The Steeple Times

Tag: Blackpool

  • Not Such Divine Intervention

    Not Such Divine Intervention

    Empty Gothic church in Kelso, Scotland for sale for just £130,000; it was home until 2006 to the conspiracy theorist Dean Warwick – who collapsed and died on stage at a UFO conference in Blackpool mid speech

    “Alternative energy pioneer” Dean Warwick (1944 – 2006) believed 9/11 was a “farce.” This controversial crackpot claimed he had been trained in the military to bring down the Twin Towers using satellite waves in the mid-1960s and that he also categorically knew exactly who JFK’s murderer was.

     

    Whilst “going on and on and on” at Probe International’s paranormal conference in Blackpool, Lancashire on 7th October 2006 about these matters and “children having their skin eaten whilst they were still alive in the New Forest” and about how he knew who the “real” killers of Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman were also, Warwick supposedly announced: “Bear with me for a moment.” He then “leaned with his left elbow on a nearby table with his right arm across his body, and then fell flat on his face. Shortly afterwards he was pronounced dead.” Fellow conspiracy cranks (including David Icke) later claimed: “This was an Intelligence agency ‘hit’ using an ELF (Extremely Low Frequency) weapon,” but this was never ultimately proven true.

     

    Warwick had, for about twenty years, lived in the heart of the national hunt racecourse town of Kelso in the Scottish Borders. Here, along with his actress wife Jean, he occupied in a Gothic church and now that building, North Trinity Church is once again for sale.

     

    Not Such Divine Intervention – £130,000 for North Trinity Church, East Bowmont Street, Kelso, Roxboroughshire, Scotland, TD5 7JH, United Kingdom through agents Ballantynes – Empty Gothic church in Kelso, Scotland for sale for just £130,000; it was home until 2006 to the conspiracy theorist Dean Warwick (1944 – 7th October 2006) – who collapsed and died on stage at the Probe International paranormal and UFO conference in Blackpool mid speech.
    After Dean Warwick collapsed on stage in Blackpool, Lancashire on 7th October 2006, one fellow conspiracy theorist present observed: “When Dean collapsed on the floor a woman witnessed a man with dark hair slip out of the hall. She followed this man who then proceeded to walk down the stairs whistling merrily to himself, get into a car and make a phone call. He was then seen laughing down the phone to whoever he was speaking to. Who walks out of a hall whistling happily to themselves and then starts laughing down the phone after a man has just collapsed and stopped breathing on stage?”
    Not Such Divine Intervention – £130,000 for North Trinity Church, East Bowmont Street, Kelso, Roxboroughshire, Scotland, TD5 7JH, United Kingdom through agents Ballantynes – Empty Gothic church in Kelso, Scotland for sale for just £130,000; it was home until 2006 to the conspiracy theorist Dean Warwick (1944 – 7th October 2006) – who collapsed and died on stage at the Probe International paranormal and UFO conference in Blackpool mid speech.
    Bulgarian businessman Kirk Kirchev paid £80,000 for North Trinity Church, Kelso in November 2018 and intended to use £35,000 of his mother’s savings to restore the building.

    Recorded as having changed hands in August 2014 for the sum of £45,000, the 6,877 square foot building was again sold in November 2018 for about £80,000 to a Bulgarian businessman named Kirk Kirchev. Of his purchase, in December 2019 talking to Borders TV, the camping tent manufacturer turned face mask retailer remarked:

     

    “I saw the church online and thought this is amazing… It was very cheap, nobody wanted to touch it, the windows were boarded up… When I got in, it was dark, scary with pigeons circling in the main hall, but I could see that it had the soul, the spirit, the sort of magic, that, that bought me.”

     

    “I’ve done 90% of the work I needed, I’ve made it usable. It’s still retaining its derelict and magical look… People think I’m crazy: It’s a given, but I think this place needs someone crazy to take it on because otherwise it will simply fall apart.”

     

    “[When it’s finished” I hope it’ll be a great venue and the focal point of the town. It has a lot of potential as a gathering place for people. I am kind of surprised why people don’t see this because it’s right in the middle of town, it’s got car parks all around, it’s great for a venue and all it needs is a little bit. I think people like the character and all it needs is to be made safe and legal and certified and all that.”

     

    Standing on a site extending to 0.4 acres, Mr Kirchev plainly has decided not to proceed further with his project to find another use for this former religious building. North Trinity Church is now on the market for £130,000 through agents Ballantynes and could be used for residential or commercial purposes. No doubt, however, local residents very much hope another Dean Warwick type doesn’t turn up with yet another conspiracy theory; that, indeed, would be even worse than the shameful local councillors who proposed pulling down this beautiful Category B listed building last November.

     

    The Names & Numbers – North Trinity Church, East Bowmont Street, Kelso, Roxboroughshire, Scotland, TD5 7JH, United Kingdom

     

    April 2020 – For sale for £130,000 ($163,000, €150,000 or درهم597,000) through agents Ballantynes.

     

    November 2019 – Local councillors are reported calling for the demolition of the Category B listed building citing the need for more car parking spaces in Kelso’s town centre.

     

    November 2018 – Sold to Bulgarian born Kirk Kirchev for £80,000 ($100,000, €92,000 or درهم367,000).

     

    December 2017 – Offered for sale as a “development opportunity” for £75,000 ($94,000, €86,000 or درهم344,000) by Edwin Thompson.

     

    August 2014 – Sold for £45,000 ($56,000, €52,000 or درهم207,000).

     

    2011 – A community organisation, The Future Kelso Group, attempted to convert the church into a community hub. These plans did not come to fruition.

     

    2006 onwards – The building “fell into disrepair” after the death of the New Zealand-born conspiracy theorist Dean Warwick during a UFO conference in Blackpool on 7th October 2006 aged 62. The building had been home to him and his actress wife, Jean, for “over 20 years.”

     

    1885 – 1886 – Built to the designs of architect John Starforth for use as the Kelso United Presbyterian Church on the site of a previous church that was built in 1788. Prominent features are said to “include a four-stage angle buttressed tower over the gable porch to the southern end of the building; lanceted belfry; gabled transepts: and decorative detailing to ridge tiles to main roof. The tower is flanked by two-storey circular stair towers with slated conical roofs, each with side entrances.”

     

    Facebook: @TheSteepleTimes

    Instagram: @TheSteepleTimes

    Twitter: @SteepleTimes

     

    Not Such Divine Intervention – £130,000 for North Trinity Church, East Bowmont Street, Kelso, Roxboroughshire, Scotland, TD5 7JH, United Kingdom through agents Ballantynes – Empty Gothic church in Kelso, Scotland for sale for just £130,000; it was home until 2006 to the conspiracy theorist Dean Warwick (1944 – 7th October 2006) – who collapsed and died on stage at the Probe International paranormal and UFO conference in Blackpool mid speech.
    Not Such Divine Intervention – £130,000 for North Trinity Church, East Bowmont Street, Kelso, Roxboroughshire, Scotland, TD5 7JH, United Kingdom through agents Ballantynes – Empty Gothic church in Kelso, Scotland for sale for just £130,000; it was home until 2006 to the conspiracy theorist Dean Warwick (1944 – 7th October 2006) – who collapsed and died on stage at the Probe International paranormal and UFO conference in Blackpool mid speech.
    Not Such Divine Intervention – £130,000 for North Trinity Church, East Bowmont Street, Kelso, Roxboroughshire, Scotland, TD5 7JH, United Kingdom through agents Ballantynes – Empty Gothic church in Kelso, Scotland for sale for just £130,000; it was home until 2006 to the conspiracy theorist Dean Warwick (1944 – 7th October 2006) – who collapsed and died on stage at the Probe International paranormal and UFO conference in Blackpool mid speech.
    Not Such Divine Intervention – £130,000 for North Trinity Church, East Bowmont Street, Kelso, Roxboroughshire, Scotland, TD5 7JH, United Kingdom through agents Ballantynes – Empty Gothic church in Kelso, Scotland for sale for just £130,000; it was home until 2006 to the conspiracy theorist Dean Warwick (1944 – 7th October 2006) – who collapsed and died on stage at the Probe International paranormal and UFO conference in Blackpool mid speech.
    Not Such Divine Intervention – £130,000 for North Trinity Church, East Bowmont Street, Kelso, Roxboroughshire, Scotland, TD5 7JH, United Kingdom through agents Ballantynes – Empty Gothic church in Kelso, Scotland for sale for just £130,000; it was home until 2006 to the conspiracy theorist Dean Warwick (1944 – 7th October 2006) – who collapsed and died on stage at the Probe International paranormal and UFO conference in Blackpool mid speech.
    Not Such Divine Intervention – £130,000 for North Trinity Church, East Bowmont Street, Kelso, Roxboroughshire, Scotland, TD5 7JH, United Kingdom through agents Ballantynes – Empty Gothic church in Kelso, Scotland for sale for just £130,000; it was home until 2006 to the conspiracy theorist Dean Warwick (1944 – 7th October 2006) – who collapsed and died on stage at the Probe International paranormal and UFO conference in Blackpool mid speech.
    Not Such Divine Intervention – £130,000 for North Trinity Church, East Bowmont Street, Kelso, Roxboroughshire, Scotland, TD5 7JH, United Kingdom through agents Ballantynes – Empty Gothic church in Kelso, Scotland for sale for just £130,000; it was home until 2006 to the conspiracy theorist Dean Warwick (1944 – 7th October 2006) – who collapsed and died on stage at the Probe International paranormal and UFO conference in Blackpool mid speech.
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wJ1z9QpWFUY
  • Trevor Hemmings CVO

    Trevor Hemmings CVO

    Reclusive yet charming “leisure entrepreneur” Trevor Hemmings owns over 100 racehorses, lives primarily on the Isle of Man and generously funded the SAFE centre to help victims of sexual violence in Preston, Lancashire.

     

    This “publicity averse” self-made father of four’s Grand National winning horses have included Ballabriggs, Hedgehunter and Many Clouds and other assets in his collection have variously numbered Blackpool Tower and Preston North End Football Club. He also harbours a love for vintage Rolls-Royces and was considered a “surrogate son” by the equally shrewd late businessman and holiday camp owner Sir Fred Pontin (1906 – 2000).

     

    Of his success, in a rare interview in 2015, this cloth capped “earthy” gent modestly remarked:

     

    “In my business life I’ve had to climb the business and financial ladder by doing better next year than I did last year and that’s what life’s about. You have to work longer hours than everybody and you have to be on site seven days a week. Today I’m available seven days a week, people contact me seven days a week, let’s put it like that”.

     

    Reclusive “leisure entrepreneur” and racing obsessive Trevor HemmingsPictured above: Trevor Hemmings with Grand National winners Hedgehunter and Ballabriggs at Ballaseyr, Andreas.

     

  • Doris Thompson MBE OBE (1903 – 2004) and Geoffrey Thompson (1936 – 2004)

    Doris Thompson MBE OBE (1903 – 2004) and Geoffrey Thompson (1936 – 2004)

    Doris and Geoffrey ThompsonThis mother and son duo were the stalwarts that built Britain’s most popular seaside attraction, the 40-acre Blackpool Pleasure Beach. Fairgrounds were their life and even at 95, Malvern Ladies’ College educated Doris Thompson MBE OBE was the first to ride her park’s 100mph Playstation ride. After getting off, she gamely stated: “That’s the closest I’ve been to heaven so far”. Shrewsbury and Christ’s College, Cambridge educated Geoffrey Thompson (AKA “Mr Funshine”), aged just 67, sadly predeceased his 101-year old mother by 11 days.

     

  • Picture of the Week: Handcuffed Hall

    Picture of the Week: Handcuffed Hall

    Stuart Hall arrives at Preston Magistrates Court in handcuffs

     

    Stuart Hall’s disgrace rightly continues to make headlines as yet more allegations emerge against him. For that reason, an image of the 83-year old former presenter arriving at Preston Magistrates Court in handcuffs today had to be our Picture of the Week. (more…)

  • Stuart Brayson

    Stuart Brayson

    Stuart BraysonThis singer-songwriter turned musical theatre composer began his career in the rock band Pop. His West End début with From Here To Eternity alongside Sir Tim Rice is already attracting much acclaim.

  • “Cock Roache” fears attack

    “Cock Roache” fears attack

    As a William Roache waxwork is defaced, his friends announce that he fears being attacked himself

     

    The actor who plays Coronation Street’s Ken Barlow, William Roache MBE, is due at Preston Crown Court tomorrow. Mr Roache, who has been charged with two counts of raping a 15-year-old girl in the 1960s, supposedly also fears that he could be the victim of a vigilante attack.

      (more…)

  • Linked in more ways than one

    Linked in more ways than one

    The links between Owen Oyston, William Roache and Stuart Hall

     

    Board meetings of Ridings Publishing Company Limited and its subsidiaries and Oystons Limited must have featured some interesting conversations as at them three well-known men were eligible to attend. Those three men, as of today, variously have served a jail sentence for rape, been convicted and await sentencing for 14 charges of indecent assault and await trial for two counts of raping a 15 year old.

      (more…)

  • Paedophile Stuart Hall guilty

    Paedophile Stuart Hall guilty

    Stuart Hall admits 14 counts of indecent assault

     

    The former It’s A Knockout and BBC Five Live presenter (James) Stuart Hall OBE admitted to being a rapist and paedophile this morning.

    (more…)

  • A cock-up by “Cock Roache”

    A cock-up by “Cock Roache”

    The latest in a series of bizarre comments from actor William Roache

     

    William Roache MBE, who plays Ken Barlow in Coronation Street, is no stranger to controversy.

     

    The grandson of a Freemason who was interested in hypnotism, theosophy and esotericism, Roache is a vegetarian and spiritualist who was photographed participating in Druid rituals in the 1970s.

    (more…)

  • The best for the West?

    The best for the West?

    FirstGroup win the West Coast Mainline rail franchise

     

    It has just been announced that FirstGroup, the parent company who operate amongst others First Capital Connect and First Great Western, have beaten Virgin Rail and will take over the West Coast Mainline rail franchise from December. The West Coast Mainline route serves London, the West Midlands, the North West, North Wales and the Central Belt of Scotland and is one that I know well having used it regularly to travel between London and Lancashire as a student.

     

    Virgin Rail’s West Coast Mainline Pendolino speeds past the River Lune at Tebay, Cumbria

    Sir Richard Branson’s Virgin Rail, of which 49% is owned by Stagecoach, took over the franchise in 1997 and I have to say that I found the service he provided to be, in the main, perfectly satisfactory. Yes, indeed, there were problems and the 2007 Grayrigg accident did indeed cause considerable disruption, but Virgin’s “tank-like” Pendolino trains were much better than the older trains that they replaced and services did improve during Virgin’s tenure. Many grumbled, however, about fares but frankly they were comparable to those of all other operators throughout the land.

     

    With a government under pressure to get the best deal and the “best value for the taxpayer” according to Richard Westcott, the BBC’s transport correspondent, the attraction of the FirstGroup bid was not only that the £5.5 billion figure offered was far higher than that of the other tenders. FirstGroup also beat Virgin’s £160 million annual service payments with an offer of £390 million and offered £22 million to improve 17 stations on the route. They will also further improve the existing Pendolino trains, provide 11 new 125mph trains and offer new direct services to from London to Blackpool, Telford, Shrewsbury and Bolton.

     

    FirstGroup based their bid on their belief that there is spare capacity on the line and that train usage will grow at an incredible rate. Their bid is linked to a £45 million performance bond that they would have to forfeit if they walk away, as other operators have previously done elsewhere, from the contract.

     

    In a leaked letter to the Transport Secretary, Justine Greening, Sir Richard Branson claimed what the FirstGroup have offered will “drastically cut the quality of services.” He is likely to challenge today’s decision in the courts but for West Coast Mainline rail users, one can only hope that FirstGroup truly will deliver what they promise.