The Best Weekend of the Year

April 21, 22, 23.

Rollercoaster Club of Great Britain, Blackpool Bash

Being a member of the above organisation I never tire of the clubs big trip of the year in the UK at Blackpool Pleasure Beach. I have been attending now just over 20 years of the clubs 29 years of existence, my only regret being I didn't know of it from the beginning. Every year (usually the first weekend after Easter) 300 plus members meet in the Paradise Room of the Casino Building at Blackpool Pleasure Beach on Friday evening for the first part of the trip. This is always a highlight, meeting friends that you may well not have seen since the end of the last season and sometimes not since the last bash. Time to catch up before the evening of entertainment from professional acts that goes on until 23:00.

Saturday morning sees us meet in the Paradise Room once more for the issuing of wristbands before an early start with an Exclusive Rides Session for an hour on the Big One and one or two other rides. Then going round the park with friends on other rides,. There is usually an unofficial takeover of the Derby Racer around 11:30 and then back to the Paradise Room at 12:30 for lunch, the chance to buy club merchandise and usually a chat from somebody in management at the pleasure beach.

Of course the main talking point this year concerning the opening of the new rollercoaster in 2018. The name has been decided on “Icon” I can't say that I was struck with the name at first but on reflection it is rapidly growing on me. I find it refreshing not to have a ride name based on a film, or particular form of transport such as race cars, aircraft etc and let's hope Blackpool Pleasure Beach will have a ride on its hands that turns out to be truly iconic.

Back out on the park for more riding which can go on until the park shuts. I along with a friend, Derek took a break and went down to the Velvet Coaster pub for the rest, a meal and a drink. We then had a quick stroll down the front and back in the stiffening breeze before heading back to the Paradise Room for the Saturday entertainment.

Saturday evening is where we are entertained by fellow members on stage in a show consisting of a theme and this year it was the carry on films. Apart from the various production pieces there are games ably organised buy our club chairman Andy Hine MBE and the infamous Gong Show where victims do their party pieces and see how long it is before they are booed or shouted off or make it through to the end. Congratulations to another friend David who managed to do just that. Having gone through the experience up on stage myself several times and got booed off often along with Dave I tend each year to cheer rather than boo.

22:00 and the stage drops down to become the dance-floor for a good disco mix of hits from the 60s onward. Somehow this year I managed to keep going the full hour and some tunes have now become club anthems such as 2008 Ukraine Eurovision song. We always finish with Always Look On The Bright Side Of Life and New York New York before walking off into the night.

Sunday morning sees us bleary eyed meeting on the ground floor of the Casino building for the final day of the Bash with ERS rides on the Big Dipper, Wild Mouse, and Grand National. And then the choice to do further riding if you bought wristbands and people start making there departures. Just time to grab a quick coffee and a brief chat with another friend Wendy before she had to dash off on her way. I spent the bulk of the day going round the park with Derek getting in more rides and then a bit of a stroll round Blackpool and that's the bash over for another year.

I was told by another friend on Sunday morning there she had never seen me so relaxed so living in Blackpool is obviously doing me good.

I know Andy Hine is unlikely to see this but just to say thanks again Nev for another great weekend.

As a very rough rule of thumb I generally reckon that the less time I have to take photos then the more fun I must be having. I took very few this year and all on the phone but here are a couple such as they are.

Amanda Thompson OBE Managing Director of BPB presents Andy Hine MBE founder and Chairman of the RCCGB with a plan of Icon in celebration of his 50th Birthday.

Derek's hair turned white at the thought of going on the Ghost Train again.