Historic Fleetwood Waterfront

Did you know that Fleetwood once had a zoo?

Fleetwood Zoo which was a branch of Southport Zoo run by Frank Farrar, was in the Pavilion a large green painted wooden building next to Marine Hall which is now the smaller car park on the site. The hall which previously housed the seasonal follies, a low key variety show, had chimpanzees, bear cubs, alongside child friendly wallabies, parrots and mynah birds but also porcupines, raccoons.

Before the zoo opened in summer 1954 a big attraction there had been professional wrestling promoted by George Relwyskow of Leeds. All the big names came there and full houses were common. American and overseas stars featured alongside the top British men. After the zoo closed a giant model railway occupied the hall for a summer. It was demolished early in 1961 to make space for Corrigans Fairground, which was on the site some twenty years.

Fleetwood once hosted 'bathing beauty' contests

The bathing beauty contests started around 1948, which included junior competitions for under 14s and a toddlers competition.

Fleetwood's three most famous early bathing beauties. Sidney Walker was a contestant in the very first Miss World competition in London in 1951. Audrey King appeared as part of the Wychwoods on televised Sunday Night at the London Palladium in October 1964. The bill that night was topped by Morecambe and Wise.

The third famous girl was Dorothy Peak who I think was a sixth former at Fleetwood Grammar. She became Miss Junior Britain in 1954.

The competitions took place at the Open Air Swimming Pool sited next to Marine Hall, now Fleetwood Leisure Centre and larger Carpark. When the Open Air Pool was demolished in the 1970s the competition moved to Marine Hall until the competition was disbanded in the 1980s