Bidders for 2017 UK City of Culture Award Announced

Regional newspapers around the country are working themselves into a frenzy of support as the eleven bidders for the 2017 UK City of Culture are announced. The residents of Chester, East Kent, Hastings and Bexhill-on-Sea, Hull, Leicester, Plymouth, Portsmouth and Southampton, Southend-on-Sea. Swansea Bay in Wales and Aberdeen and Dundee in Scotland can expect to be inundated with positive vibes about their home towns until the decision is made. The current holder is the City of Derry which is now well into its tenure as the UK City of Culture 2013.

Who will win the award of being UK City of Culture 2017?

Sponsored by the government, the programme has been inspired by Liverpool's successful time as European Capital of Culture in 2008.

Announcing the list of contenders, Culture Minister Ed Vaizey said: "The competition brings together communities and creates economic and social benefits and I am pleased to see so many local authorities and different partners coming together." All 11 places must formally submit their initial bids by 30 April, and an independent panel that will be chaired by Phil Redmond, creator of popular TV series including Grange Hill, Brookside and Hollyoaks, will announce a shortlist in June. Mr Redmond said: "The UK City of Culture can be a real catalyst for change and I'm delighted so many places have registered their interest in the competition for 2017."

If you have been following the fortunes of the City of Derry as it has entered its chosen year, you can’t help but feel inspired by the amount of effort and positive thought that successful bidders put into making sure that their year of tenure is a success.

As mentioned, the local newspapers that cover the areas that are bidding are already ratcheting up the positivity to an extent that some more cynical residents may not recognise the place that they live in. But unsuccessful bidders in the past have said that despite not achieving the award has not dampened the renewed enthusiasm that people find towards the environment that they live in.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UK_City_of_Culture

http://www.cityofculture2013.com/

Cardiff To Host Volvo Ocean Race In 2017/18

As the nineteenth century gently clicked over to the twentieth century, Cardiff was recognised as the greatest sea port in the world. Driven by the world’s insatiable demand for iron and coal, Cardiff was the coastal outlet for the produce of the coal from the valley coal mines and the iron and steel that was being produced in the area.  Those days are now long gone, but showing that there is life in the old dog yet,  Cardiff is basking in the news that it has been chosen as a stopping off point in the Volvo Ocean Race 2017/18.

Welsh Sailing chief executive Steven Morgan has welcomed the news, saying ““This is great news for Wales and Cardiff’s reputation for hosting major sailing events, on the back of the Extreme 40’s three year agreement to run their Grand Prix event in Cardiff Bay,” said Morgan.

“With work about to start at Pwllheli on their £8.3 million academy and events centre, along with this announcement, it all adds to our aspiration that Wales will become one of the best places in the world to be a sailor and that we are a destination of choice for major sailing events.

The Volvo Ocean Race will come to Cardiff in 2017/18

“The event gives us an opportunity to focus our development attention on the SE Wales area and use the event to introduce more people to our sport. Welsh Sailing is determined to make the most of that opportunity.”

This is something of a coup for the maritime city as the last time that Britain hosted a stopover was in 2005/06 in Portsmouth, so it is the best part of a decade since the event occurred. It is perhaps appropriate that Portsmouth was the last venue, as it was here, in 1973 that the event began life as the Whitbread Round The World Race. It moved its headquarters from England to its new home in Alicante, Spain in 2010

So far, eight ports have been unveiled on the route for the 12th edition of the Volvo Ocean Race in 2014-15. They are Alicante (Spain), Recife (Brazil), Abu Dhabi (United Arab Emirates), Auckland (New Zealand), Itajaí (Brazil), Newport, Rhode Island (United States), Lisbon (Portugal) and Gothenburg (Sweden), where the race will finish.

Race organisers will announce the remaining ports for the 2014-15 Race over the coming weeks.

http://www.volvooceanrace.com/en/home.html

http://www.visitcardiff.com/

Blackpool is Not Clowning Around with This Statue

Doing absolutely the right thing to maintain its reputation for good, wholesome seaside entertainment,  Blackpool is erecting a statute to honour a top holiday star from Italy who made the coastal resort his home.

Having appeared at the Tower circus for forty consecutive seasons between 1939 and 1979,  Charlie Cairoli is widely recognised as one of  the greatest circus clowns who ever lived, and Blackpool will be proudly erecting a statue in his honour in the not too distant future.

Charlie Cairoli

The Rose Garden at Stanley Park is the chosen site for the statue, and artist Brian Nicholson has created the six foot fibreglass replica which will be set on a stone plinth.

Elaine Smith, chairman of the Friends of Stanley Park, said: “We’ve been working on this statue for the last six years and we are thrilled to see the finished version.  It’s definitely been worth all the hard work.

“When I first went to see it I was tickled pink. The statue looks fabulous and is a great likeness to Charlie himself. When he’s placed there Charlie will look great in the Rose Garden, it’s a wonderful tribute to him.”

A planning application for the statue has been submitted by Blackpool Council, with a view to work commencing almost as soon as the consent is received.

Coun Graham Cain, cabinet member for tourism and culture on Blackpool Council, said: “I’m delighted that we’re so close to properly commemorating one of Blackpool’s true legends with a permanent statue that will live on for years to come. A lot of background work has gone on to make this happen so that the stories of Charlie Cairoli can live on in Stanley Park.

“When it is installed, the statue will be a fantastic asset to the town and a fitting tribute to one of Blackpool’s most famous entertainers. It will also be a fantastic addition to the rose gardens.”

http://www.circopedia.org/index.php/Charlie_Cairoli

There’s a Real Page Turner on Display at Maidstone Library

There’s no doubt that many children will be looking out for their personal favourites as World Book Day approaches tomorrow, but a book of a very different kind is causing a stir at Maidstone library.

Maidstone library is home to the Lambeth Bible

Dating back to the mid 1100’s, the book, known as the Lambeth Bible, is one of the oldest and most expensive books in the county. It is estimated to be worth about £1 million and can only be handled when wearing protective gloves.

It is kept in a glass case at the St Faiths Street building, and staff must make sure that the pages are turned with regularity so they are not exposed to too much light. It is thought that an unpaid scribe – possibly a monk – would have laboured for several years over the perfect writing back in the mid 1100s, although even today the marks showing how he kept the lines straight are still visible if visitors look closely. Its pages are made of vellum, a type of animal skin, rather than paper and the red dye used in some of its details may have been made with cochineal, otherwise known as beetle blood.

Collections officer Samantha Harris said: "It is a really beautiful book. At the time this was written very few people would have been able to read or write so this person would have been considered highly educated, although they would not have been paid."

It is the second volume – the first is housed in Lambeth Palace Library – and the illuminated manuscript would have once stood on a church lectern, with a priest reading from it to his congregation, who would not have been able to read it themselves.

It has been linked to Faversham Abbey as it is believed it was produced for King Stephen and Queen Matilda. It was brought closer to its current home when it was resident at All Saints’ Church in Mill Street, Maidstone, in 1716.

Belfast Mixes Tradition with Family Based Entertainment

There have truly been difficult times over recent years for Belfast, the capital of Northern Ireland,  which also prides itself on being home to the devolved government and the Northern Ireland Assembly. However, it has moved on quite dramatically since the times of “the troubles” and today is a top tourist attraction.

With a history traceable back to the Bronze Age, there was a time of castle building  in the twelfth century which suggests that there was a requirement for strong fortification. As with many important towns and cities throughout the United Kingdom, it was during the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries that industrialization created the basis of what we see today

The history of industrial Belfast is inseparably intertwined with the Harland and Wolff shipyards where at its peak the best part of 35,000 people were employed. As we have recently passed the centenary of the sinking of the Titanic, it is a salutary reminder that this world famous ship was built in these shipyards.

Belfast at night

There have been times in the past when Belfast was a bigger conurbation than Dublin, and it was therefore no surprise when it was declared the capital in Northern Ireland in 1922.  As a city, it has become renown for the spirit and fortitude of its residents, no more so than during the Second World War, when like so many industrialized cities on mainland Britain, it suffered badly from German bombing. Fortunately for us modern tourists, many fine buildings escaped damage during these dangerous times.

Nowadays, despite a chequered recent history, Belfast is a city that exudes optimism along with a strong fighting spirit.

There is much to entertain you when you have a holiday break including one of the most beautiful buildings to be found in the British Isles, namely Stormont, the Parliament buildings. Picking up on the Titanic theme, one of the most impressive exhibitions and attractions in the country is the Titanic Centre that can be found in Queens Road. It is a top notch attraction that really portrays how the city was at the time that the ship was built.

The Pumphouse is an Interperative and Visitor Centre forming part of the old dockyards, and the Belfast City Hall is worth a visit.

Families are important too, so look out for the Exploris Aquarium at Portaferry, which with the seal sanctuary is the only such attraction in Northern Ireland. Also Belfast Zoological Gardens is in the north of the city, with its ninety collaborative breeding programmes, and many user friendly awards.

Let the kids get rid of some of their excess energy at the Dundonald International Ice Bowl at Dundonald. There is ten pin bowling, Xtreme sessions, and Indiana Land, not just for the Jones family! The rink itself is of Olympic proportions. Slow things down a little with a visit to the Grand Opera House, Clonard Monastry, the Botanic Gardens and the Belfast Castle Estate.

Top quality dining, buzzing night life, and typical Belfast pubs. What more could you want ?  Visit Belfast and come away with wonderful memories and an undying sense of optimism for the future.

http://www.gotobelfast.com/

http://www.titanicbelfast.com/

http://www.theicebowl.com/home.asp

http://www.exploris.org.uk/

The Future Of Trentham Hall Looks Bleak

Already firmly established on the English Heritage “at risk” register, it looks as though the sands of time are running out for Trentham Hall, the 180-year-old Trentham Hall, in Trentham Gardens near Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire

Estimated restoration costs are running at close to £35 million ($52.5 million), and although planning permission has been granted to turn the dilapidated building into a conference hotel, the cost of repairs are too high for developer St Modwen. Many millions of pounds have been spent on the estate since it was bought by St Modwen in 1996, when it was in such a state that both the buildings and extensive gardens were derelict and vandalised.

Mike Herbert, the North Staffordshire regional director at St Modwen, said that much money had been spent in maintaining the site from further deterioration. After a restoration of the gardens in 2003, the estate was re-opened in 2004 and now attracts some three million visitors every year.  He said of the Grade II-listed buildings: ‘We have planning approvals for the restoration of Trentham Hall but the cost of doing so is significantly greater than its current value.

‘To restore and rebuild it would cost around £30-£35 million, but the current value as a hotel is well below that. Therefore, it is just not economically viable in the current economy. Developing the hall was planned for five to ten years after we started the restoration but we have had somewhat of a recession in the last few years and this has delayed the plans completely.

Trentham Hall

'We are looking to see if there are ways of making the scheme work financially. The plan of a major conference centre is particularly expensive and difficult to market. We are committed to bringing the hall back to life, it's just a question of when we can make the numbers work.'

Dr Simon Thurley, chief executive of English Heritage, said: ‘Grade II-listed buildings are the bulk of the nation's heritage treasury so when one of them is lost, it is as though someone has rubbed out a bit of the past.  Something that made the area special will have gone. But now, with the economic climate putting more pressure than ever on these buildings, it is time to plug the one remaining gap.’

The spectacular and vast gardens were once tended by up to 50 gardeners and were recently refurbished and replanted with thousands of plants and flowers to return it to its former glory. It is still maintained by a huge staff and is seen by many visitors especially in spring and summer. The famous Italian Gardens were revived by award-winning designer Tom Stuart-Smith.

There are records of the Trentham estate dating back to 1086 and since then it has been home to many prominent people including the Duke of Suffolk, Sir Thomas Pope, Earl Gower and was the former seat of the Dukes of Sutherland until it was abandoned in 1905.

A sculpture gallery, the 100ft clock tower, parish church are among the buildings which remain after the main hall was demolished in 1913.

Originally an Augustinian Priory and then a convent, a large Elizabethan house was built in the 1630s.   It is thought to have been demolished to make way for the construction of the Georgian Trentham Hall.

The house was dramatically renovated by famous architect Sir Charles Barry during the mid-1830s, at the same time he was working on the rebuilding of the Houses of Parliament.  He was commissioned by the second Duke of Sutherland to make the house grander in order to show off his wealth as the largest landowner in Britain at the time.

For more than 10 years, Sir Charles Barry made improvements to the house adding a new block with state bedrooms complete with dressing rooms and its own servants’ quarters as well as the sculpture gallery and the clock tower. New family quarters and a grand main entrance displaying the family coat of arms as well as life-size wolves were also built.

Even the River Trent was incorporated into the estate’s design. The river was diverted to flow into a lake in the extensive garden.  But the lake became a blight on the beautiful estate when it became polluted by sewage from local potteries around the 1900s.

Such a disfigurement on the estate, it was offered for free to the County of Staffordshire and the Borough of Stoke-on-Trent in 1905 but by 1907 it stood abandoned and so the bulk of the estate was demolished in 1912. Sad endings for a once illustrious estate.

Plymouth City Centre Looks Forward to a Major Overhaul

Despite being one of the more popular destinations in Britain for both holidays and weekend breaks, Plymouth in Devon is planning a major overhaul to keep pace with the nation’s changing shopping habits.  Old Town Street, near Drake Circus Mall, is to be turned into a restaurant quarter, with a major revamp of the “public realm” in the area, Councillor Mark Lowry, the city’s Cabinet member for finance, said yesterday.

Proposals that have rather drifted to revamp the West End are to be rebooted, and some empty shops would be turned into restaurants. It is likely that Frankfort Gate would be reopened to traffic.
With a £7 million refit just about to start on the Theatre Royal, Councillor Lowry set that work was being put in place to link the theatre to the West End.

Plymouth Hoe

 “We are looking at the way pedestrians and traffic interact,” he said. This is likely to include taking down the central railings on Royal Parade. We need our city centre to be vibrant, not only during the day but in the evening.” He said the potential development of a hotel in the Civic Centre building “would go a long way to bringing the city to life”.

“We are pushing forward the Mackay Vision for the city centre. It is still relevant and we need to continue with it. Land owners in the city centre are realising that the return on their investment is insignificant. In future they are just not going to get the return on their investment through retail.”

“The city centre needs to fundamentally change to reflect fundamental changes in the way people shop. Things like pop-up shops will be needed. There will have to be greater provision of leisure, residential and office space.”

But he said this would create a virtuous circle, where more people living or working in the city centre would help some shops to survive. “That is why when we redevelop the Civic Centre we want to keep a majority of council workers in the city centre because they do provide support for retailers.”

He said that a robust defence would be mounted against unwanted out-of-town development.

http://www.visitplymouth.co.uk/