What did you want to be when you grew up?
When you’re a kid and a distant uncle asks what you want to be when you grow up, there are two obvious categories of answer. The first is generally what your dad does: doctor, lawyer, work in a bank. The second involves more imagination and is usually dismissed as childish fantasy: astronaut, sweet tester or World Cup footballer.
When, as a grown-up, you meet another adult who has actually managed to grab one of these fantasy jobs, you can’t help but be jealous.
John Wardley is a ride consultant. Or, in the words of a six-year-old, he makes rollercoasters. He designs them, rides them, talks to people about them and each one he creates is bigger and better than the last. Nemesis, Oblivion, Rita, Thirteen – they were all dreamt up by John.
What I didn’t appreciate before I chatted to him for a feature in one of my magazines, was how many different disciplines go into the creation of a world-class rollercoaster. Theatre, human psychology, engineering, economics, safety – they all come into play. “We turn art into science,” said John. “Creating a sense of drama and an all-round sensory experience is just as important as the mechanics of the ride itself.”
John was a 16-year-old apprentice at Great Yarmouth circus when he first developed his knowledge of how to entertain people. The techniques he picked up there are still applied when he’s working on the UK’s biggest and best rollercoasters. “The secret is understanding how people’s minds work and then using this knowledge to manipulate their emotions,” he said.
Despite the hard work and the wide range of skills needed, there’s no getting away from the fact that John has a job that most children (and their parents) would envy, but he’s well aware of it. He says: “I’ve always felt privileged to work in this business with so many talented people: the sense of fulfilment has been amazing.”
Now all I need to do is dust off that goldfish bowl and download the application form. NASA is missing an astronaut.