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ATA › Gallery › Events › 2006 › Great British Bucket and Spade
22nd July - 3rd September 2006
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 The mini-beach for hotel guests is at the back of the Alton Towers Hotel.
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 A sign on the edge of the sandpit.
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 A British guest enjoys the Great British sunshine on a Great British deck chair.
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 Buckets and spades are littered around the sandpit.
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 The view from the 'beach'. The lake at the back of the hotel fills the role of the 'sea'.
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 A large banner advertises the event to guests in the theme park.
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 The first delivery of sand for the park's beach was dropped off last night, and work is being carried out through the nights to ensure it's ready for the start of the event.
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 The beach at the bottom of Towers Street is now almost complete.
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 A closer look at the grassy area, now part-covered with sand.
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 Halfway down the Street, and a Towers sandcastle is being put in place, just like on the promotional material.
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 A closer look at the impressive model.
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 The event has started!
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 Looking at the Towers sandcastle.
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 A front-on view of the detailed model, which was created by Tussauds Studios.
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 Another look at the sandcastle. Obviously it's not made of sand.
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 A sign near the entrance directs guests to the beach on park.
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 The beach, at the bottom of the street.
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 Not a bad view, even if it's not the traditional seascape!
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 The bandstand provided entertainment towards the end of the day.
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 The beach hut, which has been touring UK cities, is situated on the lower part of the beach.
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 Each day, a lucky winner gets to exclusively use this hut.
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 We couldn't come all this way and not build a sandcastle! Here, team member Chris Keating proudly presents our slightly feeble attempt at recreating this website's logo.
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 Soon, the Greek God Poseidon arrives on a motorised dolphin.
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 Make that two Poseidons.
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 Two Australian lifeguards make sure that nobody walking past breaks any rules.
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 Anyone caught running, petting or otherwise flouting their authority were heckled. Actually, pretty much everybody was heckled.
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 "I said no acrobatics!"
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 A group calling themselves the "Warriors", armed with highly powerful water pistols, march around Towers Street.
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 The march is accompanied by shouts of "left, left, left right left"...
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 Every few minutes, the Warriors would fall into line and soak guests, who were only too happy to get wet in searing temperatures.
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 The Warriors take aim...
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 The Warriors, about to soak some more guests.
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 This giant inflatable whale appeared during the event, with kids able to go inside and see a show.
     
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