As dramatic scenes continue to unfold in Westminster, the summer months roll on, with the school holidays firmly on the horizon and promises of improved weather.

This week, news of a Penwortham pupil and cricketer selected to star in Freddie Flintoff’s new TV show lifted spirits at Blog Preston, while another inspirational education story saw UCLan twin with a Ukrainian university.

And with Preston residents gearing up for the summer, news that Lancashire Encounter will return to Preston city centre this September offers something to look forward to at the end of the holidays.

Here are five other stories you may have missed from Preston this week.

Corrie’s Antony Cotton visits Walton-le-Dale to support Armed Forces bus tour

Corrie’s Antony Cotton visited a supermarket in Walton-le-Dale in June to support a bus tour led by a military charity for wounded, sick and injured personnel.

In celebration of Her Majesty The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee, The Not Forgotten, a British Armed Forces charity for military personnel, brought their ‘Anyone For Tea’ tour to the Waitrose car park in Walton-le-Dale on 23 June 2022.

The tour was part of a 10-day road trip and aimed to raise awareness of the charity’s work, offering ‘entertainment, cheer and chat’ to UK veterans, serving personnel and their friends and families.

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Leyland support group secures funding from ‘Dragon’s Den-style’ panel

A Leyland support group offering peer support to people in pain has landed £1,000 from a ‘Dragon’s Den-style panel’.

Leyland Pain Support Group received the funding after successfully pitching during a ‘Soup Dragon’s Den’ event organised by Progress Housing Group.

The support group, set up two years ago by Siobhan Walker after being diagnosed with a rare spinal condition, cauda equine, will use the funding for activities, including swimming, exercise classes and coffee mornings.

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Preston car dealership employees raise thousands for cancer charity in memory of dearly-missed colleague

More than 20 car dealership employees have completed the Yorkshire Three Peaks Challenge in memory of a much-loved colleague.

Staff at Bowker Motor Group, which has a dealership near Preston Docks, organised the challenge in memory of popular colleague Paul ‘Crowey’ Crowhurst, who sadly passed away last year.

The team successfully completed the 24-mile, 5,200-feet climb in around 12 hours and raised over £4,000 for St Catherine’s Hospice in Lostock Hall.

Read the full story here

Family fun day at Penwortham pub raises £634 for children’s charities

A Penwortham family fun day that attracted hundreds of families to a local pub has raised £634.80 for two charities.

The event at Sir Tom Finney Pub raised funds for Lancashire Teaching Hospitals Foundation Trust Charity’s Children’s Appeal and Derian House Children’s Hospice.

The event saw families enjoy a bouncy castle, fairground rides, a magician, live music, games, stalls selling cupcakes, toys, books and candles, an ice cream van and a raffle.

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Hoghton police cadet wins boxing booklet design contest

A Hoghton police cadet has won a competition to design the front cover of a booklet used for a new boxing club initiative.

Preston Police cadet Lewis Findlay, 14, from Hoghton, and others designed the front cover with a design that would reflect their interpretation of how sport, and in particular boxing, can help young people with fitness, well-being, discipline and mental health.

Police have worked with Larches and Savick Boxing Club, Safer Preston, LANPAC and housing association Community Gateway to help keep vulnerable children out of trouble by getting them involved in boxing and providing free spaces on a 12-week boxing lesson and coaching course. 

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