Floating of a great idea for Lord Mayor

A Blackpool float has been made for the Lord Mayor's Parade in London. Pictured is project manager John Joyce.

Blackpool will bring the seaside to London on Saturday when it is showcased as part of the historic Lord Mayor's Show.

Around half a million people are expected to line the streets of the capital for the televised three mile parade which will include a Blackpool float for the first time.

New Lord Mayor of London Andrew Parmley was brought up in the resort and is a former pupil of Thames School and Blackpool Grammar School.

He contacted the council’s tourism arm VisitBlackpool inviting them to enter a float into the prestigious show.

A Blackpool float has been made for the Lord Mayor's Parade in London. Pictured is David Bennison.

The Illuminations Department has created a design featuring the Tower, the Lights, sticks of rock and a replica of the Tower Wurlitzer.

Illuminations ambassador Laurence Llewellyn-Bowen will sit at the Wurlitzer while pupils from Thames School will walk alongside it.

John Joyce, project manager at Blackpool Illuminations, said: “We were first approached about six months ago, but we couldn’t start work on the float until after the Illuminations switch-off so we have had just over a week-and-a-half to get it done.

“The idea is to take a bit of Blackpool and some of the razzamatazz to London.

A Blackpool float has been made for the Lord Mayor's Parade in London. Pictured is Sarah Barton.

“We have stuck to what Blackpool is about - the Tower and the Wurlitzer and I’m looking forward to the reaction from the crowds.

“We’ve got a playlist which includes ‘I do like to be beside the seaside’ of course!

“The streets of London will be packed and it will be on television so it will be great publicity for the town and the Illuminations.

“I think the Lord Mayor will be very impressed by the float and proud of Blackpool.

“We get involved in all kinds of projects but this is the first time we have been in the Lord Mayor’s show.”

The parade includes 140 floats and around 7,000 participants.

It will set off from Mansion House at 11am, and pauses at the Royal Courts while the Lord Mayor gives his oath and then returns up the Victoria Embankment at about 1pm.

Last year there were also 20 bands, 150 horses, and vehicles including vintage cars, steam buses, tanks, tractors, unicycles, steamrollers and giant robots. It is televised on BBC1 from 10.45am.