Читать книгу Best Day of My Life: True stories to inspire, move and entertain - Told by a cross-section of the UK's celebrities and courageous everyday people - Giles Vickers Jones - Страница 14

Businessman

I’ve been lucky enough to have had many hundreds of best days of my life, from building up Alton Towers to building a beautiful home and family. The whole period of my life from the start of the theme-park businesses up to now has given me immense pleasure. In particular, the theme parks allowed me to strike a chord with people everywhere, to see smiles on people’s faces, which has been an absolute privilege. Through the theme-park business, I’ve met many famous families, including the royal family with It’s A RoyalKnockout; I’ve met presidents, prime ministers and Hollywood stars. I am, however, a family man and as such I try not to mix my business with them and therefore keep them out of the limelight. I remember on this one occasion, however, some of the limelight filtered on to them.

It was quite common to use well-known pop stars to open up the rides and cut the ribbon and on one occasion we booked Kylie Minogue to open a ride: the Little Mouse at Alton Towers. She flew in by my helicopter to be greeted by thousands of fans as she was immediately recognised. There was a media presence of at least 200 who were given the customary two-hour notice of her arrival. We had to keep going round and round on the ride, in total I think about 20 times, to get the right photographs for everyone. She even mentioned it in her book as she hurt her back because we were both subject to continuous G-forces as we went round and round for the pictures. I thought Kylie and I might fall out after that and that all my brownie points had gone. However, I’d shown her around and given her the VIP treatment, and we were fine and went into a private room in a restaurant for a snack. We got chatting and I said, ‘Come on, Kylie, I’ll get our helicopter pilot to fly you back to London.’ She agreed and we were off. Unbeknown to her, we were off in the opposite direction away from London because I’d said I just needed to pop into my house to get something. I said it was only 10 minutes away but it was really 70 miles. Although it was in completely the opposite direction from where she thought and she’d been told by her agent and entourage not to do it, I’d convinced her to get on to the helicopter and do the extra detour with me. She had a glint in her eye so I thought I would get away with what I had planned. We agreed that, when we arrived at my home, she’d have some tea and then be on her way. So we landed in the garden and I believe it was something like half-five in the afternoon. I left Kylie with my wife in the kitchen and I walked into the TV room. I opened the door and my three children, William, Anna and Georgina, were watching Neighbours at that time. On the television screen was Kylie Minogue, a big star on TV and in the music business to all generations. Jokingly, I said, ‘See her on the screen, that Kylie Minogue, well, she’s in the kitchen!’

Will, my son, said, ‘Come on, Dad, stop messing about, Neighbours has started, don’t disturb us.’

So I went back to the kitchen and asked Kylie to meet my kids just to say hello. I brought her to the TV room and complete silence fell as they looked at her. They looked at the TV set and then they looked again and I think one of my daughters actually fainted. They clearly thought this was some kind of miracle. They didn’t even know that Kylie Minogue was opening the ride. After a pause of about a minute, the three of them crowded around her and she could tell that she wasn’t expected and this produced something of a highlight for her as well as for me, and she certainly enjoyed this impromptu occasion. All this time she was on television with Neighbours playing in the background which just added to the atmosphere.

To be able to bring a world-class celebrity not only to add to the theme park’s profile but also on this one occasion to share it with my family in such an innocent and uncontrived manner did represent one of the best days if not the best day of my life!