Park People
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JC – As Alton Towers developed and other inland parks started appearing, it seemed reasonable to welcome other types of visitor attractions, whether that’s museums like Beamish or more recently farm parks.
How did the emergence of inland “theme park” Alton Towers affect you as seaside park operators? JB – I think you have to give credit to John Broome for creating what was the first UK theme park as such. It raised the bar generally, and John was the first one to bring American standards of operating to the UK. I remember you would go up there and he had pavement-scrubbing machines to get rid of chewing gum. I didn’t even know these things existed! GS – He did things properly. But it was all about the Corkscrew [looping coaster]! He spent the previous summer touring round looking at all these things, came back, put the Corkscrew in, and that was Alton Towers. That ride was in all their marketing. JC – It was actually Geoffrey Thompson [Blackpool Pleasure Beach] who brokered the deal on the Corkscrew. I was with Geoffrey when he introduced John Broome to Roland Koch, the German operator. Overnight he created the opposition to his own park, but that’s how kindhearted Geoffrey was. The Revolution [looping coaster] came soon after at the Pleasure Beach.
Would you accept the proposition that theme parks have never really caught on in the UK? JC – I think “theme park” is a very overused phrase. I think there are very few true theme parks in the world, and certainly the UK. MH – Look at the American Adventure, it just didn’t happen did it? And they threw enough money at it. JC – I have to say I was a real idiot at Barry Island because I tried to take on the theme parks by putting in a jungle boat ride …in South Wales. I must have been nuts! GS – I do think a certain theme should run through
BALPPA chairmen past and present pictured at January’s 75th anniversary dinner. From left to right: John Collins OBE, Gary Smart, Adrian Mahon, David Cam, Richard Pawley, Colin Dawson, John Bollom, Roland Mack (IAAPA chairman) and Tim Batstone
AAPP to BALPPA
Formed in November 1936 by a handful of 11 families, the Association of Amusement Park Proprietors (AAPP) became the British Association of Leisure Parks, Piers and Attractions in 1986. Today the association represents interests of over 180 operating members, in addition to over 100 trade associate members. The current BALPPA chairman is Merlin Entertainments’ Adrian Mahon, while former BALPPA and IAAPA chairman John Collins OBE serves as the association’s president. Well regarded within the corridors of power,
BALPPA has been said to ‘punch above its weight’ when it comes to lobbying activities. Currently on the association’s agenda is a fight to reduce the level of VAT (tax) on tourism and an appeal for ‘daylight daving,’ which would bring the UK into the same time zone as the rest of Western Europe and give most BALPPA members and extra hour of daylight in the evening. A continuing source of interest to the membership are the UK’s gambling regulations, reflecting the
importance of coin-operated gaming revenue to operators on the coast. As well as its political activity, the association provides a social programme, including get togethers at various trade shows and events, an annual dinner in London, and tours to parks at home and abroad during BALPPA’s summer meetings and autumn regional meetings.
There now follows a list of the 11 founder AAPP members, proving just how strong the industry’s roots at the seaside are: •Leonard Thompson, Blackpool Pleasure Beach
•Oliver Dalton, Brighton Palace Pier •HFB Iles, Dreamland, Margate •Cyril Bertram Mills, Olympia Circus & Fair, London •FE Williams, Kursaal, Southend •William Butlin, Butlin’s Holiday Parks •GE Booth, Amusement Equipment Ltd •Robert Parker, Blackpool Tower •Alderman Wood, Southport Corporation •DF Warren, Merrie England, Ramsgate •E Kingsman, Clacton Pier •Albert Hargreaves, Fleetwood Pier
MARCH 2012
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