The
family of a former owner of Clacton Pier have returned from America and helped
to provide information and photos for a book to celebrate the attraction’s 150
years.
Michael
Goss, whose father Michael, and mother Sandra ran the site from 1971 until 1981
spent a week in England visiting family and friends.
Mr
Goss took five hours out looking round the pier and brought a case of
memorabilia for current owners Billy and Elliot Ball.
These
included posters, scrapbooks, flags, photos, and other material – some of which
will be used in the book being written by author Norman Jacobs due out later
this summer.
Mr
Goss, who was joined on the trip by his wife, Jennifer, and daughters Raegan
and Micah, also spent some of the time discussing his family’s decade of
ownership with Mr Jacobs.
The
family last visited the attraction in 2018 just before its new
multi-million-pound indoor project – including new soft play and adventure golf
– was opened.
Mr
Goss, whose family also had Walton Pier for a time, was impressed with what he
found.
“It
is absolutely awesome – there is no other word for it,” said the man who owns
and is president of Austin’s Park in Texas which he bought eight years ago.
“The
Balls have totally transformed the site and it is great to see the completed
project along with all the extra rides that have been added in the relatively
short time since we were last here.
“Despite
the amazing changes it still brings back many happy boyhood memories. We even
lived on the pier for a while on the first floor.”
Mr
Jacobs said it was great to be able to talk to Mr Goss face to face and fill in
some of the gaps in the attraction’s history.
Michael
Snr passed away in a nursing home in 2018 but his wife lives with the family in
Austin.
Billy
Ball said it is always a pleasure to meet up with a former owner to chat about
the pier – both past and present.
“The
Goss family played a vital role in the history of our attraction, and I am
grateful they found the time to come and see what we have done recently and
help us with the book,” he added.”
Ends
