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Sadness as 'haven' Flambards closes doors

Chris Bates Phoebe Bates sat on the Flambards log flume during a sunny day. She is wearing a pink t-shirt and has just been soaked from the flume.Chris Bates
Phoebe Bates and her family visited Flambards several times during the years

Families have been describing their disappointment at the closure of a theme park after 48 years.

Flambards theme park in Helston, Cornwall, announced on Monday it was closing its doors with immediate effect due to "rising costs and a steady decline in visitor numbers".

Following the announcement, many people have shared their memories and expressed sadness at the decision.

Among them was Chris Bates and his family, who said their regular trips to the theme park had a positive impact on them and called the park a "haven".

Left to right Amy Gauntlett, Phoebe Bates, Jake Bates and Chris Bates who are sat in their living room at home in Stafford
L-R: Amy Gauntlett, Phoebe Bates, Jake Bates and Chris Bates. The family said Flambards was a 'haven' for them

Mr Bates, his partner Amy Gauntlett and their children Phoebe and Jake Bates, from Stafford, said they had lost count of the number of times they had visited.

The trips had been especially important for 11-year-old Phoebe, who said going to Flambards helped get her through tough times at school.

"We mostly went to Cornwall for Flambards, so I'm really gutted that it's shutting down," she said.

Phoebe's father added he was sad to see the park close and for the staff, who he said "had become part of their family".

Mr Bates said: "Flambards was like our haven away from the stresses and strains of life."

The main office of Flambards with green hoardings along the top of a single-storey building with grey walls, a couple of windows and signs with Flambards written on them in pink letters.
Flambards announced on Monday it was closing with immediate effect

Andrew Guttridge said he had fond memories of visiting Flambards when he was a child, including riding the log flume 10 times in a row during one trip and meeting Television South West rabbit mascot Gus Honeybun.

Mr Guttridge, who lives in Leicester, said it would be great if the park could be rescued.

"It would be great if someone could save it, but my worry is would it be feasible with the cost of living and so many places struggling," the former pupil at Penair School in Truro said.

Andrew Guttridge A young Andrew Guttridge wearing a pink t-shirt with his left arm round a Gus Honeybun puppet while visiting Flambards.Andrew Guttridge
A younger Andrew Guttridge got to meet Gus Honeybun during one trip to Flambards

Jessica Morgan, who grew up in St Agnes, said Flambards was the most exciting theme park in Cornwall when she was a child and the "number one destination for birthday parties".

"When I heard it was closing, I felt really sad," Ms Morgan, who now lives near Bath, said.

"I've actually taken my own children there and they were asking to go again."

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