Industry Veteran Celebrates 50 Years in Amusements — and No Plans to Stop

Alan Walker, one of the longest-serving professionals in the UK amusement sector, has celebrated a remarkable 50-year career working in arcades around the country — and says he has no intention of slowing down.

Now 80, Walker has spent the last decade managing the arcade at Clacton Pier in Essex, where his passion for the industry remains as strong as ever. Originally from Yarm in North Yorkshire, he joined the amusements business in 1973 after nine years in the Army as an electronics engineer.

Speaking to the BBC, Walker said adaptability and on-the-job learning had been crucial to his longevity. “Learn quickly on the job and be very flexible,” he advised. “The industry’s progressed so much now and the machines are nearly all PC-based. I think the whole thing has got more and more exciting as the years have gone on.”

His commitment to staying up to date is key: “It’s about keeping up with the product and making sure everything on site is working 100%, offering the customer exactly what they want.”

Clacton Pier’s amusement arcade first opened in 1978, replacing the old Ocean Theatre. Since then, the venue has evolved significantly, but Walker remains a constant presence on the floor.

Reflecting on his time in Essex, he hinted that when he eventually does retire, it might be the place he chooses to settle permanently. “I came to this area never knowing what Essex was about and really enjoyed living here,” he said. “Talking to my wife, we think this is one of the places to retire to.”

For now, though, Walker says he’s not going anywhere: “As long as I’m enjoying what I do, I will continue doing it.”

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21 August 2025

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