Our ambitious History of Lancashire in 70 Objects project was launched at an event in Preston

Gandalf and a Viking called Olaf helped us launch our History of Lancashire in 70 Objects at a party in Preston Harris Museum and Art Gallery. They were there with staff from many of the museums and heritage venues all over the county palatine that are taking part in the project.

Each of the objects selected was chosen by visitors to the museums and the full list is being revealed in three parts – it launched last month, part two is in this issue and part three will appear in the November magazine. The full list is also online at lancashirelife.co.uk/topic/Tag/Lancashire70.

Gandalf was invited because the staff he used in last year’s Dukes Theatre’s outdoor production of The Hobbit is one of the objects involved. Olaf was there as the guardian of the Cuerdale Viking Hoard, another of the objects on the list.

Guests were entertained by Manchester ballad singer Jennifer Reid and enjoyed Lancashire Life Anniversary Ale, which has been specially brewed for our 70th birthday by Lytham Brewery.

Canapes were supplied for the party by Preston Guild Hall, with wine provided by Booths – a teapot commemorating the opening of the first store in Preston is among the objects – and soft drinks were supplied by the Co-op, the building in Rochdale where the Co-operative movement began is also on the list.

Speaking at the event, Lancashire Life editor Roger Borrell said: ‘Our museums have gone through some uncertain and difficult times in the last couple of years and if this exercise means we cherish them rather more in the future than we have in the past then it will have been worth all the hard work.’