David Hoyle

I met up with David on a very cold day in Lytham Hall’s Courtyard Café and apologies to him, as had this ‘Who’s Who’ in DRAFT for a long time, I wanted to post when David had put together a ‘History of Shops’ exhibition,  which went on to have a 5 week run at the Lytham Heritage Centre in Spring 2022.  Well like most everyone else I have no idea where last  year went,  and he had even PART DEUX of the exhibition later in 2022

(Even though you may not know David as ‘Mr History’ you may know him for his ‘Dad Jokes’ across various local FB groups)

David was born in St Annes, one of 3 brothers (and a sister) to his father (Frank Hoyle) who had a very successful business on Victoria Street Lytham simply called Franks, selling Tents, Awning, Gas Bottles and the like, Frank had a big personality and was well known in the area. He and his wife Jos were both Councillors and as such got involved in lots of Council firsts like the town twinning, in what has become the Ratepayers Party.  For one year Frank was asked to be the Mayors Consort, as the lady Mayor was unmarried and therefore, he got wined and dined and chauffeured around. It speaks of his character and sense of humour, and as a way of thanks on the occasion of Margaret Procopides leaving the role, Frank bought her a dress with matching handbag and shoes (it’s what they did in those days) but unbeknown to anyone else he had bought his wife exactly the same one!! And as they say as they made an entrance to the formal occasion………the crown went wild!

David is a great story teller with style and repartee (he told me to make sure I pointed that out) his skill is practised regularly as he gives talks on local history, to groups around the Fylde and beyond.

His first experience of the subject came about when he was a young boy, a couple of local brothers that ran an old ‘rag and bone man’ operation from a tiny Daihatsu van, David described them as big fellas that had to get out the van in complete synchronicity in order to not tip it over! They had found a suitcase full of old postcards of the area, and knowing that Frank was interested in local memorabilia took it to show him, but it came about that it was David that was fascinated and pored over these postcards and photographs for months, and  there began his love of history and research into the area.

His introduction to Lytham Heritage was again through family links, Mum Jos worked in the Heritage Centre and when she fell off a ladder (in the days before Health and Safety) were she unfortunately broke both legs. David stepped in to help her out and that was the beginning of another ‘era’ that led to him becoming an Archivist and when not working at Westinghouse BNFL (previously known as Springfield)  at Salwick, David has in fact now retired in Dec 2022 after 43 years service, this gives him more time to spend at Lytham Institute (old Library). The archives have many Maps, Drawings, Photo Albums, Ration Books and General Family memorabilia that has either been left to them or discovered locally and each item has to be logged. The biggest collection is of every single issue of Lytham St Annes Express since 1899, which at one time was stored in cellars under Lytham Baths, but realising this was an accident waiting to happen, were moved. The volunteer team can also help research your local family trees, which sounds a rewarding activity!

The Archives are run by just 5 volunteers and they are always looking for more people to either work ‘behind the scenes’ or front of house at the Heritage Centre (open all year round) , Windmill and Old Life Boat House (open seasonally)

The Heritage Society has lost a lot of members over the last few years and they are hoping to boost this with a younger membership,  it is only £10 per year for which the Heritage Group offers a full programme of events for members in addition to a quarterly newsletter, The Antiquarian. Or if you own a local business maybe you could consider some level of sponsorship. See LINK

Although it’s called Lytham the Lytham Heritage Group was established in 1987 to preserve and promote the history and heritage of the Ancient Parish of Lytham, which includes Lytham, Saltcotes, Ansdell, Fairhaven, Heyhouses, Kilgrimol and St Annes

Burlington’s Bar is under the Town House public house in St Annes On Sea. Now ‘mothballed’ It is recorded in the National Heritage List for England as a designated Grade II listed building. The bar is on the Campaign for Real Ale‘s National Inventory of Historic Pub Interiors The floor, wall, and bar are all completely tiled.

David at the Antiques Road Show when it visited Lytham in 2019 when he took along the ‘Talbot Dog’ that had stood on the bar of the since demolished town centre Talbot pub. Experts said it could be worth £1000 

More resources at Facebook Groups Lythams Past St Annes Past  Warton & Freckleton Past  amounderness.co.uk/

If you would like to book David for an interesting talk davidhoyle.co.uk/