We’ve had plenty of news to bring you from Preston over the past week.

This week, Rosemere Cancer Foundation received funding for a lung cancer research project, and the former Browns Bar was transformed into apartments and offices. It’s safe to say there have been lots of interesting stories.

Here are five you may have missed.

Preston ‘has robust cultural strategy’ say leaders as Lancashire withdraws bid for UK City of Culture 2025

Lancashire County Council has withdrawn its support for the UK City of Culture 2025 bid.

County Councillor Alan Vincent, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Finance, said after carefully considering the potential costs and benefits of the bid, the council can no longer underwrite it.

He said: “We know this will be disappointing to those who have worked so hard on this project over the past couple of years, but we feel it is the right decision.

“Whilst the proposal was strong and ambitious, we felt that underwriting the bid to the tune of up to £22m created too great a financial risk to the council at a time when there are significant pressures on services and continuing financial uncertainty following the pandemic.”

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Former Preston councillor honoured with a memorial on the Guild Wheel

Former Preston councillor Peter Ward has had his contributions to the city honoured with a memorial on the Guild Wheel.

Since his passing in 2017, the family of Peter Ward MBE and Preston City Council have been exploring ideas for a suitable memorial to Peter and his contribution to the creation of the Guild Wheel.

Peter was made a Guild Burgess in 2012 and was awarded an MBE in 2013 for his services to cycling. The memorial has been erected directly alongside the Guild Wheel route.

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Worldwise Samba Drummers to perform at Preston Flag Market

The Worldwise Samba Drummers have asked Preston residents to perform alongside them at this year’s Making a Mark arts event.

Making a Mark, which takes place at Preston Flag Market on Saturday 17 July, is due to feature a range of artists and performers.

From noon, the Worldwise Samba Drummers will lead a short parade before performing from the balcony of the Harris Museum. This year, members of the public are encouraged to join in.

The Worldwise Samba Drummers are a community group who perform high energy Afro-Brazilian music, mostly samba, samba fusions and candomblé arrangements.

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Kirkham man honoured with Diana Award after promoting stammer awareness

A young Kirkham man has received a prestigious award after organising a campaign that aims to change society’s perceptions of stammering.

Jack Dinsley, 21, has been recognised with the highest accolade a young person can achieve for social action or humanitarian efforts, The Diana Award.

Established in memory of Diana, Princess of Wales, the award is given out by the charity of the same name and has the support of her sons, The Duke of Cambridge and The Duke of Sussex. 

Drawing inspiration from his personal experiences of having a stammer, Jack’s ‘Be Kind’ campaign aims to change how people perceive others with communication difficulties

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£33m Urban Hub set to welcome Preston’s students in 2022

A new £33 million student residence is on schedule to open in the middle of 2022.

Work began at the Urban Hub site in Moor Lane near UCLan in January.

The project is now entering the final stage of erecting the 625-tonne steel structure. Several construction teams have already started concrete works on the Sizer Street side.

Read the full story here

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