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Blackpool hoping to become focus of national celebrations
A DELEGATION of Blackpool war veterans heads off to London next week to discover if the resort has won the bid to host this year's prestigious national Veterans' Week event.
After months of planning, details of the resort's week-long celebrations this summer will be revealed on Tuesday at a glittering event in the Tower Ballroom.
But it could become a double celebration if there is good news from London, as Veterans Minister Derek Twigg is set to announce which town or city will hold the flagship ceremony and become the focus for the nation on Veterans' Day, June 27.
Maj Jim Houldsworth, chairman of the Fylde Ex-Service Liaison committee which has put together the bid with Blackpool Council, Second World War Marine Jim Baker and 24-year-old Oliver Shilitoe, formerly of 12 Regiment Royal Artillery, will set off for the capital on Monday.
Supporting
They hope Blackpool's record for pulling off huge events and rich history of supporting ex-service organisations will convince the Ministry of Defence to pick the resort after giving the honour to Birmingham last year.
Despite being up against bigger cities like Manchester and Liverpool, Maj Houldsworth believes the town stands a good chance of winning the bid and the prestige and investment that goes with it.
He said: "We already do Veterans' Week out of the respect we have for our ex-service personnel and to encourage them to come and feel part of something very special in Blackpool.
"Our Second World War commemorations in 2005 were repeated around the country the following year and the creation of Veterans' Day came as a result of our successes.
"Schools are always involved as it is important to educate young people about what the veterans did for the generations to learn from each other.
"Each year the events we have put on have been bigger and better than before drawing in thousands of tourists, and we hope 2008 will offer even more.
"For Blackpool to stage the national Veterans' Day celebrations would really be the icing on the cake."
Ex-service groups have been holding re-unions in the town since they formed in the 1960s with the Burma Star event regularly attracting thousands to the resort every year.
To mark the 60th anniversary of the end of the Second World War, a host of events was laid on involving veterans, school children and families, with the Red Arrows-led air display becoming a favourite feature of the week.
Blackpool South MP Gordon Marsden has thrown his weight behind the bid, having lobbied Mr Twigg.
He said: "In Blackpool I have seen the sterling work of the British Legion, the Burma Star Association and other ex-service groups over the years and I hope Blackpool's bid is successful."
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Weather for Blackpool
Thursday 24 May 2012
Today
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Temperature: 14 C to 20 C
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