News: June 2005

In  January 2003 the owner of Dreamland, Jimmy Godden, announced the closure of Dreamland. The park is to be redeveloped as "leisure boxes, some retail and a supermarket". Joyland Books will provide updates on the campaign to save Dreamland and its internationally-important Scenic Railway ride.

Click here for the latest news

Sunday, 12 June 2005

Members of the Save Dreamland Campaign can take advantage of discounted entry to the Preston Rally on Saturday and Sunday 25 and 26 June 2005. The event, which opens at 10am on Saturday, will feature a Save Dreamland Campaign stand where you can find out about the plight of Margate's famous amusement park and meet other campaign members. If you are a member of the Campaign and want to come along and claim discounted entry (£1 off the normal admission price for adults or 50p off the admission price for children) you should email Sarah Vickery, stating how many vouchers you will need (a max of four per member), supply your name and address and Sarah will post vouchers out. Discounted admission is only on presentation of the these vouchers. Normal admission price is £5.00 for adults and £3.00 for children. Parking is free. More information about the event and the Save Dreamland Campaign's stand will be posted here soon.

Thursday, 9 June 2005

Meet Save Dreamland Campaign Coordinator Sarah Vickery at the Preston Rally 2005, where the Campaign will have a Save Dreamland stand for the duration of the two-day event. The event is being held on Saturday and Sunday 25 and 26 June 2005 at Preston-next-Wingham near Canterbury. The Campaign's stand will feature one fantastic piece of Dreamland heritage - Billie the train, the 15" gauge locomotive that operated on the Dreamland Miniature Railway from 1920. There will also be information on the Campaign, our Concept Plan and a chance to buy amusement park/fairground books from www.joylandbooks.com. Former Scenic Railway brakeman Dave Collard will also be on hand to answer your questions about the famous roller coaster. The Rally will also feature fairground rides, traction engines, working steam organs, classic vehicles, stalls, and much more. Preston is only 11 miles from Margate, so visitors can easily combine a day at the Rally with a visit to Dreamland and the Shell Grotto (any campaign member visiting the Save Dreamland stand will be given free entry tickets to the Grotto). More details will be released over the next few days, or visit www.prestonservices.co.uk.


Meet Sarah Vickery and other Campaign members at the Preston Rally 2005

Sarah can also be seen on the BBC's Flog It programme, tomorrow night (10 June), 6pm, on BBC2. The programme was recorded at the Shell Grotto.

Saturday, 4 June 2005

The reopening of Dreamland is featured in the May 2005 edition of Thanet Means Business, the magazine of Business Link Kent. The article includes positive comments on the new season from Save Dreamland Campaign Leader, Nick Laister. Click here to view the magazine (this is a PDF and the article is at page 8).