'I missed out the first time, I had to buy it' -Blackpool Pleasure Beach enthusiast who snapped up 'Lamp Man'
‘I missed out the first time - I just had to buy it!
A Blackpool Pleasure Beach Resort enthusiast is admiring his latest purchase - a nine foot tall statue that used to welcome visitors to the theme park’s much-loved River Caves ride.
It’s historic and Kyle Wilcock couldn’t believe his eyes when he saw it listed for sale on Facebook Marketplace - he snapped it up there and then.
The life-size miner, complete with boots, bobble hat and mining lamp is huge and very heavy but is now stands proudly in Kyle’s garden at his home in Oldham.
The 26-year-old is a massive Blackpool Pleasure Beach fan and comes over to the resort as often as he can.
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He explained: “I got it from a man in York, he’d bought it six years ago at the time when I tried to purchase it from a car park opposite Blackpool Pleasure Beach.
“By the time I got there, it had been sold, I just missed out!
“I bought it cause I just love the Pleasure Beach.
“The statue was always ‘lamp man’ and having it in the garden is like a dream come true.
“It’s massive and very heavy. I arranged for a man with a van to collect it, it took four or five of us to move it!
“It’s really old, I think it dates back to the early 1970s and was part of the Tom Sawyer ride at first.”
Kyle, who is a venue manager loves Blackpool so much that he and his partner are considering moving to the town.
He added: “Who remembers him stood outside the front of the River Caves?”
Many people did, the statue brought back so many memories for people.
The Pleasure Beach has periodically sold off items, such as statues, cars from the rides and other treasured memorabilia.
Have you ever bought any Pleasure Beach memorabilia? We would love to hear from you.