promoting excellence in Blackpool since 1975
Sunday 9th November 2025
Shirley Matthews and John Garnham laid a wreath on behalf of the members of Blackpool Civic Trust at the Blackpool War Memorial on Sunday 9th November 2025, in remembrance of those who gave their lives in service to their country.
The Blackpool Civic Trust joined many other similar groups from Blackpool such as the Scouts and Girl Guides as photographed below.
On the war memorial are the words ‘Their name liveth forever more, lest we forget’.
Monday, 17th November, at The Imperial Hotel Blackpool, it’s our November meeting. It will be the annual Robert Evan Mills lecture. This year the lecture is by Bev Carroll and titled. ‘Raikes Hall and the Royal Palace Gardens’.
Starting at 7pm. Non-members are welcome for a small donation £2. Please note the venue.
Saturday 1st November 2025
A celebration event to unveil the Blue Plaque for Charlie Cairoli. Where else but The Blackpool Tower Circus where Charlie starred in the ring from 1939 to 1979. The plaque was unveiled by Charlie Cairoli Jnr in front of an audience of admirers.
The plaque was presented by Steve Richley and the Charlie Cairoli Appreciation Society. It will be mounted in the Tower front entrance.
Saturday’s event at the Tower was part of a busy weekend including dining at the Imperial Hotel and a celebration of his life at Showtown. There are many photographs of the event, a small selection is below and links to other notable records of events are at the end of the page.
A wonderful video of events by Bev Carroll, local historian Link to Bev Carroll’s video on Facebook
The story of the creation of the Blue Plaque by Nigel Male of the Charlie Cairoli Appreciation Society Link Nigel Male’s Blue Plaque story on Facebook
Curtis Tappenden was invited to sketch events, great work Link to sketches of the circus and some of the event on Facebook
Friday 31st Octbober 2025
Today Blackpool Civic Trust visited The Robinson, Blackpool’s new business hub, based in the Stanley buildings, Church street, following its £8m renovation.
In August we had a talk on the restoration of this fine building and today’s visit gave us a chance to see the finished article for ourselves.
Thank you to Peter Legg and the team at The Robinson for giving the civic trust a preview of the office and co-working space prior to opening.
For more information about available space and membership of The Robinson, or for businesses to book a private viewing, click here: https://blackpoolunlimited.com/the-robinson/
October Monthly Meeting at the Holiday Inn, Talbot Road, Blackpool.
The guest speaker is Alistair Baines of Cassidy & Ashton, Architects, Building Surveyors & Town Planners. Speaking of ‘The life and times of a sand grown architect’.
Non-members are welcome for a small donation, £2 is suggested. We’ll see you soon.
The agenda will be business and raffle followed by the guest speaker.
A day out in the mills of Lancashire. Our coach tour took us from Blackpool to East Lancashire: Helmshore Mill near Rawtenstall and Queen Street Mill at Harle Syke in Burnley to visit the former cotton mills now being operated as museums by Lancashire County Council.
Our group outside Helmshore Mill. The multi-storey mill has full size cotton and wool factory equipment in two mills set out as it was and with additional displays, such as Arkwright’s Water Frame and spinning wheels, plus a waterwheel and an attractive stone former railway bridge adjoining the factory.
Soon some of our group were weaving, warping and carding on looms and mules ready for a shift at 7.30am in the morning, in a different life.
Lunch makes you jolly. Both mills have cafes.
Queen Street Mill weaving shed with dozens of looms and the belts powered by a large steam engine with a tall factory chimney. Quite a sight and very noisy when in operation.
These are impressive museums that were operating up to the 1980s and now mark the significance of the textile industry to the development of the region. The processing machinery looks complex and it tended to be built locally.
On Saturday 30th August 2025 Blackpool Civic Trust attended the unveiling of the Blue Plaque representing the activities of the Seasiders Independent Supporters Association.
‘In 2013 the movement brought Blackpool Football Club back into the heart of the community and led to the introduction of independent regulation by the government.
The Armfield Club, the independent supporters club, opened in 2020 and is a lasting legacy for all Blackpool fans past and present who played a role in re-claiming our club.’
Elaine Smith MBE, Chair of Blackpool Civic Trust with John Armfield, son of Jimmy Armfield, next to the blue plaque (lower).
Elaine Smith with Judi Brown a member of the Blackpool Civic Trust.
Tuesday 13th August 2025
We visited impressive Backlot Cinema and Imax in the Houndshill Shopping Centre, Blackpool and were led by Sales and Events Manager Megan.
Megan highlighted the venue’s various screens, including conference spaces available for hire and informed us of the free car parkig, ticket pricing and the bespoke clubs they offer for a variety of viewers.
There was interest in the weekly Social Club, which offers seniors a day time ticket with a drink to see some of the latest films.
Note that as of next week the cinema is to be taken over by Arc Cinemas and the now closed diner is not part of that deal.
Please join us at our monthly meeting on Monday 18th August at 7pm in the Holiday Inn, Blackpool. We will discuss matters of interest followed by our guest speaker: Peter Legg, Head of Economic and Cultural Services, Blackpool Council, speaking about the renovation of the Stanley Building on Church Street. Non-members are welcome for a small donation, £2.
Our next monthly meeting is on Monday 21st July 2025 at 7pm at the Holiday Inn Talbot Road Blackpool. The guest speaker is Claire Walmsley Griffiths a Heritage Spaces and Performance photographer from Blackpool.
Non-members are welcome for a small donation of £2.
