PRESTON INFO

Facts:

The population of Preston is estimated at 129,000
The first Kentucky Fried Chicken shop in the UK was opened in Preston in 1965. New drive-thru opens 2000 located on the Riversway complex.
The town's (City's) bus station is one of the largest in Europe.(maybe demolished as part of a redevelopment site).
Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, Butch did emanate from Preston and is said that the spoke with a "Lanky" twang. Born Robert LeRoy Parker in Beaver, Utah on April 13, 1866, Cassidy wa the first of 13 children. His Mormon parents had come to Utah from England in 1856, his father came from Preston. http://www.utah.com/adventures/old_west/butch_cassidy.htm
Preston is said to be the place where the Temperance movement started. Preston has added at least one word to the English language - Teetotal . This came from a meeting held at the old Temperance Hall in 1833. "Teetotal, as applied to abstinence from all intoxicating liquors"
The mill lockouts in the 1800's when a third of the town was out of work formed the basis of Charles Dickens' Hard Times. He was a reporter and stayed the Bull & Royal on Church Street.
The Preston bypass, the M6, was the first motorway constructed in the country. Read more detail.
The first concrete road was built in Preston, at Hutton, near the Police HQ.
North End were the first club to win the league and cup double, in 1888, the league's first year. Plus they did it without losing a league game or conceding a Cup goal.
Wallace and Grommet are from Preston. (Well Nick Parks is)
Another first for Preston I believe is that the Preston Constabulary in 1963 bought six Morris minor panda cars, 3 white and three blue and swapped the doors from the white onto the blue and vice versa This then created the two tone colour panda cars that were evident up and down the country, thus Preston were the first to use this. From: Andrew Walton draigfach@draigfach.fsnet.co.uk
Another famous person that came from Preston was `Sopie Mcdonnell` from Precious the pop group, the ones that entered the 1999 Eurovision song contest, if you want anymore info on them send Lee an email.From: Lee Johnson leejohnson@ntlworld.com
The black horse pub on Friargate is the only pub with 3 public entrances/exits on 3 different streets.
The row of public telephones along the side of the Post Office is the longest continuos row of the old style red kiosks anywhere in the country. From: gav gavxxx@hotmail.com
The first Mormons outside America were baptised in the River Ribble in Avenham Park - On 30th July 1837, a Mormon missionary, Elder Kimball, baptised nine converts. Since no Preston clergyman would allow the baptism in church, the site by the river was chosen. From: gav gavxxx@hotmail.com Also Read a tail of the Mormons visit.
Preston North End hold the record for the highest ever score in English football, defeating Hyde united 26-0 in the FA Cup 1st Round 15 October 1887. Player Jimmy Ross scored 7 goals in that game - a record still unequalled. From: gav gavxxx@hotmail.com
In 1886 PNE’s ‘keeper Arthur Wharton became the first black player in English professional football. From: gav gavxxx@hotmail.com
In 1922 goalkeeper JF Mitchell became the first and last player to wear glasses in an FA Cup Final . From: gav gavxxx@hotmail.com
Other famous Prestonians also include John Inman (Mr Humphries in 'Are You Being Served'), and Roy Barraclough (Alec Gilroy from Coronation Street - and long-time side-kick of Les Dawson). From: gav gavxxx@hotmail.com
Jessica from Liberty X is from Penwortham, Preston.

Major Annual Events:

Easter egg rolling down the hill in the park. This is on Easter Monday.
Caribbean Carnival in May.
Town Criers competition in May.
Music Festival in June.
Maritime Festival in July down at the Riversway complex. (Did not be take place in 2000)
Preston Pot Fair in August.
Historical Fayre in September.
Christmas Parade & Torchlight Procession in December.

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Useful Telephone numbers:

Tourist Information Centre...........................01772-253731
Harris Museum & Art Gallery.......................01772-253248
Guild Hall & Charter Theatre box office.........01772-258858
Leisure Services office...................................01772-203456
Lancashire Evening Post (local paper)............01772-880173
Royal Preston Hospital.............................01772-716565

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