It’s a story that hits all the nostalgic notes. For years, visitors to Pleasure Island, a beloved theme park in Cleethorpes, carried with them the fading memories of a catchy tune that played during one of its most famous rides—the Tinkaboo Factory. Long thought to have been lost forever, the full version of the song has finally been recovered, leaving those who remember it filled with joy and memories of simpler times.
The rediscovery was spearheaded by 19-year-old Alfie Lugsden, a young man with an incredible passion for preserving the history of Pleasure Island. For the past five years, Alfie has dedicated himself to running the Pleasure Island Archive on Facebook, a page that’s become a go-to hub for former parkgoers. He shares memorabilia, photographs, and videos, sparking memories for thousands who grew up visiting the park. But for Alfie, there was always one piece of the park’s history that eluded him—the full version of the original Tinkaboo Factory song.
A Search That Spanned a Decade
Alfie’s journey to find the original song from the Tinkaboo Factory ride began ten years ago, long before he started the Pleasure Island Archive. He had collected a vast amount of Pleasure Island paraphernalia, including the original blueprints of several rides from when the park first opened its doors in 1993. But no amount of memorabilia could bring back the one thing he wanted most—the full version of the factory’s theme song.
For years, only a grainy, 30-second clip of the tune existed, passed around by those who remembered it. It was poor in quality, but it was enough to bring back memories for those who had experienced the ride. The song was a quirky, fast-paced tune with the memorable line, “In the Tinkaboo Factory,” which played until 2008 when it was replaced with Disney’s Whistle While You Work. Many feared the original version had been lost forever.
However, Alfie’s patience and determination were rewarded when, unexpectedly, an email arrived in his inbox.
The Unexpected Discovery
“I’d been searching for the full version for over ten years, and I had pretty much given up,” Alfie admitted. Then, out of the blue, he received a message from Mick Armistead, the original music producer behind the Tinkaboo Factory theme song. Armistead had composed the song in 1993, just months before the theme park officially opened. “He reached out and said, ‘I still have the original tape, and if you’d like, I can digitize it for you,’” Alfie recalled.
Armistead had no idea how popular his song had become over the years. He had been commissioned to write a song about a fictional family who owned a sweet factory with their dog—having no clue that it would eventually be used for one of the most memorable rides at Pleasure Island. “He never even visited the park,” Alfie said, clearly still in awe of the discovery. “He just noticed the name ‘Tinkaboo’ and realized he had done the song for it.”
A month later, Armistead visited a recording studio in London to digitize the song from the original tapes. “When he sent it over, I was over the moon,” Alfie said. “After years of searching, to finally hear the whole thing again felt incredible.”
Nostalgia Rekindled for Many
For those who remember Pleasure Island, especially the Tinkaboo Factory ride, the rediscovered song has rekindled fond memories. The Tinkaboo Factory was a fun, lighthearted attraction that was particularly popular with families. The ride, featuring animatronic characters and whimsical scenes, was accompanied by the song that became ingrained in the minds of thousands of visitors.
The song’s playful melody and upbeat lyrics made it an instant hit, and many people associate it with their childhood trips to the park. While the ride was later altered, with Whistle While You Work replacing the original track, it’s the original tune that visitors from the 1990s and early 2000s remember most.
“Some people remembered the song sounding like children’s voices,” Alfie explained, “but it was just sped up a little bit.” The quirky nature of the song is part of what made it so iconic.
The Future of the Pleasure Island Archive
For Alfie, this discovery is a major highlight in his ongoing mission to preserve the legacy of Pleasure Island. Through his Facebook page, he continues to share the history of the park with a growing online community of former visitors and fans. His archive includes everything from rare photos and videos to pieces of memorabilia, including old signs, maps, and now, the full version of the elusive Tinkaboo Factory song.
His efforts have ensured that Pleasure Island, which closed its doors for good in 2016, is not forgotten. Alfie has found a way to keep its memory alive, offering former parkgoers a way to reminisce about their favorite rides and experiences. And for many, the rediscovery of the Tinkaboo Factory song is just another reason to celebrate the park that meant so much to them.
With Alfie’s tireless dedication and the power of community nostalgia, Pleasure Island lives on—even if only in memories and, now, in the familiar tune of a long-lost song.
