NEW Year's celebrations are well underway and last year we had some highs and lows - but also some lighter moments - here the Lancashire Telegraph looks back at some of the quirkier nest stories in East Lancashire from 2018.
1) Vampire pansexual goth wants to add black stripe to LGBT rainbow flag
A campaigner wanted to add a new colour to the gay rights flag. Darkness Vlad Tepes was spearheading a campaign to add a black stripe to the Lesbian-Gay-Bisexual-Transgender (LGBT) rainbow flag, which was meant to represent the ‘growing’ gay goth community. Mr Tepes, a goth, said they should have equal rights to other strands of the gay community and said adding a black stripe to the rainbow flag would help change people’s perceptions of them in society. The 27-year-old, of Bolton Road, Blackburn, had previously spoken out asking for tolerance of his ‘vampire’ lifestyle, saying he regularly sleeps in a coffin and drinks animal blood.
2) Blackburn convenience store rapper goes viral
An up-and-coming rapper set his sights on reaching the top after a video of him performing at a convenience store went viral. Andrew Kenyon, from Little Harwood, became a local celebrity after the video, filmed in Gills Convenience Store on Pelham Street, amassed more than 170,000 views on Facebook.The 22-year-old said he couldn’t believe the response the video has had. He said: “I had only rapped in front a few people before, so it’s mental to think so many people have heard my lyrics."
A chatty cat made waves on the internet for a purr-culiar reason. Ruby, a 16-year-old rescue cat, left carers in awe when she started to talk to them shortly after she arrived at Bleakholt Animal Sanctuary back in January. The mischievous moggy loved to chat so much that the sanctuary decided to share a video of her on social media, which received more than 3,000 views on Facebook.
4) Pub changed its name to Royal Dyche in honour of Burnley FC manager
A pub landlady renamed her pub in tribute to Clarets boss Sean Dyche. The Princess Royal, located less than half a mile away from Turf Moor is now known as The Royal Dyche. It came after the Burnley manager secured European football for the Clarets next season following their Europa League success. Burnley pub landlady Justine Lorriman opted for The Royal Dyche because it reflected the traditional name of the pub while incorporating the name of the manager. It beat other suggestions, including the Prince of Proudsville and Princess Dyche.
5) South Korean travelled 5440 miles to watch Accrington Stanley
A devoted football fan travelled 5,500 miles from Asia to watch his favourite team for the first time, Accrington Stanley. South Korean Jung Min Yoo had never travelled to Europe before watching the League One side at the Wham Stadium on Saturday afternoon. Despite Stanley’s 4-0 loss to Peterborough United, the Seoul student said the day was unbelievable and added: “The result was terrible, but I enjoyed watching the football and meeting amazing fans.” Chairman Andy Holt, who had a pint with the 25-year-old at the end of the match in The Reds Bar, said: “I’m proud to say Stanley is becoming a worldwide brand.”
6) Burnley hairdresser flew to Russia to cut hair of England squad
An award-winning hairdresser went to Russia to give the England squad a cutting edge. Burnley hairdresser Simon Townley was hand-picked for the national L’Oreal artists team, and visited Russia to keep a group of players nicely coiffed during the tournament. The salon owner, who runs Simon Townley Hair on St James's Street, Burnley, styled the hair of Burnley goalkeeper Nick Pope, Gary Cahill, Phil Jones and Jack Butland's hair.The 32-year-old, from Brunshaw, flew back to Russia after England reached the quarter finals.
7) 23 Blackburn pubs celebrated Peaky Blinder’s themed night on St Patrick’s Day
Pubs banded together to put on a Peaky Blinders-themed night on St Patrick’s Day. Around 20 pubs and bars in Blackburn town centre hosted nights based around the BBC drama about gangsters in the 1920s. People battled through the snow and cold weather dressed up in attire worn in 1920s England, similar to what the characters are seen wearing in the show. Some bars even added a Peaky Blinders ‘twist’ to their usual Saturday nights, including special live acts, different music themes and 1920s themed decor.
8) Tree frog found in bananas at Blackburn Tesco 4,200 miles from home
A shop worker was given a surprise when she found a tiny frog, usually native to the Dominican Republic, hidden in a bunch of bananas in Tesco. The tiny amphibian was spotted by a shop worker in Hill Street, Blackburn, 4,200 miles away from its home country. The shop worker contacted the RSCPA to collect it and took it to exotics rescue centre Reptilia in Ossett. RSPCA animal collection officer John Greaves said: "Since it is was found in a bunch of bananas we have we've decided to name it Nana'."
9) ‘Hero’ dog Archie saves Padiham owner who slipped in snow and broke shoulder
Archie, a four-year-old black Labrador-German wirehaired pointer cross, was hailed a ‘hero’ for saving his owner Peter Chippendale, 66, who had fallen and broken his shoulder earlier this year. The Burnley FC fan was taking Archie for a walk near his Padiham home when he slipped on ice on Norfolk Avenue. As he lay on the ground unconscious, Archie licked Peter’s face to try to keep him warm in the freezing cold weather. Archie then chewed through his lead and ran over to a woman nearby and barked at her to get her attention. She called an ambulance and was taken to Burnley General Hospital. A friend of Peter's said: “If the Greek gods had dogs Archie would be one of them.”
10) Zombies invade the Mall shopping centre in Blackburn
Hundreds of thrill-seekers from across the North West descended on The Mall for 'the ultimate scare event' - Zombie Nightmare - hosted by Wicked Experiences.
Teams of 12 were tasked to find a cure and save humanity as they navigated their way through the shopping centre to find clues, whilst trying to avoid being caught by zombies.
I visited the shopping centre with a Lancashire Telegraph colleague as we 'manned up' to help save the world from a zombie apocalypse. During the 60-minute role playing experience, players were led by a guide through various sections of the Mall, including the carpark, loading bays and service corridors.
Company director Ashley Gamon described the event as the closest experience to the American horror movie, Dawn of the Dead.
11) Lesbian couple's wedding ruined after LED dancefloor not delivered
A newlywed couple’s first dance was ‘ruined’ after an LED dancefloor was not delivered to their evening party. Beverley Crabtree and her wife Kelly, from Blackburn were lost for words after they arrived at the town’s Longshaw Sports and Social Club to find their party centrepiece had not been delivered. Beverley, 25, married her fiancee, 31, after their ninth anniversary of being a couple. They said: "“We wanted our first dance on there and we thought it was going to look amazing, but that was ruined."
12) Magpie and dog form unlikely friendship
A magpie and a whippet formed an unlikely friendship which sees them do everything together - from going on daily walks to sharing food and even a bed. Mike the magpie and Boo Radley the whippet's unusual friendship first blossomed after distressed Mike was found four months ago floundering on his own at just two weeks old. Boo’s owner Steve Rostron, from Sabden, was out on an evening walk when the inquisitive pup sniffed out tiny Mike behind a telephone junction box. Mike and Boo's friendship has gone from strength to strength and the pair often nestling up on the sofa to watch their favourite TV shows together.
13) Stella and custard creams keep 100-year-old Darwen lass young
Who can forget 100-year-old Eileen Maher from Darwen, who sent the internet into overdrive with her undying love of custard creams and a can of Stella? The lager lover was treated by friends at a surprise birthday bash in her Blackpool care home where she was showered with her favourite gifts.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here