Blackpool hospital crisis & the heroes of the county honoured
Plus: First ever Lancaster Day celebrated in style
Hello and welcome to today’s edition of The Lancashire Lead. I write this with England just hours away from beginning their European Championships campaign and while I won’t pretend to be anything other than very excited, I will keep the football chat to a minimum.
Back in Lancashire, it’s been a busy week here at The Lead and there’s plenty I’d like to share with you. First up, preparations have been ongoing for our first hustings event of the General Election - this one in Preston and organised alongside Blog Preston and the Lancashire Post. You can sign up to attend or submit questions here.
In the Blackpool Lead, Michael Holmes has taken a look at problems at Blackpool Victoria Hospital, where an urgent review has been launched after a doctor was caught filling out a post-procedural review of a patient who hadn’t even undergone surgery yet. It is the latest of a series of troubling problems at the hospital.
The systematic “pre-populating" of medical documents came to light during an inquest into the death of 36-year-old Sabina Wood, who was found lifeless in bed after discharging herself from the Whinney Heys Road hospital.
Michael Holmes, the Blackpool Lead
Over in Hyndburn, my writing was featured in this week’s newsletter in relation to the husband and wife police worker who have been jailed after he filmed a dead body and they both shared the footage. You can read that here but the actual newsletter also included George Francis Lee’s guide to what’s on in the area this week - sign up below to make sure you don’t miss out in future.
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The last edition of this title also reported on the Rossendale and Darwen election candidate who was found to have posted a series of offensive Facebook posts. His party said they had been deleted and that he’d apologised, only for the candidate to angrily deny apologising. If you didn’t see, you can read more here, along with news about BBC documentary on Nicola Bulley, my take on the election manifestos and Martin Lewis’ kind words about Blackpool.
Looking away from The Lead, I’m reminded that in a previous edition I spoke of my hope that plans for a memorial garden for George Hinds could become a reality. Two-year-old George was killed in an explosion while he slept at his Heysham home - this week Greg Lambert of Beyond Radio spoke with George’s grandmother about why the project is so important to the family.
"We're just hoping that when we do get it sorted, that it will be here for many years to come in memory of my little grandson.
"George was a cheeky cheeky chappie. He was just getting into his little character at two years and 10 months. He was a lovely pleasant charming little man who would have made into a really nice young man."
Janice Studholme
It was also impossible not to be moved by the tragic case of nine-month-old baby Harlow who was killed by childminder Karen Foster in Hapton. There’s been plenty of reporting around this case and, as if often the case, LancsLive’s Rachel Smith has gone beyond the headlines for the full story.
In more positive news, this weekend also saw several Lancashire people recognised in the King’s Honours. You can see them all here.
“They’re saying our logo looks like theirs, but their logo looks like Home f***ing Bargains. Eventually, I’ve been communicating with them saying I’m trying to get legal advice. I went to one solicitor and they want a lot of money. It’s not affordable.”
Michael Evans, one of the business owners targeted by Smashburger
❤️ A former sub-postmaster, mayor and school governor has been remembered as “a people person, always caring and concerned for others” (Lancaster Guardian).
🕸️ A neighbour from hell who terrorised residents while wearing a Spiderman mask has been jailed (LancsLive)
🚉 Insufficient school places could scupper plans to build a new train station (Blog Preston).
🥀 The £737,000 transformation of a Blackburn’s high street into a new green and flexible 'honeypot' has been delayed by the General Election (Lancashire Telegraph).
🚧 Plans to demolish homes to make way for a new stand at Blackpool FC's Bloomfield Road stadium have taken a key step forward (Blackpool Gazette).
🔍 Retired detective inspector Mo Shafiq has spoken about some of his most high profile cases (Lancashire Telegraph).
June 12 marked a significant day in the history of Lancaster - the official anniversary of the signing of the city's first charter, allowing it to govern itself.
That happened some 829 years ago in 1193 and this year, for the first time, Lancaster BID organised a day of celebration to commemorate it. Among the attractions were the chance to 'Meet The Normans' in the city centre, a vintage DJ, town criers telling the Lancaster story, and tours, talks and walks.
People were also able to visit Lancaster Priory, the Castle, the Judges' Lodgings, and the Police Museum. The day also saw that original charter, which was signed by the future King John, displayed in Lancaster city museum for all to see. The charter reads:
"Know ye that I have granted and confirmed to my burgesses of Lancaster all the liberties which I have granted to the burgesses of Bristol.
"Moreover I have quit-claimed the same burgesses from the suit of my mill and from their ploughing and other servile customs which they were wont to make and that they shall no longer mow at my need, as they were wont to mow.
"I have also granted them as much dead wood in my forest as they need for burning and as much as they need for building, under ths supervision of my foresters.
"I have granted also to the said burgesses and confirmed to them the pasture of my forest as far as their animals can go from the town and Lancaster and return home in the day."
You can see more pictures here from Beyond Radio and the Lancaster Guardian
There’s been plenty of What’s On news this week, from community events and food news to a new announcement for the huge Lytham Festival. Here are some of the headlines I’ve spotted. If there’s any events or openings you’d like to see featured here, let me know at jamie@thelead.uk or via the contact form.
Samlesbury pub taken over by the community and pulling in the punters
Rossendale star of the future to take centre stage at OAK FEST
Delta Goodrem latest star to be added to Lytham Festival line-up
Lostock Hall Carnival returning with entertainment for all ages
A final note: I’ve been privileged enough to be able to spend a fantastic Father’s Day with my family, including taking my dad for a drink in the sun. I’m sure this is a similar picture for many people reading this but for those who don’t get to spend the day that way, I hope it is not too difficult for you and that you can at least take some solace from happier memories.
This afternoon, I got to cheer on my wife and daughter as they took part in a Pretty Muddy 5K event to raise money for Cancer Research UK. Like for so many others, the cause is personally very important to us and if you are able and willing to donate a few pounds to my daughter’s efforts, that would be enormously appreciated.
Thanks again for reading The Lancashire Lead. Please subscribe to receive future editions and support my work and share the newsletter with others so they can enjoy it too.
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