No two days are the same for Jamie Jones, who has been working at Great Yarmouth’s Pleasure Beach since he was a teenager. WORDS: LIZ BLAKEBOROUGH
Being part of the fourth generation of a family business it could be said that seaside attractions are in Jamie Jones’ blood. For over 70 years his family have been running Great Yarmouth’s Pleasure Beach.
Jamie loves the variety that his role offers and is very proud of the business’ history. It’s home to the scenic railway, which has been a key attraction since 1932. Capable of handling 2,500 passengers per hour, it is the only remaining wooden roller coaster of its kind in the UK and one of only two remaining where a brakeman is required to ride with the train to control its speed.
Straight after he left school at 16, Jamie started working with the maintenance team, mainly helping with the repairs of the famous roller coaster during the winter months then assisting in the amusement arcades during the summer.
He also helped out from a young age carrying out several roles from serving ice cream with his mum to covering dinner breaks on the dodgems with his dad, pretty much growing up on site!
“I always had a great interest in the industry and in joining the family business, so I never looked back,” he says. “What I love about the job is no two days are the same.”
Jamie now has more of a management role as executive director, assisting with the overall operations and the running of the amusement arcades.
He also helps organise their regular events including the Hallowe’en focused ‘Fairground Frights’ which he says is always a good way of meeting new and very interesting people!
The attraction’s location overlooking Great Yarmouth’s golden sands is something he never takes for granted and there is nothing he enjoys more than going for a run along the sand on a sunny morning or taking his daughter to make sandcastles on his lunch break in the summer.
When he is not working, he loves to visit Winterton beach where he often takes long walks with his wife and daughter to see the seals followed by a nice lunch or dinner in one of the many pubs and restaurants along the north Norfolk coast.
