We caught up with Alfie Lugsden, the curator of the Pleasure Island Archive.
We asked him how the project came about and his memories of the Pleasure Island theme park.
For people who haven’t been following what you have been doing with the Pleasure Island Archive, can you briefly explain what it is?
My aim with the archive is to ensure that this once brilliant attraction is never fully lost like so many other similar places, that have faced much worse fates as they’re not properly documented. We document the history of the park’s more unique attracts as well as its standard rides, collect items with most of these being the things others wouldn’t bother to save and create videos and other productions to display all of these findings in one place.
It might be that some people weren’t too familiar with Pleasure Island or didn’t visit. What did they miss?
Personally for anyone who didn’t visit the park the best things they missed out on where the parks two dark rides Shrieksville & Tommy Tinkaboo’s Sweet Adventure, it’s strange but brilliant themed areas and buildings and the one of a kind atmosphere the park had to offer.
The park’s dark rides where without doubt some of the best in the UK and had they operated at a bigger more popular park in the UK they most likely would have received much more recognition, they really were so different from anything else in the UK and offered an amazing experience that will sadly never be seen again.
The park’s theming and buildings were built by a company called IDS Studios, I have been looking into the history of their work thoughout the UK at parks such as Fantasy Island, Alton Towers, Thorpe Park just to name a few. I will be going more in depth with all of this when the research is complete and hopefully will be doing a full feature on this with BTPA (British Theme Park Archive). These buildings have gone largely unnoticed but they had real character and were completely different from any other attraction I have visited.
And well the parks atmosphere is really well.. unexplained, it was again nothing like any other attraction with the feelings it would create just being there. Always happy and never seemed sad or gloomy until after its closure. That goes without mentioning the other brilliant rides the park had to offer with its large selection of flat rides and even some of the smaller attractions were fun and exciting for everyone.
How big is the collection now? Have you catalogued everything that you have?
I did have everything catalogued until a few moths ago when I simply gave in, it was becoming a large hassle just keeping track of everything but I will do it again eventually. If i took a guess id say we have around 350 – 370 items (Ranging from small things like Key chains to larger items such as my Tinkaboo ride boat.)
What is your favourite item within the collection?
I don’t like to pick and choose but most likely my Toffee Head since its was the only thing I originally wanted but well.. that changed rather quickly, if it wasn’t that it would be all the original plans for the buildings and rides i have as they are extremely interesting to look at.
Tell us about your experiences visiting the park growing up which obviously piqued your interest?
Funnily enough Pleasure Island was where my love of theme parks started after riding the Hydromax for the first time, I remember being very scared but once the ride began I couldn’t get enough and ended up riding everything on that same day that I’d previously been reluctant to even approach. I had also visited with my dad who passed away in 2013 and the items help reawaken any lost memories of our days at the park.
My main interest though was the Tinkaboo’s Sweet Adventure ride, I would ride hours at time running through the queue line to ride it over and over again. It was truly magical ride and really had to be seen to be believed.
Most of my memories now are of the park’s closure and all of my involvement since then and now many amazing experiences I had over that period. From helping remove the famous carousel and recently meeting the owner and manager of the park who have become idols to me after researching all of their hard work from their time at the park.
It’s become part of day to day life for me and I don`t think that will be changing anytime soon.
The archive seems to be going from strength to strength, what are your future plans for the project?
Although I do realise there will be a point where I’ll have completed almost everything and will have to move onto something new, I have many plans for the archive’s future.
I have a large documentary in the works containing interviews with the auctioneer, former staff members and other people who were involved through the parks operation, closure and sales.
Were always looking for new information, items, photos and footage to share with everyone and that shouldn’t be changing anytime soon either.
We would like to thank Alfie for taking the time to talk to us. Find out more about Pleasure Island Archive on Facebook or via their website.
