Blackpool nostalgia in 1987: Bomb scare, launch of 24 hour radio and record breaking trail of candles

Pub takings up after bomb scare

Four thousand civil servants were cleared from three major office complexes in a massive bomb scare.

A hoaxer threatened the Department of Health and Social Security’s central switchboard and management had to evacuate the centres at Norcross and Warbreck Hill in Blackpool and Hesketh House in Fleetwood for almost three hours while workers faced the threat of walking home. A fourth building at Palatine House, Preston, where a further 400 of the department’s staff work, also had to be evacuated.

Police were working on the possibility that a bomb might have been placed in a car, but found nothing. Blackpool police chiefs were investigating the hoax. Local pubs did a roaring trade when the civil servants, who couldn’t drive, quit their offices. 1986 newsOn the cusp of round the clock FM radio

Blackpool was to be the base for the country’s first every 24-hour FM rock radio station - if the Home Office agreed.

The station, whose title was Blackpool Rock FM was to be on air by spring 1988 and would have its own town centre studio.

The controversial scheme was revealed by Red Rose Radio managing director David Maker and meant a complete 24 hour programming split of Red Rose’s FM and medium wave frequencies.

The plans were made possible by the Government’s gradual deregulation of the previously stringent rules on broadcasting.

Restrictions on programming, advertising and rentals were all modified leading to a changing situation where all day and night radio stations could be possible.

Fleetwood dock jobs were axed

More than 50 Fleetwood dock jobs were to go in the wake of the B & I pullout.

Associated British Ports submitted an application to the National Docks Labour Board to reduce the roll-on roll-off workforce by 45 and for a further seven jobs to go. Transport and General Workers’ Union district secretary Alf Davies said the move to Liverpool by the Irish Government owned B & I would mean the total loss of Southern Irish trade, including the ships shared with Pandoro.

“At best we could be left with only two ships trading between Fleetwood and Northern Ireland.”

Pandoro said that it had nothing new to say and was awaiting further developments. John Crellin, TGWU member on the local docks labour board, said he was not confident of saving jobs.

Trail of candles for Children in Need

A new world record was created and thousands of pounds raised for needy children in Lytham.

More than 6,000 people from all over the Fylde reacted to appeals for support for the spectacular event on Lytham Green, organised by Lytham St Annes Lyons.

The crowds who attended the evening helped to achieve the aim of forming the longest possible chain of lighted candles.

Everyone on the Green stood in long lines clutching a candle in their hand which they had bought for 50p.

The record breaking effort is estimated to have raised more than £5,000 for BBC Children in Need and earned a place in the miscellaneous section of the Guinness Book of Records.

“It really was a very good response,” said Lions member Eric Fairbrother. BBC TV cameras were on the Green and after the new record had been achieved, Lions president David Card rushed over to the BBC studios in Manchester to present the giant cheque. Floating above the Green was Lytham Balloonist Bob Jones in a hot air balloon. And Barton Grange manager Eddie Taylor donated 50p for every Christmas tree sold in his business.