Elaine Smith is a former chairman of the Blackpool Civic Trust and the Friends of Stanley Park which she founded
A former Blackpool landlady who had dedicated herself to the resort is to be the next recipient of the prestigious Blackpool Medal.
Elaine Smith is a former chairman of the Blackpool Civic Trust and the Friends of Stanley Park which she founded, and is currently an active member of the Winter Gardens Trust. In 2009 she was awarded the MBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List for her services to heritage.
A recommendation for her to receive the Blackpool Medal was agreed at the annual meeting of the council.
She said: “I’m so thrilled and this is most unexpected. It’s definitely equal to my MBE for me as it is coming from the town. I came to live in Blackpool when I was 10 and I fell in love with the town.
“I don’t view it with rose-tinted spectacles as I know about all the problems we have, but we also have fabulous things like the sea and Stanley Park.”
Elaine, 86, who ran a seafront hotel until she retired, is also vice-chairman of the Blackpool and Fylde Volunteer Centre and ran Blackpool in Bloom for nine years. A council report says the medal is “for her service to the town and to mark her achievements as the president of the Blackpool Civic Trust, the chairman of Friends of Stanley Park and for her active involvement in many other organisations across the town.”
It follows on from the awarding posthumously of the Blackpool Medal to former Blackpool councillors Peter Callow and Lily Henderson, and former boxing legend Brian London in recognition of their achievements. A special meeting of the council will be held to make the presentation to Elaine Smith.
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