The Morecambe Bay Podcast

Few people know Morecambe’s story quite like Mike Whalley.

As a trainee reporter at the Morecambe Visitor in the 1950s, Mike found himself at the heart of a seaside resort enjoying a remarkable boom. With theatres, dance halls, cinemas and countless other venues drawing visitors from across industrial Lancashire and West Yorkshire, Morecambe was becoming a destination to rival even Blackpool.

Mike had a ringside seat.

From Miss Great Britain to crime, council affairs and obituaries, his job took him into every corner of town life — and brought him face-to-face with some of its most colourful characters.

In this first part of a two-part conversation, Mike recalls the early years of his career and the extraordinary Morecambe he discovered as a young reporter.

A vivid first-hand account of a town at the height of its seaside glory — told by the journalist who was there to see it all.

Morecambe has been attracting filmmakers for more than a century — from pioneering producers Mitchell and Kenyon to today’s generation of visitors and filmmakers capturing life around the Bay.

Their films have preserved the town’s people, places and attractions, offering a fascinating glimpse into Morecambe as it once was. Now, some of that remarkable archive is being brought back to the Winter Gardens, itself a familiar star of Morecambe’s screen history.

In this episode, Geoff Senior from the North West Film Archive reveals the stories behind the films being shown and explains why recording everyday life today matters for the generations who will watch it in the future.

A fascinating journey through Morecambe’s film history — and a look at how today’s cameras could become tomorrow’s archive.

A serious motorbike accident, swine flu and two bouts of meningitis have all tested Darryl Potter — but none have stopped him making the most of life around Morecambe Bay.

A wheelchair user, Darryl only recently discovered photography and has quickly built a growing audience by sharing his images on social media. His tongue-in-cheek Instagram name, Bay Clicky Roller, says something about his humour and his determination to focus on what he can do, rather than what he can’t.

On a very wet night in Morecambe, Darryl talks about discovering photography, the satisfaction of capturing the Bay from his own perspective, and the connections he’s made with other wheelchair photographers in the area.

A warm, funny and uplifting conversation about photography, community and seeing Morecambe Bay in a different way.

It was to become an event that attracted millions of viewers, enjoy its fair share of scandal as well as inject glamour into a post-war Lancashire seaside resort.

Miss Great Britain began in 1945 as the National Bathing Beauty Contest, a joint venture between The Sunday Dispatch newspaper, Morecambe Corporation and Eric Morley's Mecca Entertainment Group with heats taking place at the Super Swimming Stadium on the town's seafront.

Each year the contest grew in popularity and by 1950 the prize money had increased to £1,000 for the winner.  Big names who took part included Violet Pretty - who would go on to become Hollywood star Anne Heywood - the first female Blue Peter presenter Leila Williams, and comedian Marti Caine.

In this edition we hear first hand what it was like to compete, the recollections of a reporter who covered the contest and the women who during lockdown researched, wrote and published a celebration of the 75 years of the Miss Great Britain contest ( https://www.amazon.co.uk/Books-Sally-Ann-Fawcett/s?rh=n%3A266239%2Cp_27%3ASally-Ann+Fawcett)

Imagine growing up without electricity, collecting water from a well and relying on neighbours to help feed your family.

For Iris Birks, that was everyday life growing up on Sunderland Point — the remote spit of land stretching out into Morecambe Bay, south of Heysham.

In this fascinating conversation, Iris looks back on a childhood that feels worlds away from life today. She tells us about becoming remarkably skilled with a boat from a young age, despite never learning to swim, the community that helped her family through difficult times, and the moment she finally left the Point.

Now living in Lancaster, Iris still returns to the place where she was born. And she has plans to make sure its story — and the people who called it home — are remembered for generations to come.

A remarkable story of childhood, community and life on the Bay.

Listen now, and subscribe to the Morecambe Bay Podcast for more stories from across the Bay.

Entertainment has long been at the heart of Morecambe’s appeal. At one time, the resort boasted an impressive array of theatres, cinemas and entertainment venues, rivalling other seaside towns. Now, Morecambe’s dance artist in residence, Jenny Reeves, is bringing that history to life through performance — and introducing the Bay’s story to a whole new audience:

If you enjoyed the first series, good news! A second series is now ready.

Born during lockdown, the Morecambe Bay Podcast charts life around the Bay; from art and culture to stories of growing up and reporting  sometimes turbulent times.

Next weekend I'll share the first of the new series which has been fascinating to research and record. You can read more about the stories too on the website https://themorecambebaypodcast.wordpress.com/ which is home to videos and pictures kindly shared by the people who make this podcast possible.

I hope you enjoy it. Check out Twitter, Instagram and the Facebook page to share the podcast and get in touch.

Sunderland Point: steeped in history, home to a small community, and one of the most isolated places in the north west.

In later editions we’ll be hearing more about it but what’s it like to grow up there? Mia Wilson knows all about life on the Point. She spent her early years there before moving away to study at university and embark on a career which was to take her thousands of miles away from home on the banks of the River Lune.

In this episode she recalls her early life on the Point and explains what drew her back to the Bay and the important role she now plays.