"Something for the Weekend"

[John Humphrey]

I was amused by the poster advertising this event as it depicts Brighton, not Margate. The bus gives the game away - a Brighton Hove and District convertible-top Bristol Lodekka FS6G that would have been on the open top service 17. It must have been after 1964 as that year was the last year of the 17 being run with 1939 Bristol K5G vehcles acquired second-hand just after the war from Bristol Tramways.

[Vince, Charlie and Sam]

I presume you mean the Quadrophenia poster?

Although it's being screened in Thanet, Quadrophenia is set in Brighton, there is no secret about that.

[Nick Evans]

Well spotted that man. Had it been a Margate picture you would no doubt have seen an East Kent open topper in cream with a red banding stripe. It would have been one of six wartime utility Guy Arab double deckers boasting a Park Royal body, bought new during the Second World War, hence the utility body to save materials. EK converted them for summer season routes in 1959, the first year the company ran the 56 and 69 services. About 10 years later several more newer Guys had their roofs (rooves?) chopped off, without the aid a low bridge, to replace them! They ran route 69 which had been extended from Minnis Bay to the new Ramsgate Hoverport. Naturally, they passed the door at Dreamland.

[Vince, Charlie and Sam]

For anyone interested in buses, another mistake in this film is that the Routemaster buses shown in the London sequences of the film have the 1970s white London Transport logo, rather than the gold lettering used at the time.

Also, Jimmy catches a train to Brighton from Waterloo station- Brighton trains have only ever left from Victoria.

Also, during the mods and rockers fight scene, the local cinema is advertising "Heaven can wait", which was released in 1978.

etc etc etc

[John Humphrey]

This brings me to the suggestion: while Dreamland is not in use, why not use it as the base for a Classic Bus Running Day in and around Margate? Suitable vehicles could run on historic routes around the Thanet area, while a display of historic buses and coaches could be held on Dreamland, reminiscient of the days when part of Dreamland was used as a coach park / coach station. The M&D and East Kent Bus Club, which runs a number of events of this nature around Kent, could perhaps be asked to organise this, possibly with help from Country Bus Rallies (an organisation based in East Grinstead which does events of this type, mostly in the outer London suburbs but also in Eastbourne). Margate's "Cockney Weekend" event in late September (it's probably too late to organise anything earlier this year than that) would probably be the right time and the event should hopefully run on both days of the weekend.

Such an event would put Dreamland on the map and there could be a save Dreamland stand handing out information. Also, either EFE or OOC (manufacturers of model buses in 4mm scale) could perhaps be commissioned to produce a version of one of their East Kent models with a Dreamland advert on the side - this would be useful publicity for Dreamland.

[Nick Evans]

Good idea - I learned last week that the bus rally usually held third week of August in Herne Bay is not going ahead this year. I think this is because of council imposed charges for holding the event on one of their car parks. They were moved there last year because Stagecoach, which owns the nearby garage and had previously loaned the place for the event, needed their depot back. I may have a contact if anyone is interested.

[porf]

The Kent News website has a story on this event under the heading "Turner event marks glory days of youth culture" :
http://www.kentnews.co.uk/kent-news/Turner-event-marks-glory-days-of-youth-culture-newsinkent33272.aspx

Does all regeneration in Margate have to be the responsibility of the Turner Centre

[Greg Pryce]

I think the idea of the classic Bus run to Margate, perhaps ending up in Dreamland is a great idea, there could be Classic vehicle Shows etc. on the site as well, all ideas like this are good to think of for the future.
Due to personal circumstances I have had to temporarily move to Margate. From my childhood up till the time I moved to Margate, I would not hear a bad word said against the area, including Ramsgate etc. but to be brutally honest and it saddens me to say, at the moment there is nothing here for people to come for,I've never seen the area look so run down & neglected!.... The Scenic Railway looks worse every time I pass it, with the undergrowth slowly trying to reclaim it back
Some nights there are more lights out at sea than there are on Margate Seafront!!
There are still some unique things left that Margate cannot afford to risk loosing, a lovely beach, Sarahs lovely Shell Grotto, the annual 'Big event'
I remember the TV News reporting on the annual run by the London cabbies for the childrens hospitals to Margate, I think even this may have stopped now in favour of the run now going to Disneyland Paris!!
I truely hope work can start on Dreamland very soon as the months are flying past and in this country it seems to take forever for anything to happen. If Dreamland can open again it will be a big boost to the area ( as we all know) and having ideas like the Bus Run and other Shows would be an added feature that I think would go down very well.

[John Humphrey]

Those who agree with the bus rally proposal should e-mail acharma1@irf.com for Country Bus Rallies and/or n.king112@btinternet.com for The M&D and East Kent Bus Club.

By "ordinary mail", write to:

Mr. Alan Charman
Secretary
Country Bus Rallies
19 Hampton Way
EAST GRINSTEAD
West Sussex
RH19 4SG

and
Mr. Nicholas King,
Publications Editor and Secretary,
The M&D and East Kent Bus Club,
42, St. Alban's Hill,
HEMEL HEMPSTEAD,
Hertfordshire
HP3 9NG

It's probably getting too late to organise anything before the autumn of this year but then there's always next year!

[Nick Evans]

John, I heartily agree with what you're saying and have taken this up with the Trust - please email me separately via private messaging for update.

[Jim Douglas Jr.]

EXCELLENT out-of-the-box thinking! This is a clever idea at its best.
Any event that draws a crowd can/might as well draw a crowd to Dreamland.

This whole thing I keep saying about Dreamland being the gem of Thanet can happen with some good ideas.
Previously, Dreamland was left to run on it's own merits, and these days, that won't be enough. Previous owners knew (or thought they knew) how to run a park on its own and didn't have any creative ideas for bringing in people when attendance dwindled.

The thing is, it doesn't take much. Groups would probably be THRILLED to use Dreamland as a base for their cars shows, etc.
It doesn't just happen, but a few phone calls and emails can mean the difference between a mediocre weekend attendance, or a phenomenal one.

There should definitely be a staff member to coordinate such things. there's no reason what something wonderful can't be happening in the park 2 or 3 weekends a month throughout the summer.

[porterm]

Hi all - just wondered how many people are due to attend this Saturday's Quadrophenia event. Perhaps we could start a roll call!

I'm aiming to be at the cinema with a friend. I called the Carlton Cinema yesterday to reserve two tickets (maybe just as well as I noticed the red worded booking warning above the event poster today on the welcome screen here). Sounds like this should be a good, well attended event to attract folk to Margate and surrounding areas this weekend.

Whilst thinking about the film presentation, I seem to recall on its original London West End release that it also boasted quadrophonic sound (at the Odeon I seem to remember). Yes, they still had their gimmicky tricks back then.

Martin