Nick Laister BA (Hons) DipTP MRTPI MIHT MIPI is a planning consultant and a leading authority on the UK theme park industry. He is a Chartered Town Planner and Planning Director with the RPS Group plc. He specialises in planning for tourism and leisure developments. He is involved in the promotion of major development projects around the UK and Ireland, and has appeared as expert witness at several public inquiries and hearings. He has written articles for a number of newspapers and journals and has been invited to speak at conferences on the subject of planning for tourism and leisure. He is regularly interviewed on television, radio and other media on the subject of tourism and the theme park industry. Nick is also editor of the web site www.joylandbooks.com and a governor of Fitzwaryn School, Wantage.

Nick is available for interviews. For further information about the campaign or the UK theme park industry, please contact Nick Laister on 01235 838214 (day), 07778 207036 (mobile) or 01235 762186 (evenings). Click here to email Nick.

Sarah Vickery owns and runs the Grade 1 listed Shell Grotto in Margate, a popular tourist attraction with shop, museum and cafe attached. She is on the Board of Margate arts group Limbo, is a member of Margate Town Partnership’s Marketing Group, writes for the local magazine Isle and has been Vice-Chair of the Isle of Thanet Tourism Association and Chair of the Thanet Contemporary Arts Festival. She moved to Margate with her family in 2001 to take over the Grotto which she has known and loved since childhood. Before this Sarah was a journalist specialising in arts and travel, writing for a range of magazines and newspapers and editing books.

Sarah is available for interviews. For more information about the campaign at a local level, please contact Sarah Vickery on 01843 220008 (day) or 07990 998688 (mobile). Click here to email Sarah.

Susan Marsh MBE took very early retirement and has concentrated on her interests in the voluntary, community and education sectors. Her interest in planning matters extends over 30 years and she has appeared at public inquiries involving green belt, built development (housing, retail and commercial), a motorway and local plans. Susan left Thanet in early childhood, having lived in Birchington, but retained very strong links with her Mother’s hometown of Margate, continuing to spend much time in the area. It was her dismay at the continuing decline in a town she loved that encouraged her to move from being a supporter of the Campaign to taking an active part. She is chair of the governing body of a Church of England primary school, a governor of a boy’s high school and chair of the local governors association. She is a member of the executive committee of a national organisation for governors. She sits on many sub-committees and working groups, representing governors, both nationally and locally.

Susan is available for interviews on 0161 370 9497. Click here to email Susan.

Dave Collard is a life-long Margate resident and first worked at Dreamland in 1991. He was Bembom Brothers’ youngest ride operator that year, starting on the Astroglide and working his way up to the Lunik, with a brief stint as Gus the Ghost! Dave continued working at the park, assisting with the building of the last Looping Star and then moving rides such as the Ladybird and the Waltzer to the back of the site when Jimmy Godden took over. He operated the Big Wheel during its last season in Margate, and since then has worked on the Scenic Railway. When Dave Wallis took the site in 2003, Dave assisted in running the Scenic Railway and took over managing the ride when former Cllr Colin Kiddell left the ride, acting as brakeman and engineer. He returned in 2004 to take charge of the coaster for Dave Wallis and has run behind-the-scenes-tours for Campaign members and operated the Scenic for our evening events at the park. He also – bravely – trained Campaign Co-ordinator Sarah Vickery to drive the Scenic. Dave has also worked for Irvin Leisure on Margate Station Green and has an interest in fairground modelling and ride construction.
 

Dave is available for interviews on 07710 714741. Click here to email Dave.