Whatever happened to the Blackpool Ponies?

[Gingerbread]

I was sitting in the Drs with my OH, and on the screen they had an advert for a kiddie charity, Donnas' Dream House. On one of the photos was one of the Blackpool ponies, looked like Bow Tie.

What happened to the other Blackpool Ponies, and does anyone have any pics? Would love to see pics of them in Blackpool too

[pinkkittywinks]

baby cuddles is now owned by the UK ponycon, she was restored by gypsywildflower

love pkw xxx

[Psivampyr]

I never heard of them so I googled- I found this
http://www.mlptp.net/forums/mlp-discussion/42023-blackpool-illuminations-photo.html
which is really really cool to see. Also there is another place in the UK that has one, but I found it in a photo in someone's blog. Anyway I am sorry if posting that link was bad of me, but I really wanted to have it linked since it was really cool to see.

[cloud_weaver]

baby cuddles is now owned by the UK ponycon, she was restored by gypsywildflower

love pkw xxx

Really?!  That's so awesome!!!

[Aret-dragonrider]

I sent a link to Lancer on Facebook once; there was an episode of Russel Howards Good News last year; at the end he shows a small clip of various nice, heartwarming things show in the news....in this particular episode it showed a holiday home for children with cancer in Blackpool, which seemed to have some old illuminations donated to a fun/play area there, including 2 or 3 of the Princess Pony/Dragon illuminations...I can't quite remember the name of the place now, but maybe Lancer will still have a link to the site?

[Gingerbread]

That pic is so awesome! Would loved to have seen them IRL. Thankyou

And PKW thanks for letting us know that UKPonycon has Baby Cuddles! If she's at the next 'Con I'm definitely grabbing a photo!

Does anyone else know where the rest are? I vaguely remember something about one being in a garden or on a public footpath...


I beleive that house is Donnas Dream House with the ponies in Blackpool

[goddessofpeep]

The ponies were sold to anyone who could get to them and had the money for them.

I was in the community when the Blackpool ponies went up for sale.  It was very quick.  People only had a few days after it was announced to buy one, and you had to pick them up in person right away.  I didn't know how much they were, and I was tempted.  Sadly there was no option to ship anywhere.  You had to show up to Blackpool with money in hand and figure out some way to get whatever you bought home.  I don't know who bought them or where they went, but hopefully all of them got purchased. 

[Gingerbread]

I've found out one of them is at a garden centre in Cheshire. I wasn't in the online community when they went on sale - think it was in 2008? I wish I'd known about them though! I would have got the cash together somehow lol.

[hathorcat]

I have quite a few images...but they are on a different computer so I ll have to track them down...

Blackpool Council used to store all their illuminations but when the lights fell out of fashion, favour or technology moved past them they decided in December 2007/January 2008 to put them up for auction. There were over 300 pieces auctioned off most starting in the price range between 50 to 350 depending - although I believe the average price was closer to 100 to 150 - these are BIG items and not everyone had space for them. Not everything sold, what wasn't was donated to local causes but I believe some were also destroyed. The lights were being upgraded so the Council probably were running out of space to keep storing them.

I live in hope that at the back of their warehouse there is a pony or 2 who may once again get a chance to shine...

[scarletjul]

Oh, they're gorgeous! 

I vaguely remember them going on sale some years back but I don't recall the pics.  They're so lovely; I'm sad that they've gone out of style.

[Chi]

Oh wow, those are great!

[ponylady]

Omg..*dies* I would love to own one of them. 
 
How cool would that be in your backyard?

[TokiBear]

I had forgotten all about those!  I remember hearing about them shortly after I joined.  I would LOVE to have been able to get one but there was no way... They are amazing though.

[LadyGuinevere]

I sent a link to Lancer on Facebook once; there was an episode of Russel Howards Good News last year; at the end he shows a small clip of various nice, heartwarming things show in the news....in this particular episode it showed a holiday home for children with cancer in Blackpool, which seemed to have some old illuminations donated to a fun/play area there, including 2 or 3 of the Princess Pony/Dragon illuminations...I can't quite remember the name of the place now, but maybe Lancer will still have a link to the site?

That was where I saw it! I knew I'd seen something on the telly where they had some of the old illuminations, because I squealed loudly, lol!

I did want to get one at the time but a) couldn't really afford it (most were not cheap), b) they were mostly large and I didn't think hubby would like it (plus we were renting), and c) I'd have to get to Blackpool. I kind of wish I had.

I did keep the PDF with the sale details though

[cloud_weaver]

I would have loved to see them in person.  *swoons over Masquerade and Sweet Stuff*  How amazing are they?

I do remember when they went up for sale, but don't remember much else about them.  =(