Best Tourism Event of the Year award announced!

Date published: 11 June 2010

East Lancashire Railway (ELR) was revealed yesterday as the winner of the much coveted Best Tourism Event of the Year award, the only category to be decided by the public.

Held at the impressive 13th Century Mercure Dunkenhalgh Hotel and presented by Michaela Strachan, one of TV's best loved wildlife presenters, East Lancashire Railway took centre stage, beating tough competition from the World Fireworks Championships in Blackpool and the Bowland Festival.

ELR is proud to take home this award, even more so as it shows the tremendous support the Wartime Weekend has received from the public. Over 20,000 visitors to Lancashire were invited to vote for their favourite tourism event of 2009.

Tourism Champion at Rossendale Council, Cllr Jason Gledhill said:

"I am delighted that the 1940s Wartime Weekend has succeeded in winning the event of the year category at the Lancashire and Blackpool Tourism Awards. The East Lancashire Railway is one of the most important tourism attractions in the borough and the Wartime Weekend is a fabulous event that attracts people from far and wide. The award recognises the hard work and dedication of the staff and hundreds of volunteers at the railway and the support they receive from the wider community in Rossendale."

ELR's volunteers have worked tirelessly to make this event an unforgettable experience for our visitors and as a result this year's 1940s Wartime Weekend has been the 'best ever' in the 12 years since it began, welcoming over 8,000 visitors to the railway.

Event organiser Neil Parkington said:

"We are very proud and excited to have won this award for the Wartime Weekend which is one of ELR's biggest annual events. The three-day programme invites visitors to discover what life was like during the 1940s complete with brass band street concerts, tea dances, food and vintage clothing stalls and battle re-enactments. However, it is also important to recognise that it is not just a great day out for the whole family but also offers a significant educational value in understanding history."

ELR will now go through to England's Northwest Tourism Awards, held in September and organised by the North West Regional Development Agency, and if successful will enter the national Enjoy England Awards for Excellence.

For further information and images please contact Christina Seidel, Sales & Marketing Manager.


Christina Seidel
Sales and Marketing Manager

East Lancashire Railway
t: 0161 764 6762
m: 07909 231 873
f: 0161 763 4408
www.east-lancs-rly.co.uk