When John Lucy joined the Gulliver’s family aged 18 as a ride operator little did he imagine it would be the start of a rewarding 30-year career.
But that’s just what happened, and John is now one of the longest-serving members of staff at the theme park, which is also celebrating its 35th birthday in 2024.
John, who is originally from Warrington but moved to Manchester 10 years ago, is a member of the Park Care Team.
“I enjoy the freedom of Park Care, not being tied to one area and being able to work across the whole resort,” said John. “I love the unpredictability of the job. Each day is so varied, with a range of tasks – including jet washing, litter picking and leaf blowing – that need to be completed to ensure the park always looks its best.”
John started at Gulliver’s World in August 1994 when a college friend, who worked at the theme park, encouraged him to apply for a job.
“I was interviewed by Julie Dalton, who is Gulliver’s current managing director, and started as a ride operator on the small carousel in Circus World. I worked on rides until 1999, when I applied for a role at Gulliver’s Land in Milton Keynes, but they persuaded me to stay at Gulliver’s World to look after Park Care.
“You get to meet so many new people each year and it is such a fun place to work – not to mention healthy, as you walk many thousands of steps each day!”
John has some special memories of the last three decades, including dressing as Ellie the Elephant and dancing on stage in front of team members, and playing the role of Father Christmas during the festive season.
“The best thing about Gulliver’s World is that you are not treated like a worker, but as a member of the family,” explained John. “I’m happy to say that I’m committed to working at Gulliver’s for the rest of my working life.
Craig Clews, resort director at Gulliver’s World, said: “John is a much-loved member of the Gulliver’s World family, and we are proud that he has chalked up 30 years with us – with many more to come! We have such a variety of careers that people can pursue, and we place real emphasis on providing our team with opportunities to progress their skills and career. John is a fine example of what we strive to achieve.”
Added John: “I’d really encourage anyone looking for a rewarding career to consider joining the theme park’s dedicated family. There’s something for everyone here whether that be flexibility working with the hours you work or the kind of role you are involved in. There is so much involved in running a theme park and lots of different departments and variety to the work.”
To find out more about careers with Gulliver’s World, visit: https://careers.gulliversfun.co.uk/