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Upcoming Activities from Blackpool Civic Trust

Pre- Civic Week

Tour of History Centre

Tuesday 10 June at 11am

Talbot Room, Blackpool Central Library, Queens Street.

In celebration of Civic Week, the Heritage Team are delighted to offer tours of the newly opened History Centre at Central Library.  Small groups will be taken around the stores and will also have a chance to see the Blackpool Charter.

In support of the conservation of the Blackpool Charter, there will be a collection bucket for the conservation of the wax seal which is in a poor state. The Heritage Team will share with us on the day details of the conservation needed to maintain it for the future.

In addition, we will have cake and drinks in the Talbot room.

Please book your place by emailing me on Rachelsykes@hotmail.co.uk  

CIVIC WEEK 14th -21st JUNE

During Civic Week

TRAM TOWN VISIT

New to 2025, visitors will be able to walk round the Engineering works as part of an exhibition hall experience. Visitors will be able to see a number of Heritage Trams, as well as the machinery that looks after them as well as a history of Blackpool Tram system and its future. All money raised will go in to the restoration fund of the Tram Shed and engineering works.

Cllr Paul Galley will be delivering a tour in Tram Works, the workshop with new displays and hopefully a café.

Details:

Monday 16 June      2pm

To book please email me at rachelsykes@hotmail.co.uk   

 Entrance fee: £5 per person- if you are able to drop the money off, please email me for my address or, as many of you prefer to pay into the bank, the bank details are below. Please drop me an email if you have paid through the bank.

Blackpool Civic Trust account: Sort Code is 20 10 03  AC No. is 30189626 

The team have been working hard to continue their passion for Blackpool Heritage trams and their continued fundraising efforts, so if you are unable to go on our tour, please do book on a separate tour.

BELL RINGING – new date

Adrian Page has kindly invited BCT members to try bell ringing at St Cuthberts Church in Lytham. St Cuthberts Church • The Parish of JC Lytham

St Cuthbert’s church is the western church in the Parish of JC Lytham.

Details are:

Wednesday 25 June at 7pm

To book please email: Rachelsykes@hotmail.co.uk   

People who have previous booked onto this event have been transferred over onto the new date. Please let me know if you are unable to attend.

BLACKPOOL REGIMENT – SHOWTOWN

Cllr Adrian Hoyle kindly mentioned the talk on the Blackpool Regiment at Showtown by Mike Coyle.

The Blackpool Regiment was short-lived. The story of its fight for survival at the Fall of Singapore is compelling and tragic, but it forms a part of Blackpool’s heritage. This talk will explore the formation of the Regiment and some of its untold stories.

Details:

Thursday 26 June at 2pm

Tickets available at £5 each by following the link below

Showtown Blackpool

TRIP TO THE ILLUMINATIONS DEPOT

Richard Williams will be offering us tours of the Illuminations depot on Friday 11 July at 1:30.

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.

To book email -rachelsykes@hotmail.co.uk  

I look forward to receiving your emails stating which trip you would like to attend and how many places you would like. 

For more information about our Civic Week see our page linked here

Restoration of Boat Tram 227: Behind the scenes

In December 2017 the Civic Trust were given the opportunity to help restore one of the famous open-top “Boat” trams. A group of members  started work on the interior by removal of the seats and several trips were made to Preston to have them dipped to remove all the layers of different paint that had been applied since 1934. Interior panels and flooring were repainted and new varnish applied to the cleaned seats and wooden areas. We were not allowed to touch the exterior which was repainted by the Blackpool Transport Services painter, all by hand, no spray cans involved!

On 25th of October 2018 Andy Mitchell interviewed the Blackpool Civic Trust volunteers enroute to the spare track by Festival House where it was officially unveiled, branded as the Charlie Cairoli tram by Charlie Jnr. (There were plenty of red noses to be seen due to the  chilly wind).

A small plaque was also added inside the tram to record the work carried out by the Civic Trust members. 

The tram has been very popular and was the leading tram for the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee tram Parade in 2022 and second in the parade for the Kings Coronation.

Blackpool Civic Trust workers were: 

John Garnham (project leader) , John Odenwalder, Phil Goymer, Carol Ward , David Evans, Stan Harrison, Alan Thompson, Ross Hewitt

Written by John Garnham, Blackpool Civic Trust and Blackpool Heritage Tram volunteer

Boat Tram 227 Seat Restoration

On 25th of October 2018 Andy Mitchell interviewed the Blackpool Civic Trust volunteers enroute to the spare track by Festival House where it was officially unveiled, branded as the Charlie Cairoli tram by Charlie Jnr. (There were plenty of red noses to be seen due to the  chilly wind ).

A small plaque was also added inside the tram to record the work carried out by the Civic Trust members. 

The tram has been very popular and was the leading tram for the Queens Platinum Jubilee tram Parade in 2022 and second in the parade for the Kings Coronation.

Solstice Arts Festival: Musical Concerts in Blackpool 2025

Late June at St Stephen’s on the Cliffs, North Shore, Blackpool – Solstice Arts Festival. Musical Concerts from the Capricorn Singers, Stephen Austin – Concert Organist, Lytham St Anne’s Shanty Crew, Blackpool Brass. Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday – June 24, 25, 27, 28 – 2025. See the leaflet below for full details and tickets.

2025 Civic Trust Awards

The Blackpool Civic Trust Award ceremony for 2025 will be held in February 2026 at a Dinner or Afternoon tea (decided by you nearer the time) so now is your time to get your thinking caps on and to nominate buildings, building work, organisations or even people for these Awards.  The Nomination Forms will be available at the May meeting.

Guess which year this was our Best New Building?

Houndshill Best New Building Award 2008

Blackpool Houndshill Debenhams extension, Blackpool Civic Trust Best New Building 2008.

A great photo of Elaine Smith MBE, our Chairman, and Griff Rhys Jones, of Civic Voice, at our 2011 awards held in January 2012.

The awards ceremony at Viva! in February 2015:

VE Day 80th Anniversary Event

The Civic Trust will be enjoying an afternoon tea whilst listening to Lilli De Caro 1940s singer.

Lilli played by Beverley Alexander – The 40s Swing Tribute Singer, and Expert Vocal Coach from Lytham St Annes, who will get us in the mood for VE 80th Anniversary celebrations. https://www.beverleyalexander.uk/index.html

Wednesday 7 May at 2pm until 4pm

VE Anniversary – Sheraton Suite, Hotel Sheraton,  North Shore, Blackpool

£20 per head for afternoon tea.  Feel free to extend this invitation to your friends and Family.

Email Rachel Sykes for tickets at rachelsykes@hotmail.co.uk

Selection of Sandwiches

Selection of:

  • Freshly Made Sandwiches
  • Delicious Cakes
  • A selection of Homemade Chocolate Eclairs,
  • Macarons & Mini Tartes
  • Homemade Scones Filled with Fresh Cream & Strawberry Jam
  • Unlimited Tea & Coffee ,Choose from English Breakfast, Earl Grey or Darjeeling.
  • Alternative to extra sweet is available if you would like more savoury, please request it.
  • Raffle on the day

Try Bell Ringing at St Cuthbert’s Lytham!

Adrian Page has kindly invited Blackpool Civic Trust members to try bell ringing at St Cuthberts Church in Lytham.

Meet on Wednesday 7th May 2025 at 7:30pm

Places have been snapped up but there may be some left. Members wishing to attend should contact Rachel Sykes.

St Cuthbert’s is on Church Road just beyond Lowther Park if travelling from the Lytham direction.

We hope you will join us.

St Cuthbert’s Church, Church Road, Lytham.

Monthly Meeting 14th April 2025

April 2025 Monthly Meeting

The April meeting is now on on Monday 14th April 2025 at the Holiday Inn, Talbot Road, Blackpool.

The guest speaker will now be Bryan Lindop of Blackpool Transport who will give us an update on the heritage tram and Tramtown activity.

Non-members are welcome for a donation of £2.

Blackpool Civic Trust AGM 17th March 2025 changes to the Committee

At the Annual General Meeting held on 17th March 2025 at the Holiday Inn, Blackpool, the new committee was elected.

Elaine Smith was elected to return as Chairman following the resignation of Joan Humble.

Heather O’hara is Hon.Treasurer,

Walter Cairns is Membership Secretary as well as Minutes Secretary,

Jan Cresswell joins us as Planning Officer and Faith Buildings Officer,

Margaret Moussadis stays as Speakers Secretary,

David O’Hara moves from Planning to being the Project Officer

We welcome Rachel Sykes as Social Secretary. 

Elaine Smith is temporarily doing the secretarial duties and

Publicity will be arranged within the committee.

We thank retiring Committee Members and look forward to their continued involvement.

At the meeting it was requested that all members fill in a new membership form as the information from many members is out of date. Elaine Smith will send the form by email and asks that it is returned to Walter Cairns.

A copy of the constitution will be sent to all members to ensure they have a copy.

Blackpool Civic Trust will have a stand at the Stay Blackpool Trade Show on the 8th April at Norbreck Castle. We hope to attract some new members and members who wishes to help at the stand even for a short time will be welcome.