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- Added: 14/04/2011
Filmed in December 1970, this is almost certainly the last ever footage of the world famous Manchester Belle Vue BOBS roller coaster in action. I have referred to George Drew's excellent article on the BOBS (see link below) to establsh some of the facts for this description. The Amusement Park had closed for the season at the end of October 1970. This would be the last time that BOBS was open to the public (although this was not known at the time Belle Vue closed for the season). Shortly after this came the shock announcement that BOBS had now closed for good. So there was no opportunity for the public to even have a farewell ride. The footage filmed here (16mm mute), was a special last…
MoreFilmed in December 1970, this is almost certainly the last ever footage of the world famous Manchester Belle Vue BOBS roller coaster in action. I have referred to George Drew's excellent article on the BOBS (see link below) to establsh some of the facts for this description. The Amusement Park had closed for the season at the end of October 1970. This would be the last time that BOBS was open to the public (although this was not known at the time Belle Vue closed for the season). Shortly after this came the shock announcement that BOBS had now closed for good. So there was no opportunity for the public to even have a farewell ride. The footage filmed here (16mm mute), was a special last run in December 1970 to enable BOBS world record holder Vance Tutton (seen here drinking tea on the BOBS) to ride the BOBS for the last time. At the end of January 1971 the shocking destruction and demolition of the BOBS began, which as George Drew notes in his article, was the huge nail in the coffin which surely signalled the end of Belle Vue. And sure enough, seven years later, the end did come with the closure of Belle Vue Zoo. The Belle Vue BOBS, built in 1929, was one of the famous Fred Church designed roller coasters. Only a handful of these historic coaster rides still exist around the world today. You can read George Drew's fascinating first hand account of the Belle Vue BOBS at this site (4 pages): http://www.joylandbooks.com/themagiceye/articles/bobs1.htm ....which also contains articles, forums and links relating to historic coasters and other rides.
