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Mechanical Memories Magazine

Issue: 2009-December - Issue 40

Editorial
Hello again, and here we are with the last magazine of the year. What year? ........... the
year that's just flown by! I can't help feeling that I've blinked, and missed it. At this
point I should like to thank all those who have made contributions to the magazine this
year, without whose help I would have been truly stuffed! This really had been a hectic
time for me, and the situation is not likely to improve next year, so please keep the
articles coming in.
Now, two news items this month: first the auction, which I think all would agree
was a great day out, and probably our greatest success so far. It could have been a
disaster though! On my way to Coventry, the traffic on the Ml came to an abrupt halt at
about 6.50 (still pitch black). As the time rolled-on, I was getting increasingly
concerned, as there had obviously been a serious accident further up. By the time the
traffic started moving again, it was broad daylight and I was three-quarters of an hour
late. I raced to Coventry and all was just about OK. But then later in the morning as
people were starting to arrive, we heard of serious hold-ups on the M42, due I
understand to a big show at the NEC. I just hope there were not too many of you who
gave up, turned round and went home! Anyway, it all turned out fine, and I think we all
had a most enjoyable day. I've provisionally set the date for next year' s event as 28 th
November, which will be confirmed in due course.
The second piece of really good news is that Dreamland has finally been awarded
its first big lump of funding! As you all know, the Dreamland project has been driven by
a dedicated team of passionate enthusiasts for a good number of years now, and it' s really
good news to learn that all that dedication had finally paid-off, and that Dreamland can
now move forward and become a very special 'vintage' attraction. See Nick' s report on
the following page.
Well, that' s about it for 2009. Sharron and I wish you all a merry Christmas and a very
happy and prosperous New Year.
Until 2010
All the best
Jerry
Page 3
Dreamland
MARGATE
Save Dreamland Update December 2009
Last month I told you about the application we made to the Department for Culture,
Media and Sport for £4m grant funding to allow us to start work on building the world's
first amusement park of thrilling historic rides. Well, we did it!
In the most important landmark in our nearly seven years of campaigning to save
Dreamland, the Government announced on Monday that it has awarded £3.7m to the
project. This is the largest grant in the 2009 Sea Change programme, funded by DCMS
(Department for Culture Media and Sport), which is designed to invigorate England's
seaside towns through investment in culture and heritage. This is absolutely fantastic
news and means that we can now start drawing up the detailed plans to deliver this
world's first visitor attraction, and should be on site building the new attraction in June
next year.
The Scenic Railway roller coaster has not operated since 2006 and of course was
badly damaged by fire following an arson attack last year. This grant should now secure
the future of this remarkable structure and allow work to start on rebuilding it next year,
along with all the other rides that we have rescued. We could see scaffolding around the
Scenic in a matter of months!
The Dreamland Margate project is being led by The Dreamland Trust, a not-for-
profit company born out of the Save Dreamland Campaign. The £3.7m grant will help to
create an exciting theme park from the past on the Dreamland site, giving the chance to
enjoy spectacular historic amusement park rides. Many of these have been rescued by
the Save Dreamland Campaign from amusement parks across the UK over the past
decade and many are the last surviving examples of their type.
The rides will be built around the centre piece of the park, the Scenic Railway, the
oldest surviving roller coaster in the UK and the fourth oldest in the world. Restoration
work will also be carried out on the Grade II listed Dreamland cinema building, creating
a major new visitor attraction of international significance.
We also announced on 10th December that we have appointed Jonathan Bryant as
Project Director, who will be responsible for implementing the project. With a wealth of
experience in the heritage and leisure sectors and in business leadership, Jonathan,
who's originally from East London, established the UK's first brewing museum and
opened a working coal mine to the public in Staffordshire. In Scotland he led the City of
Dundee's renaissance Discovery project as chief executive and on the River Thames set
up Henley's River & Rowing Museum, which won the coveted Museum of the Year
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