HUNDREDS of people walk along Cleethorpes' proud promenade every day but how many of them stop and wonder how it all came to be?
Few will appreciate that without it, North East Lincolnshire's golden sands would not exist, and that Cleethorpes would be the underwater Atlantis of the north east coast.
That is why the first Cleethorpes Renaissance Town Team event, Meggies Memories, will help locals discover the rich history of the resort and how the promenade saved it from disappearing forever.
Doctor Alan Dowling, from the resort, will deliver a fascinating talk on the prom, taking his audience back in time, starting in 1835 and travelling to the 20th century.
And film enthusiast Phil Sheard will show rare footage of the town from times gone by. The chairman of the town team, Barry Waby, hopes there will be a good turn-out at the event on Friday, November 9, which starts from 7pm at Cleethorpes Memorial Hall.
He said: "This is the first time we have organised an event and we want to continue what we set out to do.
"We also hope to raise a little money for the group too, but if we don't at least we will have had a fantastic evening."
Mr Sheard, who owns model railway shop Classic, in Cambridge Street, Cleethorpes, has a passion for old film. His collection contains reels of rare footage of the resort from the 1930s to 1970s.
Mr Dowling's talk will explain how Cleethorpes used to be on the edge of a crumbling cliff edge, which was not only "unsightly" but at risk of collapsing into the sea.
"Something had to be done before Cleethorpes disappeared," he said.
"They had to make the cliff more attractive and protect the resort from severe erosion."
The council could not afford it and sought help from the Manchester, Sheffield and Lincolnshire Railway Company.
Headed by Sir Edward Watkin, the prom and Pier Gardens was built, and the town was transformed into a flourishing, Victorian resort.
Mr Dowling continued: "We take things like the promenade and the Pier Gardens for granted. We just think 'Oh, they're there', what we don't appreciate is the amount of effort and money put into building them.
"I always feel that when I walk along the promenade, which I do most weekends, I have this in mind.
"It makes it more interesting to know the historical background and I hope people who come to the talk will have that same thing the next time they are down there."
Tickets for the event are £5, and £3 for under-16s, available from Cleethorpes Tourist Information Centre. within Cleethorpes Library, or from Mr Waby on 01472 690446.
