Top 5 Books

5: The Amazing Hiram Maxim by Arthur Hawkey

4: Dreamland Remembered by Nick Evans

3: BPB: A Palette of Life by Julia Midgley
A gem of a read just for "caught in time" snippets of life at PBB:  "...The Best of British Festival was in full swing when I arrived (21/4/01)...There was a full schedule of events including a hog roast and a tea party at Beaver Creek..." Julia's art is not just in her paintings...it's also in her words.

2: Riding on Rainbows by John K Walton
Really Riding on Rainbows should be my No 1 for the very fact that themagiceye website is referenced on several occasions. It is a great book written from a fascinating perspective. That said my No. 1 is...

1: Pleasureland Memories by Stephen Copnall
Great personal memories stirred by a great book. Southport the place has played such an important part in my life: Great childhood memories of Pleasureland and Peter Pan's / Happiland, my first job after leaving school began with a month's induction at the Nat West on Lord Street in Southport (I no longer work for a bank) and at the age of 11 I had a life saving operation at the Southport Promenade Hospital. (Today that site is home to upmarket apartments). I still remember 'O' ward to this day...my bed was next to a window that looked out onto the prom and in the distance I could see the Cyclone. I swore that once I got out of hospital I would ride it...and just over one year later...I did!

Top 5 Books

5: Kursaal Memories by Ken Crowe
A well-researched book about one of Britain's great amusement parks.

4: Pleasureland Memories by Stephen Copnall
Released the year before the park closed, this book became a fitting tribute to a much-missed park.

3: Riding on Rainbows by John K Walton
A completely different take on Pleasure Beach Blackpool.

2: Blackpool Pleasure Beach: A Century of Fun by Peter Bennett
A truly wonderful book about Britain's greatest amusement park. Beautifully illustrated, quality publication of the type we rarely see on this subject.

1: Roller Coasters: Their Amazing History by Robert Preedy
For me this is the best book of all. Quite modest, but extremely informative and atmospheric. This is the first and only book to explore Britain's amusement park history. For that, Robert Preedy is to be congratulated.

Top 5 DVDs

5: Parks and Rides 1
Still waiting for Parks and Rides 2...

4: Front Seat Thrills 1 and 2
The next best thing to actually riding the coasters.

3: By its Dome it's Known: Southend Kursaal
A great companion to the book Kursaal Memories.

2: The History of Belle Vue Zoological Gardens Vols 1 - 3
Three volumes, clearly made by an ameteur, but the footage is truly wonderful. And the maker's love for Belle Vue shines through the obvious low budget. Shame these are no longer available.

1: Just For Fun: Amusement Parks of the United Kingdom
Footage of the UK's best amusement parks back in 1996, before the axe started to fall from 1999 onwards. So many parks and rides lost, but this perfectly timed DVDs protects the memories.

Top 5 Books

5: Roller Coasters: Their Amazing History by Robert Preedy

4: Riverview: Gone But Not Forgotten by Chuck Wlodarczyk

3: Pleasureland Memories by Stephen Copnall

2: Palisades Amusement Park: A Century of Fond Memories by Vince Gargiulo

1: Blackpool Pleasure Beach: A Century of Fun by Peter Bennett

Top 5 DVDs

5: European Coaster Thrills

4: A Time to Reflect: The History of Whalom Park

3: Expo - Magic of the White City: The Chicago World's Fair of 1893

2: Palisades Amusement Park: A Century of Fond Memories

1: You Must Be This Tall: The Story of Rocky Point Park