blackpool, North Shore, where they were first discovered in 1973.
See more on our news page click here
Blackpool Civic Trust Awards and Afternoon Tea for Achievement in 2022
Also including the Blackpool Council Awards for Conservation 2019
Held at the Blackpool Winter Gardens, Baronial Hall on Friday 18th August 2023.
The Blackpool Civic Trust Awards for 2022
The awards ceremony was attended by over 90 guests, members, award-winners and the Mayor and Mayoress, the Chief Executive Officer and senior Council colleagues. It was followed by a splendid afternoon tea.
Joan Humble, Chair of Blackpool Civic Trust, read the citations and winners and the Mayor of Blackpool Councillor Gillian Campbell made the awards.
Thanks to the Winter Gardens Trust and assistance from Carl Carrington of Blackpool Council for hosting the event at the Winter Gardens and to Blackpool Council for their sponsorship this year.
We'd like to thank Claire Griffiths for taking photographs of the event.
We are pleased to be able to reintroduce our annual awards scheme after a two-year break due to the pandemic.
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Read more on our 2022 Awards Page
Blackpool Civic Trust Seaside Memorabilia Collection
Over the years Blackpool Civic Trust has collected a large amount of Blackpool related Seaside Memorabia. We have photographed the items and created an on-line catalogue. Please click on this link to view it.
Item 5
Direct Links to what we do and other items of interest:
AwardsMembershipCorporate MembersPlanning
BuildingsBlue PlaquesHeritage Open DaysFavourites
LostWar MemorialsBlackpool Heritage TramsBlackpool Air Show
Blackpool contains many buildings and areas of importance:
Over 30 listed buildings
Over 50 blue plaques
One listed park
Four Conservation Areas
Local list of important buildings
Assets of Community Value
Blackpool Heritage Open Days click here
Blackpool Heritage Tram Tours click here
Blackpool Illuminations
See our news page for information of what we've done and what we're doing.
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If you wish to speak at one of our meetings please contact our speakers secretary listed on the About Us page.
Contact us by clicking the link at the bottom of the page.Charity Reg. No. 504075 R
Become a Corporate Member, see our list, click here