Day 60: Morecombe

What was I saying about themes clumping together? First soldiers, then writers, then temples now comedians. Clue...

Was I the only person who had no idea Eric Morecombe was actually John Eric Bartholomew? He changed his name way back in 1939, the same year he won his first audition to be in a revue at the Nottingham Empire. From humble beginning in this town, in 1999 The Queen unveiled a statue to him on Morecombe seafront by Graham Ibbetson.

I am at Morecombe library where there is a wonderful exhibition to Eric as an art show.

His son came to see it yesterday. I just missed him.

I wish he’d bring me a little sunshine today... Oh he has! Great it has stopped raining at last! I’ll go and take a few photos of Morecombe then.

I went to see ‘Morecombe’s White Hope’ better known as the Midland Hotel. You can’t miss it. It curves gracefully along the north west part of the bay.

It has a history and there is even a book about it which I borrowed from reception.

Originally built in 1933 it was built as a railway hotel to the designs of the architect Oliver Hill with sculpture by Eric Gill

and murals by Eric Ravillious. The murals have not survived the hotels troubled history but the sculptures have. They have put two more mural into the bar but it’s not the same.

After falling into disrepair and almost being demolished on several occasions, it has been fabulously restored by Urban Splash with help from National Lottery and North West Regional Development Agency. They hoped that the investment would encourage other organisations and business to come on board and help turn Morecombe into the Brighton of the North. The recession put paid to that though strangely I think it is energetically very like Worthing and that’s not a bad thing.

The idea of making the hotel into a kind of 1930s themed hotel went by the Board, and I also think that was a good thing as now they have a 1930s icon for the 21st century.

I would be interested to know what makes it glisten in the sunshine. Anyone know?

Three other facts about Morecombe that are interesting if you need to answer Trivial pursuit questions some time.

1. Dame Thora Hird, actress and three times Bafta winner, was born here and worked in the local Co-Op before joining Morecombe repertory company.
2. In 1936 they opened the Swimming Pool and held the Miss Great Britain Beauty Pageants here for years. The very first winner won a cup and £50.
3. Morecombe may have invented lettered seaside rock with the first production around 1925. The letters were formed by combining thin strips of multi-coloured and white sugar toffee. Skilled staff called sugar boilers would heat and stretch the toffee by hand.

I like Morecome. I am glad they are not trying to be Brighton of the North. What’s wrong with being Morecombe?