Blog Preston

Family pay tribute to “wonderful” father killed in Broughton roundabout collision

15th, May 2012 by Ed Walker

A tearful wife has paid tribute to a “wonderful husband” who was killed while cycling around the Broughton roundabout last night. Paul Fingleton, from Preston, died after a collision with a Citroen Relay van while going south on the A6 at 7.15pm on Monday 14 May. Mr Fingleton, 47, received serious head injuries and passed away at Royal Preston Hospital shortly after the incident. Ann [...]

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BAE Systems sponsors Preston Guild volunteering

15th, May 2012 by Ed Walker

One of Lancashire’s biggest employers has backed the Preston Guild’s volunteer programme. BAE systems has pledged £20,000 to support over 500 people who are giving up their time to help make the Guild happen. The volunteers, called Guilders, play a vital role in organising events, meeting and greeting and many other behind the scenes roles. Chris Boardman, managing director of BAE Systems Military Air & [...]

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In pictures: Preston’s outgoing Mayor procession

14th, May 2012 by Ed Walker

Local photographers Bernie Blackburn and Cotton Gilly were down on the Flag Market yesterday to capture some snaps of the outgoing Mayor of Preston’s procession. View Cotton Gilly’s pics in a slideshow below, and click here to see Bernie’s. Did you go down to the event? Did you take any photos? Let us know in the comments below

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Venue announced for Preston Now and Then photo exhibition

14th, May 2012 by Ed Walker

A photo exhibition showcasing modern-day Preston versus the city of yesteryear will take place later this month. The pictures, put together by Lea resident Bernie Blackburn, will be shown at St George’s Shopping Centre from Saturday 26th May. Speaking to Blog Preston in January about the project, Mr Blackburn said: “Putting the ‘Preston Now and Then’ collection together has been a real journey of discovery; [...]

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Ask the leader: Put your questions to Preston City Council leader Peter Rankin

14th, May 2012 by Ed Walker

This is your chance to put your questions about the city direct to the leader of Preston City Council. Having recently increased his majority in the council chamber, Labour leader Peter Rankin, will be live online for an hour from 7pm on Thursday 24 May to answer your queries about Preston. From the future of the bus station, bin collections to all the preparation on [...]

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Inaugural Preston parkrun proves popular with runners

13th, May 2012 by Ryan Owen Gibson

Preston’s first parkrun got off to a flying start yesterday, with one hundred runners turning out for the inaugural event on Avenham Park. The parkrun began at 9am underneath the old East Lancashire Viaduct, as it will do every week, but plenty of people turned up half an hour early to warm up and socialise with other runners at the Pavilion. After a brief introduction [...]

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Preston in the Picture: Flood Risk?

13th, May 2012 by Paul Melling

I had planned a completely different photo for this week but the lousy weather and other commitments have combined to scupper my plans. Instead my picture this week is one grabbed during the few hours of sunshine that we did get during the recent Bank Holiday weekend. This photo was taken outside the New Continental pub looking back up the River Ribble towards Avenham/Miller Park. [...]

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Preston’s first parkrun: A step in the right direction

12th, May 2012 by Ryan Owen Gibson

Will Buckley, co-organiser of Preston’s first ever parkrun, offers us his thoughts on the day’s events. At, 7:45am this morning, Michael Ash-McMahon and I met to mark out the course and set up for the first Preston parkrun event. The weather is bright and sunny, very untypical of Preston at this time of year, but it bodes well for the morning run. We had been [...]

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Archive videos show St George’s Shopping Centre in 1960s and 1980s

12th, May 2012 by Ed Walker

It’s one of Preston’s main shopping destination and now its history is being opened up online. St George’s Shopping Centre has 13 million trips made to it every year and now a YouTube channel dedicated to its past has been launched. The YouTube playlist has six videos dating back to the 1960s, and include the re-opening of St George’s in 1982. The re-opening after a [...]

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Police seek key witness who saw Church Street crash

11th, May 2012 by Ed Walker

Police are appealing for a witness who might hold key information about the death of an 87 year old woman to come forward. Dorothy Sumner broke her hip after the bus she was on collided with a car on Church Street and later died in hospital from pneumonia on Friday 23 March. Now police are looking to speak to one of Mrs Sumner’s fellow passengers [...]

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Charity store gets ready to open retro fashion section

11th, May 2012 by Ed Walker

A Preston charity store is launching a new fashion section on Saturday morning. The PDSA shop on Orchard Street opens its doors from 9.30am on a whole new range of retro clothes for sale. The hand-picked collection will include affordables ladies and menswear, vintage accessories and also include furniture and homeware. Ahead of the 1940s themed vintage ball taking place as part of the Preston [...]

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Fishwick Rec litter pick to be streamed live on BBC Radio Lancashire

10th, May 2012 by Ed Walker

A volunteer litter pick at a Preston recreation ground will be live on BBC Radio Lancashire this Friday. The team from Friends of Fishwick and St Matthews are encouraging local residents to come and help them clean up Fishwick Rec. The broadcast is one of ten being streamed live on the radio throughout the day. Fishwick volunteers are urged to get to the Recreation zone [...]

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Tesco store faces battle to keep alcohol licence as police request review

10th, May 2012 by Ed Walker

A major supermarket’s store in Preston could be stripped of its licence to serve alcohol by the council later this month. Tesco has been hauled before Preston City Council’s licensing sub committee after a “number of incidents” relating to alcohol have been raised by police. The store within Tulketh Mill’s retail units on Blackpool Road, Ashton, was granted permission to serve alcohol in April last [...]

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