Graeme
Mega Poster
29 November 2024 - Beach Huts and Blizzards
Walton-on-the-Naze. This is the place referred to in the Blur song Tracy Jacks, as well as the Ted & Ralph Christmas Special. I hadn't been here for a while, and it was a fine day, so it was time for a visit. I parked just south of the Naze, headed down through the beach huts and along North Beach. On the way, I met two women who were collecting fossilised shark teeth. All the while, the foam crashed onto the shore. There is something I love about the East Coast, and to me, it seems wilder here than elsewhere.
I used to come here a lot with my grandad, and spend a lot of time on the beach. But I also used to be impatient, because there was something further along that I couldn’t wait to experience. I walked further south, and there it was, the object of my childhood excitement… Walton Pier.
They had so many rides - a Waltzer, Twister, Dodgems and various roundabouts. They had flying planes, as well as another flying roundabout, where, if I recall correctly, you opened the doors to raise and lower the gondolas. The jewel in the crown, though, was a proper British Gallopers. They’re not just rides; they’re art. I remember when I first rode it - the “spiral” in the middle seemed massive, and I thought I was really high up on the horse. In recent years, a lot of that has gone. The pier has been transformed into an undercover entertainment centre, presumably to emulate Clacton’s. Today, I headed in and…
It was closed.
My heart sank. The reason for this TR was in jeopardy. Thankfully, a worker said I could use the side-entrance to the pier, which was nice of him. I walked back out, looked to the side and saw something I’d never noticed before - the access path for fishermen. What an adventure! I headed down the side and soon found myself in the outdoor area of the pier.
There used to be three big rides here, chief of which was the Roller Ghoster. Arguably the main ride on the pier, this ghost train didn’t really have any animatronics in; it was mainly just semi-3D pictures on the walls. Apart from that, there was room for two other rides. In my childhood there was a Paratrooper and Barracuda, which was the type of ride called a “flying coaster”. I used to love that as we went over the bump.
Later on, there was the Blizzard roller coaster, which I quite enjoyed. One day I visited and there was a Superbowl, which is probably the biggest thrill ride the pier’s ever had. I remember riding it as Bomfunk MC’s Freestyler played in the background. I can’t say I liked the ride, but it was a pretty cool moment.
Above: Blizzard. Photograph from 2000.
Today, there is a Dodgems and Crazy Golf. If I owned the pier, I would love to see what Gerstlauer could do with that space, coaster-wise, as well as putting in one of their Polyps. For now, I walked further up the planks - about halfway, which was as far as I could go. The pier is actually Britain’s 3rd-longest, but the rest was out-of-bounds today.
After leaving the pier, I viewed the beach huts on Southcliff Promenade, which were featured in the BBC’s Interior Design Masters. The colours here are dazzling, and the parade of huts is as impressive as any I’ve seen. It saddens me to see any decline in Walton (the resort has already lost one holiday camp), because it really is a special place.
After that, I climbed the stairs and walked back along the cliff. Here, there are several small gardens that give stirring views of the North Sea. I emerged from one and found myself at the Lifeboat Station. It was well past lunchtime, however, so I headed to the fish & chip shop. I took my food to the seafront benches and gazed out to sea.
My lungs full of sea air, I’d somehow had an incredibly enjoyable trip. There is a bleak beauty to Walton. Once, I showed a picture of Blizzard to an enthusiast friend of mine, and he said something along the lines of “it looked like it was at the edge of the world”. Well yes, I thought… That’s exactly why I like it.
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