Blackpool nostalgia 1979: Sea defences, mountain climbing cubs and beauty contests

Loan granted to aid sea defence costs

The North West Water Authority was to loan more than £400,000 to Wyre Borough Council so urgent sea defence and coast protection work could be started at Fleetwood.

Support for the loan of £414,225 was given by the authority’s Land Drainage Committee, almost two years after storms caused extensive flooding to 2,000 homes in the area.

The loan would go towards a £1m scheme to strengthen the sea wall fronting Larkholme Estate, which was the worst area affected by the storms in November 1977.

The scheme at Larkholme was one of a number being undertaken by Wyre Council between Cleveleys and Rossall Point to present a similar disaster in the future.

The council was spending more than £3m on sea defence and coastal protection.

Water Authority Rivers Manager Leslie Crowther said there was no doubt that certain sections of the sea wall along the coastline required urgent attention to remove the threat of severe flooding to homes and property, particularly in the Larkholme area. The 1977 storm cost properties £39m in repairs. Click here for 1978Trio’s hopes for beauty final

Three Blackpool beauties who had qualified for the semi-final of the Miss Great Britain contest were hoping to reach the final.

They were competing against 29 girls from throughout the country at Morecambe Leisure Park.

The Blackpool trio were Susan Hunter, 25, who won the seventh heat to qualify; Linda Ann Parker, 21, runner-up to Miss Morecambe Bay and 19 year old Julie Duckworth, who was hoping to repeat her recent success in the Miss United Kingdom contest when she reached the final seven. The judges included Russ Abbott, Coronation Street actress Ruth Holden, Ronnie Coyles, who was starring at the Palace Theatre, Morecambe and Peter Grimsditch, editor of the Daily Star. They needed to select eight girls to go through to the final.

Charity ‘mountain’ climb for cubs

Sixteen intrepid Blackpool Cub Scouts had conquered Everest.

No, not the famous mountain, but somewhere closer to home - Everest Drive in Bispham.

Using their imaginations alone, youngsters created their own Everest scene, complete with base camp in the front garden of Barbara Heywood in Rivington Avenue, before setting off, all roped together on the slow mountain ascent. They were raising money to send to Nepal, the foothills of the world’s highest mountain. The money was to help fund a self-sufficiency scheme which saw the country's scout movement sow seeds for food. For the cubs', their fundraiser wasn’t all easy going. The fearless adventurous were passing Hilary Avenue when they saw footprints on the pavement and seconds later they were confronted by the Yeti - albeit a neighbour dressed in disguise. They reached the ‘summit’ and raised £40.

Welcome to The Muppet Show

It was the night beauty fought the beast, the Mayor fell off his chair, and the stars of the show - Blackpool’s £1,000,000 illuminations - were upstaged by those crazy Muppets.

What began as a well-rehearsed switch-on by superstar Kermit ended in pandemonium with the new Miss United Kingdom losing her crown. Blackpool’s Mayor wrestling on the floor and explosions which threatened to wreck the lights and throw the whole resort into darkness.

The culprits? The Great Gonzo and Sweetums, who gatecrashed the show and brought with them their worst television manners.

Earlier Kermit had explained the absence of another Muppet favourite. Miss Piggy, he chuckled, had stayed away. She had expected to win the Miss United Kingdom title.