Petition Calls for Final Reopening of Flambards’ Historical Exhibits

An admirer of Flambards, whose parents contributed to the attraction’s establishment in the 1970s, has initiated a petition requesting the theme park’s historical displays be made accessible again for a single concluding weekend. Fran Terry, a Helston native, contacted Flambards management upon learning of the attraction’s closure on Monday. He subsequently established a Facebook Group and an online petition advocating for a “farewell weekend” specifically for the Victorian village and Britain in the Blitz exhibits. Mr. Terry stated that while he anticipated some local backing, he was overwhelmed by an influx of messages originating from throughout Cornwall and beyond. A Flambards representative indicated that there were no definite intentions to reopen the village for a single weekend, but confirmed the request had been forwarded to the directors. Mr. Terry remarked: “I grew up with the place, I used to go there every single weekend.” He explained that although his initial visits were for the rides, the park’s exhibitions subsequently sparked his fascination with history. He mentioned that he considered history a “dry” subject during his schooling, yet at Flambards, he was able to experience it firsthand. “The history envelopes you and makes you think ‘what a time this would have been’,” Mr. Terry commented. Users on Facebook rapidly endorsed the initiative, leading the group to amass 1,000 followers within its initial 24-hour period. Chris Dormer, who attended the park’s inaugural opening, posted in the group expressing that he would “love to visit for the last time”. Another group participant, Alison Marchant, described Flambards as her “favourite attraction” in the UK, further stating it was “such a beautiful, special place that really does hold a piece of my heart – the way it makes me feel when I’m there is extraordinary”. Mr. Terry’s parents maintained a friendship with Douglas Hale MBE, the park’s initial proprietor, and captured the inaugural photographs of the Victorian village for the theme park’s official postcards upon its opening in the 1970s. Mr. Terry recounted that his mother, Averil, acquired a permanent aversion to mannequins during the photoshoot, as she was assisting with the photo arrangement but became “freaked out by these dead things,” particularly when several of their arms detached. His father, an engineer employed at Goonhilly Satellite Station, also assembled an exhibition showcasing prototype satellite dish designs he had contributed to, according to Mr. Terry. Furthermore, his grandmother contributed various Victorian artifacts to the village upon its inauguration, he mentioned. For updates, follow BBC Cornwall on X, Facebook, and Instagram. Story ideas can be submitted to spotlight@bbc.co.uk. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC bears no responsibility for the content found on external websites. Information regarding our external linking policy is available.