Mechanical Memories Magazine

Dreamland
MARGA T E
Save Dreamland Update January 2014
In early January, The Dreamland Trust received a £25,000 cheque for monies raised
through a celebrity art auction, organised by Stuart Atkinson and Kiel Shaw of
Fontaine Decorative. Monies raised are to be used to open a Dreamland Visitor &
Leaming Centre in Dreamland' s Grade II*-listed seafront amusement arcade this
spring.
The art auction was part of a series of events held at the end of last year to celebrate
the successful end of a drawn out legal challenge, which finally saw Thanet District
Council taking ownership of the site. Other activities included over 2,300 people
attending an open afternoon at Dreamland, vintage and classic vehicle rally, volunteer
Big Clear day and a fundraising quiz night hosted by the Harbour Arms micro pub.
The Dreamland Trust is now implementing plans to open Dreamland in 2015 under
the full-time directorship of Eddie Kemsley. Eddie joins the Dreamland Margate
project team this month bringing a wealth of experience and expertise in the leisure
and hospitality industries, including seven years as a director of Kent's Port Lympne
and Howletts Wild Animal Parks and the transformation of London ' s Grade II-listed
Camden Palace into the award-winning KOKO.
Eddie said: "I am delighted to accept this cheque on behalf of The Dreamland Trust
and thank Stuart and Kiel, and all the sponsors, contributors and volunteers for
supporting Dreamland. I am thrilled to be joining the Dreamland project team and
very much look forward to bringing this exciting and vital project to fruition ."
The Visitor & Leaming Centre will be managed by The Dreamland Trust's Heritage
& Engagement Manager, Jan Leandro, supported by a team of volunteer greeters and
guides. The space invites people to find out more about the future plans for
Dreamland, the amusement park's extraordinary past and the restoration of the Grade
II*-listed Scenic Railway - the UK's oldest wooden roller coaster.
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