Press Cutting – Retirement catches up with Bert after 16 years (2001)

BLACKPOOL GAZETTE

THURSDAY, JANUARY 25, 2001

Retirement finally caught up with Bert Atherton after 16 years of making Blackpool Pleasure Beach a safer place.

Colleagues Ian Patrick and Nicola Hoyle were determined to give a good send-off to Bert, head of the uniformed security department since 1994.

Over the past few years, the department has worked tirelessly to raise more than £5,000 for Trinity Hospice and Bert's retirement was marked with a presentation from Trinity of the Brian Redhead Award for this generous support.

Bert, who was 65 last month, said: "No two days were ever the same and working at the park has been the highlight of my life, particularly being featured on the BBC TV fly-on-the-wall documentary. I was always pleased and proud when we safely reunited missing children and their parents - seeing the youngsters' faces light up".