Working at Dreamland in the 1960's - a personal memoir
Posted: 15 Oct 2009, 20:48Hi, i'm John, new to Forum, great cause - very personal to me. Please see an extract from my writing featuring my personal memories of working as a youngster at Dreamland.
It all started a long time ago. All short trousers and liquorice breath, I started working the summer seasons at Dreamland.
I was under old Bernie-boy – “Get that f****** shovel, you f****** idiot” he would say every morning. All the steps, several times a day near the old cages, I hated it and I hated him the p**** - I wanted to kill him and his ugly children, tear him into small pieces and feed him to my dogs.
But the magic always hit me when I walked through those gates. I stroked the plastic buzzard every morning as I walked in; laughing and joking with the brakemen and the other staff until work started.
Through bleary eyes I worked until dusk with only one tea break. Laughing and crying inside at the same time. I knew I needed drugs and there was no way out like a fox in a bush.
I’ll never forget the free rides, riding naked on The Scenic Railway, getting drunk and stealing Toffee Apples while I was
high as the proverbial kite and losing my virginity on The Sky Wheels. There was never any trouble. Budgie the organist saw to that.
I went back there with my children many years later in the late 1970’s – I was disappointed that my kids were more interested in Super Breakout and Boot Hill than going on the dodgems. It would be the last time I ever saw them.
Happy days, ups and downs, that’s what the old life business is all about. Let’s bring Dreamland back once and for all, for good.
Happy days, ups and downs, that’s what the old life business is all about. Let’s bring Dreamland back once and for all, for good. Thank you.
John
It all started a long time ago. All short trousers and liquorice breath, I started working the summer seasons at Dreamland.
I was under old Bernie-boy – “Get that f****** shovel, you f****** idiot” he would say every morning. All the steps, several times a day near the old cages, I hated it and I hated him the p**** - I wanted to kill him and his ugly children, tear him into small pieces and feed him to my dogs.
But the magic always hit me when I walked through those gates. I stroked the plastic buzzard every morning as I walked in; laughing and joking with the brakemen and the other staff until work started.
Through bleary eyes I worked until dusk with only one tea break. Laughing and crying inside at the same time. I knew I needed drugs and there was no way out like a fox in a bush.
I’ll never forget the free rides, riding naked on The Scenic Railway, getting drunk and stealing Toffee Apples while I was
high as the proverbial kite and losing my virginity on The Sky Wheels. There was never any trouble. Budgie the organist saw to that.
I went back there with my children many years later in the late 1970’s – I was disappointed that my kids were more interested in Super Breakout and Boot Hill than going on the dodgems. It would be the last time I ever saw them.
Happy days, ups and downs, that’s what the old life business is all about. Let’s bring Dreamland back once and for all, for good.
Happy days, ups and downs, that’s what the old life business is all about. Let’s bring Dreamland back once and for all, for good. Thank you.
John
I don't think this is likely to catch on!
