Blackpool nostalgia in 1977: Cars on fire, Red Rum's shoe and recycled toy making

Sydney was working for a good Claus in run up to Christmas

Thornton was to have its very own Santa Claus at Christmas in the shape of 59 year old Sydney Garner.

A year earlier, after suffering a severe heart attack which ended his working days, Sydney, of Windsor Avenue began to make toys from throwaways which were handed to him.

And after many hours of joinery and painting in his back garden and living room, he had a coalhouse, a summer house and one end of a garage full of them.

Blackpool Social Services had already taken some of the toys for their houses but Sydney and his wife Theresa intended to hold on to a few to distribute at Christmas.

Sydney, a retired, self-employed painter and decorator, said: “It all started as a way of thank you for all the kindness I received when I was ill.

“Everyone was so wonderful then that I just had to do something in return.”

Sydney (pictured) said that doctors told him to take a light job, so he decided that making toys out of rejects would be good therapy.

And it had the advantage that he could spend more time in the house with his wife Theresa.

Nephew Joseph Blower offered his help to collect any old toys which were not wanted and Blackpool Corporation dustmen kept their eyes open for any rejects. Click here for 1976Luck was in with Red Rum’s shoe

Their luck was in. Committee members of the Blackpool Riding for Disabled Association were looking pleased with themselves because they hoped to have as much success with a special horseshoe as Red Rum had done. They felt sure they were onto a winner with the show, which was given to the group by Red Rum’s trainer Donald McCain. The man behind the ‘catch’ was Alan Cass, who called in at Red Rum’s Southport stables to see they could help in any way to raise funds for the group.

They took his name and out of the blue, Mr McCain rang through with the offer of a horse shoe. An hour later the group was in Southport to collect it.

The shoe was to be mounted and the rider hoped to turn it into money. Ideas were being sought.

Arsonist sets cars on fire in town rampage

Blackpool police were hunting for a fire-bug who set alight three cars in Blackpool town centre.

The fire-raiser struck first in Back Lord Street at 3.55am when he set alight a Marina saloon car, owned by Alwin Davies. The car was a write off.

Then, half an hour later, in park Road, he set alight a J registered Escort van parked outside the Number 37 and minutes later he started a fire in a Vauxhall estate car parked on a forecourt across the road.

The interiors of both cars were badly damaged.

The man was seen getting out of the Vauxhall minutes before it burst into flames by Edward Naughton who lived in the block of flats near to where the Vauxhall was parked.

His mother-in-law, Evelyn Bellerby said that Mr Naughton had seen the man get out of the car and walk away in the direction of Reads Avenue.

He got dressed and phoned the police.

At 4.40am the man was seen near a Mini parked in Reads Avenue but he ran away.

The owner of the Escort said she had been awakened by the smell of smoke.

Gone fishing - up on the roof!

A boy reported by police to his headmaster had an explanation for being on the school roof out of hours.

“I was fishing, sir,” he said. And when asked if he had caught anything he replied that his line was not long enough.

It would have needed a 30ft cast to reach goldfish in the ornamental pond at Larkholme School, Fleetwood. Headmaster, Mr Douglas Reed, put a “fishing prohibited” notice on the school’s flat roof in case any other pupil risked the climb.