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.
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.
There was a good turn out for the tour of Lightworks, the home of Blackpool Illuminations. We were treated to a guided tour by the manager, Richard Williams, who gave a lighthearted and knowledgeable account of what it takes to put on several miles of illuminations in the open sea air. Creating the amazing ideas of some of the best designers, such as Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen and with celebrity Leigh Francis, better known as Keith Lemon, who designs tableaux.
The entrance to Lightworks:
Richard Williams in yellow and Blackpool Civic Trust and friends in pink:
Sooty who often sits near the top of lamp posts and has a tabeaux of its own:
The Lightworks makes the tabeaux and illuminated displays using modern shaping technoloty such as 3D printing and has to ensure light it evenly transmitted through the display.
The Galleon from the tableaux way up north, Bispham way:
Disco Donkey Cavalcade by Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen, was on the prom opposite the Blackpool Tower in last years display. A joyful display well appreciated by everyone who saw it. We look forward to seeing it again.
Madhatter’s tea party. Which tea would it be? Quite large aren’t they.
Another display by Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen on the promenade, 11th July 2025. These are bigger than they look.
Blackpool Illuminations run from 30th August 2025 to 5th January 2026. 2
6th August 2025 brings a preview and fun night out with a closed Promenade for cycling in ‘Ride the Lights’.
From 15th October to 1st November 2025 the Lightpool Festival will display.
Plus the World Fireworks Championship adds to the excitement in September and October.
During the Lightpool festival tours on two illuminated trams, the Western Train and the Frigate, as well as the Balloon tram will run and the Blackpool Heritage Tram Tours will continue to the end of the illuminations season.
Richard Williams will be offering us tours of the Illuminations depot on Friday 11 July at 1:30.
We will meet outside the Lightworks, Shorebury Point, Amy Johnson Way, Blackpool, FY4 2RL. Time 13.20 on Friday 11th July 2025.
For those who haven’t been it’s a great way of seeing the working of the Illuminations department and to see what they have planned for the Illumination in 2025 season.
We now have a coach reserved for Thursday 4 September to visit Queen Street and Helmshore Textile Mill Museums. They’re both large mill museums in former mills operated by Lancashire County Council.
Queen Street Mill Textile Museum, weaving shed operating
Details of pick up times and points are to confirmed.
Itinerary of the day:
Arrival – 11:00am at Helmshore, tour, then leaving for Queen Street at 12:45
Arrival at Queen Street around 13:15 then tour starting at 14:00 and finishing at 15:30, ready for our departure at 16:00
Drop off approximately 17:00
Refreshment: There are two cafes at both sites, although they are unable to accommodate us as a group. We encourage you to bring a sandwich and just have drinks in the cafes, although if you do choose to eat in the café please be patient with the staff as Thursdays is their busiest day. Refreshments are not included in the price
£20 per person, includes coach and tours of both mills.
A number of our members are volunteers at Tramtown. Those with green or high vis jackets in the photo below.
Our visit began with photos firstly at the gate with the Blackpool Illuminations figures reminding us of our upcoming visit to the Illuminations Depot. Then the next photo in front of Boat Tram ‘Duchess of Cornwall’. Group Photos courtesy of Gary Mitchell.
We climbed on board the Boat Tram while a guide explained its history. Built in the 1930s at English Electric Preston for Blackpool Corporation Transport. Ever popular on a sunny day they attract attention and help enliven the Blackpool Prom.
The exhibits include three trams and the underfloor, or tram chassis, shown below. This a 1933 English Electric Ltd design for the Blackpool ‘Balloon’ trams. The underfloor shown was built at the tram depot for Princess Alice the double deck open top tram.
Also below is the old Bolton tram number 66.
Below is the Illuminated Trawler tram. Its LED covered hull is a more recent modification.
Tramtown is being improved all the time. There are a number of special exhibits, a cafe and a shop. The building has been tidied up with green pathways for visitors.
Opening times in summer 2025 are 10am to 2pm: Saturday, Monday, Wednesday. From August there is an extra day: Thursday. Keep up to date with Blackpool Tramtown on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BlackpoolTramtown
As part of Civic Week 2025, Blackpool Civic Trust visited the newly opened Showtown History Centre, situatated upstairs in Blackpool Central Library. We were treated to a rare viewing of the Blackpool Charter establishing the incorporation of the town. In addition, we had a wonderful tour of the collection stores. We would like to thank the Showtown Heritage Assistants for an informative morning and for sharing details of Blackpool Council collections.
We hope you will join us at the next members monthly meeting at 7pm on Monday 16th June at the Holiday Inn, Talbot Road.
We will discuss our activities and plans, followed by our guest speaker.
The guest speaker is Local Historian, Anne Charlesworth, talking about the early development of South Shore starting from 1819
Non-members are welcome for the small contribution of £2.
Membership is £10 a year and you can join by filling in the membership form and paying the fee. Please read the page linked below and download the application form. We look forward to meeting you.
