Alan Buckley honoured for life long contribution to the industry

Industry servant Alan Buckley, has been recognised for the huge contribution he has made to the development of the children’s rides sector of the business, receiving the prestigious Bacta Community Award from chief executive John White. The presentation was made in the company of friends and colleagues, which included representatives from Bacta, BALPPA and The Showmen’s Guild of Great Britain, who were attending the recent Amusement Devices Safety Council meeting held at Drayton Manor Theme Park.

“Alan Buckley is the benchmark against which the term ‘Life Long Servant’ should be measured,” stated John White. “Throughout his career he has worked tirelessly to ensure that children’s rides operate to the highest technical standards and safety protocols proportionate to the entertainment experience and the businesses of operators. To this end, and based on his detailed knowledge of the business, Alan was responsible for producing the technical standards which later became the ADIPS for children’s rides. Alan’s insight and sensitivity to the business dynamics of operating children’s rides obviated the need for the industry to be subject to the third party inspections required of bigger rides which would, in all likelihood, have made the sector unviable. Everyone involved in this part of our industry owes Alan a huge debt of gratitude and I am honoured to name him the latest recipient of the Bacta Community Award.”

Reflecting on the presentation, Alan Buckley said: “It’s a great honour to receive this award from Bacta. The industry has been a really important part of my professional life during which I have enjoyed the friendship of so many people. Children’s rides make a great contribution to the entertainment experience the industry provides and I am just pleased that in turn I have been able to make my own contribution to their continued success.”

The Bacta Community Award programme was created to recognise individuals who have made an outstanding contribution to the industry and the communities in which they operate. Previous recipients include former Bacta Compliance Officer, Phil Silver; Chief Executive of Brighton Pier Group, Anne Ackord and RLMS Sales Managing Director, Tony Glanville and his wife Sarah for their fundraising activities undertaken on behalf of the Bacta charity partner, Rays of Sunshine.