Introducing yourselves

[carmenandpete]

Names ... Carmen and Pete

Ages .... 29 + 33

Pete worked as a carpenter in the park and then assistant manager in the cinema. I worked in the cinema as an usherette. We left the cinema in 1996 and moved to suffolk. At that time we both thought that godden would bugger it up!! Very much a money man and nothing else.
When it belonged to the Bembom brothers they seemed to have a genuine interest in the place. My boyfriend remembers Willem Bembom going down to the park and hacking round the track on the scenic railway on his own for ages! Smiling away having a wicked time. Anyone ever see Godden doing this? Something tells me probably not.

Outcome ... To keep the park going, introduce a few big rides and preserve the historical parts. Speaking of which ..are there still remains of the old lion cages in the walls (where gus used to be!?) That deserves to be well preserved. Partly for future generations to see how un empathetic our ancestors were towards wild animals. Unbelievable!!

Who to run it? Anyone but godden ...surely!!!
Im not sure why they sold it in the first place but the bembom brothers must be slightly gutted when they see what has become of their once thriving park.

[steele]

Hi all,

I'm Steele and I live in Bedfordshire.

I used to go with my family to Margate every year but have not been for about 12 years. I have to say I still love that place! I have a young family now and I intend to take them for a short break this summer.

I was recently looking on the web and came across the save Dreamland campaign and was shocked to see how my old Bembom Brothers now looked. I used to have a poster of the Looping Star on my wall, as this was the first 'Big' ride I had ever been on. I remember pulling into the train station and seeing the rides, I can still feel the excitement.

Margate has some many memories for me and I can't wait to take my 2 daughters there to show them it all. I hope they enjoy the shell grotto as much as I did/do.

I am interested to see how Dreamland looks today, I see the pics of the giant wheel and it looks very impressive. I am not sure I will be able to wait until the summer, when does it open?

Are there still loads of B&B's to stay in?

Does anyone know where can I find pics of the seafront on the web? I was to show the family.

Great site and a great forum too, well done all involved.

Steele

[Sarah]

Hello Steele and welcome

To answer some of your questions; the Big Wheel is open now, the park is due to open at Easter Weekend.

There aren't as many B&Bs as there used to be, but there's info on where to stay, and photos of Margate, here:

http://www.tourism.thanet.gov.uk

This is Thanet Council's tourism web site (no mention of Dreamland yet sadly).

Do pop into the Grotto and say hello when you visit.

Sarah