Flambards Theme Park to auction off its assets next month
The memories of Flambards Theme Park may be fading, but its legacy will be up for grabs next month as the park's assets go under the hammer.
Just four months after the popular Cornish theme park in Helston announced its closure due to "rising costs" and a "steady decline" in visitor numbers, its assets will now be sold under the hammer.
Lay's Auctioneers have used this image on its website, which suggests artefacts from the Victorian Village could be going under the hammer (Image: Lays Auctioneers) Lay's Auctioneers, based in Penzance, has announced the details for 'The Flambards Sale', which will take place at Lay's Penzance saleroom.
Although the information is limited at the moment, the photo on the Lay's Auctioneers website suggests that it will include many items from the Victorian Village.
The auction will span four days: March 25, 26, 27, and 28, beginning at 10am each day. The lot breakdown is as follows:
Day one (March 25): lots 1-500
Day two (March 26): lots 501-1000
Day three (March 27): lots 1001-1500
Day four (March 28): lots 1501-2000
Viewing dates are scheduled prior to the auction at Flambards. These are as follows:
Saturday, March 22: 10am-4pm
Sunday, March 23: 10am-4pm
Monday, March 24: 10am-4pm
There will be a £10 entrance fee for viewing.
Hundreds of people across Cornwall and beyond shared their sadness following the announcement on November 4, 2024.
MP Andrew George described it as the "saddest day of the week," referencing Flambards' promotional slogan.
Read Next: New permanent home for Helston Banking Hub FINALLY revealed
Several fans of the attraction also shared their own special memories. One wrote: "End of an era, some great memories from working there during the summer months as a teenager, lots of laughs and good times."
People shared their memories and pictures after the closure (Image: Paula Bostock) Another commented, " It's the end of an era for most Helston folk who used to spend their summers there, like me. I went there from the age of six, and I'm now 34. I even watched the 1999 solar eclipse there when I was nine. It might sound silly, but the news of its closure has made me all emotional."
Concerns were also raised for the staff who lost their jobs, particularly since the closure occurred before Christmas. One resident said, "Thoughts are with the staff and their families. Many office staff who are all year-round employees are now made redundant."
In the wake of the closure, Helston Town Council responded to a public petition and announced it was taking "proactive steps" to preserve the park's Victorian Village and Britain in the Blitz exhibitions.
At the time, the Project Officer for the council, Richard James, contacted Flambards' owners to explore options for keeping the exhibitions in the town.
Helston Town Council wanted to preserve the exhibition in the town (Image: File) "After discussing it with the Town Clerk, I reached out to the owners of Flambards to enquire what the future of the Victorian Village and Britain in the Blitz exhibition might be," Richard said in his November report.
"There has been a lot of support from the local community about this particular element of the attraction, and I believe there is an opportunity for Helston Town Council to work with Livingstone Leisure and local organisations to save this important part of the town's heritage.
"I am seeking approval to continue with this and gain an indication from members of how much Helston Town Council is willing to be involved in this exciting project.'
The Packet will bring more information when it becomes available.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Newsweek
2 days ago
- Newsweek
Prince William's Reaction to Alcohol-Free Drink Goes Viral
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Prince William's reaction to being offered an alcohol-free cider during a royal visit has gone viral on TikTok. Why It Matters A TikTok video of the moment, which showed the prince enjoying himself at the event, received more than 715,000 views and 34,000 likes. Commenters praised the prince for responding in the same way many of his generation would, describing him as being in touch with ordinary people. Prince William and Sophie, the Duchess of Edinburgh, drinking cider at the Royal Cornwall Show in Wadebridge, England, on June 6. Prince William and Sophie, the Duchess of Edinburgh, drinking cider at the Royal Cornwall Show in Wadebridge, England, on June To Know The Prince of Wales was at the Royal Cornwall Show with his aunt Sophie, the Duchess of Edinburgh, when they tried a Rattler, a brand of Cornish hard cider that also sells a zero percent alcohol alternative. On being told he had been offered the zero percent version, William replied: "Oh no, no, no, no. I need an original," referring to the brand's signature drink, which contains 5.5 percent alcohol by volume. As he stood by the Rattler stall, William had said earlier, "Everyone remembers where they were when they had their first Rattler." He added: "You remember the first one. You don't remember the last." "We've got [something] a little bit different for you today," his host replied. "What's the Rattler? Zero?" William said. "Oh no, no, no, no. I need an original." The royal continued: "You bring out the big guns. Can't do the zero stuff." What People Are Saying One user commented on the TikTok video: "He's a great example for other Royals he's in touch with the everyday man loves football and loves a drink long live the future king." Another wrote: "Is 0% cider not just apple juice." A commenter added: "Future king has great banter." Prince William Speaks Out About Oceans Since the Royal Cornwall Show, William has helped to promote a new nature documentary, David Attenborough: Ocean. He also gave a speech about protecting the world's oceans in Monaco on Sunday: "The truth is that healthy oceans are essential to all life on earth. They generate half of the world's oxygen, regulate our climate and provide food for more than 3 billion people. "And today, they need our help. Rising sea temperatures, plastic pollution and overfishing are putting pressure on these fragile ecosystems … and on the people and communities who depend most upon them. "What once seemed an abundant resource is diminishing before our eyes. We all stand to be impacted. And we are all responsible for change—both negative and positive." Jack Royston is chief royal correspondent for Newsweek, based in London. You can find him on X, formerly Twitter, at @jack_royston and read his stories on Newsweek's The Royals Facebook page. Do you have a question about Charles and Queen Camilla, Prince William and Princess Kate, Meghan Markle and Prince Harry, or their family that you would like our experienced royal correspondents to answer? Email royals@ We'd love to hear from you.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Yahoo
Helston's 'Beating of the Bounds' tradition baffles stars on popular BBC show
Helston's unique 'Beating of the Bounds' tradition received national attention this week after being featured on the extended edition of a popular TV show. During an episode of Have I Got a Bit More News for You, the extended version of Have I Got News for You, a photograph of a sod of turf was shown on screen, with host Richard Ayoade asking team members what it was. The panels were asked what the picture represented (Image: BBC iPlayer) Ian Hislop replied straight away: 'It's grass. If you put it on your head and someone hits you, it softens the blow.' Presenter Richard Ayoade quipped back: 'You speak from experience.' Read More: Fate of one of Helston's much loved and unique traditions revealed When Richard explained that the sod of turf represented a tradition in the historic Cornish town of Helston, Ian highlighted Helston's biggest tradition, Flora Day. He said: 'Oh, where they have the dance! Has anyone else been to see it?' Sadly, no one replied, but Ian added: 'You have had sad lives.' Richard then questioned Ian, asking if it was just him dancing in a field, much to the amusement of the audience. A passage from a recent Beating of the Bounds article was read out (Image: BBC iPlayer) He then read a passage from one of the Falmouth Packet's recently published articles about the Beating of the Bounds tradition. Helston's Beating of the Bounds receives lifeline from local church A photograph from this year's event was displayed, capturing one of the event's key organisers, John Boase, lifting a participant over a boundary marker topped with a sod of turf. An image of John Boase lifting a member of the public was shown on the screen (Image: BBC iPlayer) The feature was a welcome sight for Helston residents and fans of the tradition, which successfully returned last month under new management. St Michael's Church now runs the event after its future was in doubt following safety concerns raised by the Town Council. REVIEW: Wheal Dream's new carvery breakfast a 'sunny side up' delight John Boase, who serves as both a Helston Town Councillor and a St Michael's Church Warden, was instrumental in ensuring the tradition's continuation and was delighted by the promising turnout. This Have I Got a Bit More News For You episode can be found on BBC iPlayer, series 69 episode ten.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Yahoo
Gay Teen Survived Massive Tornado, Thinking He Was Left Behind in the Rapture. The Truth Set Him Free (Exclusive)
Cecil Cornish was one of the survivors of the deadly EF5 tornado that struck Joplin, Mo., in 2011 Cornish tells PEOPLE that many people have come out to him in some of the messages he has received since his appearance in the Netflix documentary The Twister: Caught in the Storm Cornish now leads a nonprofit support group for openly queer people who experience emotions similar to those he felt as a kidFourteen years ago, in May 2011, an EF5 tornado tore through the small town of Joplin, Mo., leaving nearly 160 people dead and injuring more than 1,100 others. At the time, one teen thought the Rapture — the end times as described by some Christian denominations — had begun. When the storm ended, 17-year-old Cecil Cornish believed he'd been left behind and God had abandoned him because he was gay. But as the dust cleared, he realized that wasn't the case. He'd survived. His whole life lie ahead of him. Now Cornish is sharing his emotional story, including embracing his identity, in a new Netflix documentary, The Twister: Caught in the Storm. He tells PEOPLE that since speaking out, he's heard from fellow members of the LGBTQ+ community who have been touched by his experience. '[They were] coming out to me, or they said that they watched my special on Netflix and they came out to their family, which is pretty insane,' Cornish says. 'It's great, but it's also been a little overwhelming for sure.' In the documentary, Cornish recalls how he was working at a local frozen yogurt store when the deadly twister ripped through town. After spotting the monster storm barreling toward the business, he and others hunkered down inside the shop and held on for dear life as they begged God to 'protect us with your light.' Cornish thought to himself, "If this is going to be the end of the world, I don't want to stay around for what's going to happen.' ' After the storm passed, Cornish stepped outside and saw there was 'nothing' left of Joplin. While he assumed being gay meant that he had been ignored by God, soon he realized that his parents were still alive and that the world had not ended after all. 'I was so happy,' he said in the doc, tearfully describing the moment he was reunited with his mom and dad. Later in the documentary, Cornish acknowledged that he was 'concerned about being chosen,' but now realizes 'it's important to choose yourself.' Cornish tells PEOPLE it 'was not easy' being gay as a young person in rural Missouri — and that it 'tested' him, his family and his friends 'in complex ways' until he finally came out. But he says it was also 'fun' being able to eventually embrace his sexuality. He 'found joy in the little things' in life, which he recalls 'kept me going.' Now openly gay, Cornish leads a nonprofit support group known as Joplin Missouri Equality, or Jo Mo EQ, for queer people who experience emotions similar to those he felt as a kid. He is also writing a memoir 'about growing up queer in a place that often had no blueprint for people like me.' Speaking with PEOPLE about the documentary's reception, Cornish says he has 'received several' messages from other LBGTQ+ people. 'I think in America we don't see a lot of men be intimate or be emotional,' he explains. 'And I think that that's resonated with men and women and queer people in general, and they like to have kind of a role model … And I'm glad that could be me.' Cornish thanks the film's director, Alexandra Lacey, for showcasing him and his story in a 'beautiful' way. 'I know that the truth of my story was told, and that's my biggest concern,' he says. He adds: 'I love that I was able to talk about being rejected from the church, because that's a very shared experience that people have throughout America. I think that's resonating with a lot of people. And that's way beyond the storm … people that are queer can feel more comfortable being themselves, especially in [today's] current climate.' Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. Lacey tells PEOPLE she is thrilled that 'something good' could be taken away from 'something so catastrophic" like the tornado. 'Our priority is always the people whose stories that we're helping to tell. It's very much their story, not ours,' she says, calling the process of creating the film 'an emotional journey.' 'I really care about the subjects of my films,' Lacey continues. 'And all that matters to me right now, honestly, is what these guys think of the film. I don't really care what the public has to say. It's really about the people that chose to bravely share their stories in the film ... They're the most emotional interviews I've ever done.' Since the documentary's release in March, Cornish says, he has read nearly every message he's gotten. 'One of the biggest things I didn't anticipate were stories from folks. Just like people with PTSD or people that have lived through tornadoes or some kind of natural disaster,' he says, adding, 'It's been a joy to hear from everyone and to hear how sweet people think I am, and to hear the good things has been really awesome.' Read the original article on People
