interview
Island Life - April/May 2010
Photo: Simon appearing
in Nightwatch – 2006
Appuldercombe production by
Ad Lib
Photo: Above - Simon appearing in Nightwatch –
2006 Appuldercombe production by Ad Lib
Left: Simon's mother, from whom he probably got
the acting bug ...in one of several plays she was in
at Shanklin Theatre in the late 1940s’.
Simon took on the role of managing
to battle the geographical elements.”
make sure it has a strong strategy for the
director in 1996 , whilst his Uncle is now
Blackgang Chine has been an Island
future..
chair of the Board of Directors which
attraction since 1843, and underwent a
include his cousin Alec and his father
major modernisation programme in the
Disappearing Village, with the idea being
Peter.
1950s. Adding new attractions regularly,
it will persuade adults without children
He recalls: “There have been lots of
“So we have introduced this year The
Blackgang continues to be successful with
that Blackgang is a place which they can
challenges, like erosion. That used to be
180,000 visitors in 2009, whilst Robin Hill
visit. Some adults think ‘cowboys and
the single biggest challenge, because we
has grown its visitor numbers to 130,000.
dinosaurs – that’s not for me’. But we felt
only had the Blackgang site. We were
constantly worried about cliff falls.
The company has now taken the first
that Blackgang could be so much more
steps to market Blackgang Chine also
so we commissioned a design company
as an adult attraction, rather than just
linked with the BBC to put in Coast,
a little now because we have Robin
one where mums and dads watch kids
which is an exhibition based on the
Hill as well, coupled with our new
enjoying themselves. “Our main challenge
‘Coast’ TV programme,” he says.
adult-orientated product slightly inland
is to not only keep up with the Island
at Blackgang, so we feel we are well set
tourism market but also help the Island
“But we have changed our outlook
46
“We have also refurbished the sawmill
and renamed it ‘The World of Timber’
Visit our new website - www.visitislandlife.com