'So how did you get involved in the Friends of Royal Albert Park?'I was involved from the inception, as a committee member and general
busybody.
North Bay is my front yard, I run the Paragon Hotel
(http://www.paragonhotel.com/). I spend time and effort making my
place look nice, and I want the rest of it to look great too.
When the park was originally designed, before marine drive was
finished, it looked absolutely fantastic. There was a bandstand.
Locals love the area, lots walk the whole bay.
The rule of thumb for visitors is: if you visit for the day, you'll
spend it in South Bay. If you stay, you'll want to be in North Bay
where the kids have green space to play, you can get a decent cup of
tea, and the kids can play on the beach all day.
In recent times, and until we came along North Bay had been ignored.
For as long as I can remember all the investment's gone into South Bay
and the harbour. Even Peasholm's had a friends group. Even now there's
money in the Sands development and north from there, so our time is
definitely due.
I helped design the proposed kids play area which again is sorely
needed, the only others are on Burniston Road car park, and underneath
the castle.