Instinct can be a wonderful thing. Especially when it triggers something in you that you have not experienced for a long time. Very often whenever I got an urge to do something, my subconscious mind would often comeback with a reason not to.
But as I get older, I realise that there is a way to deal with that. Always go with your first thought.
If the negative side of you tries to tell you not to bother. Then that is a good time to unplug that auto pilot. You do not need that kind of thing in your life.
It hampers life’s progress, and it can also stifle memories. And I have made plenty over the years.
I was labled as the “dancer” in the family. But last year, my good lady had discovered the joys of being able to trip the light fantastic across the dance floor.
Then when we noticed that the British Championship was about to take place at Blackpool’s Winter Gardens, our instinct told us, it would be worthwhile to travel to the Mecca of Ballroom Dancing.
For my wife, it was her first experience of watching a live ballroom dancing competition. Then it hit me that this was going to be something more than that.
It was 45 years ago, that having originally turned my back on ballroom dancing at the age of 12, I returned to the dance floor as part of the Scotland Latin American Formation Team, competing at the world famous, Empress Ballroom at the iconic Winter Gardens.
It was the start of a life changing journey that led to TV appearances, getting the job at Butlins and meeting my better half. But that is another story.
However take the dancing equation out of the picture there are many other reasons why Blackpool means so much to so many people.
Seaside Escapism at its best, is probably the best way to describe it.
Donkey Rides, Pier, “Kiss Me Quick” hats, Blackpool Rock, Candy Floss, Pleasure Beach, it was all there. And not forgetting right at the centre of it, the fantastic Blackpool Tower.
It is a place with a proud history, and even though it had suffered an economic downturn over the years, the evidence is there that it is on the way back.
Known for years as the “Las Vegas of the North,” it attracted some of the biggest names in showbusiness, performing summer seasons at the various piers and theatres. I have so many memories of going to those shows as a kid.
It is a shame that so many of these theatres have bit the dust.
It was so accessible, especially when it came to seeing some big stars. It is fair to say that this sparked my interest in anything to do with performing.
My memories include watching Cilla Black, being interrupted by Roy Castle playing the Tuba walking down the centre aisle. There was Freddie Davis, starring alongside, Josef Locke, Ken Dodd, Danny La Rue…. It was an abundance of riches.
You still get appearances by big names, usually through touring shows, but I am confident that there will come a time when Blackpool regains its title as the UK’s entertainment capital.
And with it being the centre of many big time TV shows, it is a place still very much in people’s minds when it comes to entertainment.
If you ever needed a reminder of Blackpool’s showbiz past then look no further than the latest attractions, the “Comedy Carpet,” just across from the Tower and the brilliant “Showtown” museum, which I was privileged to visit recently after dancing trip down memory lane.
Checking out the various exhibits, it brought back some amazing memories, from the Tower Circus including the legendary Charlie Cairoli, reliving the moments when Blackpool welcomed so many huge stars.
Trying to mention all the stars that graced the Blackpool Stages, would take a full book instead of a blog post. But walking past those exhibits you could not do anything but smile, especially if you go to see them live.
One of the first things I saw going to “Showtown” was seeing billboards featuring some of the top band leaders that performed there.
Right up there was “Joe Loss,” when it came to band leaders, he was a family favourite.
As Kids, we were excited when we got to meet him sitting in a seat near the beach enjoying the summer sunshine. It was there, we got his autograph. He signed our football.
Only in Blackpool would you get opportunities like that.