Director of City & Culture Shef Uni Professor & historian of fairs, film, circus, sideshows & variety. Proud Chair Morecambe Winter Gardens Preservation Trust
Joined August 2012
- Tweets 26,094
- Following 1,189
- Followers 3,972
- Likes 335
1,940 Photos and videos
Pinned Tweet
26 Nov 2023
So proud to be Chair of such an incredible building run by amazing volunteers.
14 Nov 2023
The Morecambe Winter Gardens has been awarded the Kings Award for Voluntary Services. Our 45 volunteers are overwhelmed & delighted #KAVS2023
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professorvanessa retweeted
2 Nov 2025
What stories hide behind the stage of the @MorecambeWG?
@professorvaness reveals how this iconic theatre’s history challenges what we think we know about seaside entertainment.
Listen on The Player: player.sheffield.ac.uk/event…
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professorvanessa retweeted
13 Oct 2025
I’m away and missing @otsfestival this year. Always some great sessions!
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professorvanessa retweeted
12 Oct 2025
And you gave a mention to my childhood #Seaside #hometown of #NewBrighton so that was a treat ! Loved all the postcard illustrations.
Thank you @SeasideFerry @otsfestival @professorvaness
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professorvanessa retweeted
12 Oct 2025
That was such a great talk on #Seaside #Architecture tonight @otsfestival in land locked #Sheffield. Thank you @SeasideFerry - having followed you for years on here it was so lovely to witness your passion and knowledge for all things “seaside” in person at last.
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19 Sep 2025
Feeling very proud @TheatresTrust
19 Sep 2025
Morecambe Winter Gardens was almost lost — now it’s being restored. In our new video and podcast series, we hear from volunteers, experts, and the people saving this landmark.
Watch & listen now: player.sheffield.ac.uk/serie…
@MorecambeWG #Heritage #Restoration #Morecambe
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professorvanessa retweeted
19 Sep 2025
Morecambe Winter Gardens was almost lost — now it’s being restored. In our new video and podcast series, we hear from volunteers, experts, and the people saving this landmark.
Watch & listen now: player.sheffield.ac.uk/serie…
@MorecambeWG #Heritage #Restoration #Morecambe
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professorvanessa retweeted
18 Sep 2025
For Heritage Open Days 2025, this weekend We are putting on a 'show'. Vintage stalls, prints of historic paintings for sale (donated by Morecambe BID), Artists' paintings, teddy bear sale and children's teddy bear tombola! The cafe is open as usual and Peter Jetson in playing.
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professorvanessa retweeted
22 Aug 2025
Yes, it’s great that the university supports the Heritage Open Days 👏 I’ve been on a few cool tours of university buildings during HODs too 😊
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professorvanessa retweeted
19 Aug 2025
On Saturday 6 September, join us for an extraordinary opportunity to experience the insights of Neil Brand, Britain’s foremost silent cinema composer and a world-renowned expert on silent film. Two captivating shows: morecambewintergardens.com/w…
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professorvanessa retweeted
21 Aug 2025
This evening I attended the @sheffield_hods launch event at the Town Hall for the @heritageopenday next month! There were speeches from Cllr Janet Ridler @Heritage_Angel (who co-ordinates Sheffield’s Heritage Open Days) and Lord Mayor @CouncillorSaf and there was cake and drinks!
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professorvanessa retweeted
15 Aug 2025
The wait is over! 🎉 The new programme for
@sheffielduni's Off the Shelf Festival of Words is out!
Highlights: ✍️ Poet Lemn Sissay 🏰 Historian Lucy Worsley 🎭 and the brilliant Alison Steadman and many, many more!
Book your tickets👇
bit.ly/3UZOuGL
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professorvanessa retweeted
7 Aug 2025
Great to see two of my favourite places awarded significant grant funding from Historic England today - Salford Lads & Girls Club and the Winter Gardens in Morecambe 🎉💕
#Salford #Morecambe
@salfordladsclub @MorecambeWG @HistoricEngland @professorvaness
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7 Aug 2025
So proud hardest grant ever submitted
7 Aug 2025
Heritage at Risk Award for Morecambe Winter Gardens
Read all about it on our website:
morecambewintergardens.com/h…
#lizzicolllinge #lancashirecountycouncil #universityofsheffield #dcms #historicengland
#ukspf #historicbuildings #theatrestrust #coastalcommunities #artscouncilengland
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professorvanessa retweeted
28 Jul 2025
If you like the #Lincolnsirecoast then you'll like this podcast. I'm in episode 11 talking about #butlins at #skegness and @professorvaness is up next on #circuses
memoryinabottle.co.uk/podcas…
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professorvanessa retweeted
6 Jun 2025
📣📚 BIG NEWS, OFF THE SHELFERS! 📚📣
Tickets for some of our events are going on sale EARLY!
We're giving you the chance to snag your spots for our events before the full programme launch! Check who's coming👇😍
Book your tickets now! offtheshelf.org.uk
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professorvanessa retweeted
21 Jun 2025
Our Chair @professorvaness spoke at the @DCMS Select Committee Protecting Built Heritage @TheatresTrust @HistoricEngland & @ArchHFund all mentioned - ‘when love and skill work together expect a masterpiece parliamentlive.tv/Event/Inde… - Ruskin not Pulp!! @neilmendoza @LancasterCC
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professorvanessa retweeted
17 Jun 2025
"When love and skill come together, expect a masterpiece."
@sheffielduni Director of City Culture and Public Engagement, @professorvaness, quoted legendary #Sheffield philanthropist John Ruskin (and even got Pulp a mention!) at the @CommonsCMS on Protecting Built Heritage today.
Giving evidence on her multi-million pound restoration of @MorecambeWG Vanessa highlighted the challenges volunteer-led groups face in protecting heritage assets, particularly their lack of funds, knowledge and expertise required to secure large grants 👇
@SheffSocScience @UniShefAH
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professorvanessa retweeted
18 May 2025
Brilliant to see so many smiling faces here at the Weston Park May Fayre extravanganza!
There's lots more to come and the sun is (intermittently!) shining so come and join the fun 🎠🍦🎊
ALT Two smiling children
ALT Fire eating
ALT Fire juggling
ALT Escapology
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professorvanessa retweeted
21 May 2025
A pleasure to welcome @SheffCouncil to Mappin Hall today to explore collaborations through the recently-launched Sheffield Culture Strategy - developed by the council with @sheffielduni, @ace_national and many other local stakeholders.
Lots of fascinating discussions and connections made to enhance the cultural offering of our wonderful city.
#MadeTogether #Sheffieldissuper
ALT University of Sheffield's Professor Vanessa Toulmin presenting
ALT Sheffield City Council's Ruth McDonald with Off the Shelf Festival's Maria De Souza
ALT The audience awaiting the presentations
ALT Katy Ashton, Head of Culture and Place Marketing, Sheffield City Council
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professorvanessa retweeted
7 May 2025
On Friday 23 May 2025 Cowbridge Male Voice Choir are here at the Winter Gardens. This event is to raise money for MWG Preservation Trust. The trust would like to thank CMVC for its support and recognition as a crucial part of our national heritage.
morecambewintergardens.com/w…
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