In 1990, after more than a century as the one UK’s most iconic chocolatiers, Cadbury ‘stepped into the unknown’ and opened its first-ever attraction – Cadbury World.
As the Bournville site prepares to celebrate its 35th anniversary, MailOnline Travel is taking a trip down memory lane to look back at some of the attraction’s most unforgettable moments.
And who better to do so than with Gerrard Baldwin, Cadbury World’s general manager, who has worked at the attraction since it opened its doors.
In a chat with MailOnline Travel, Gerrard shares some of his most memorable moments including which celebrity arrival caused the most excitement and the iconic Cadbury product he’d most like to see return…
Having worked for Cadbury for nearly 49 years, Gerrard caught up with MailOnline just before heading off on a well-earned retirement.
He says: ‘I joined Cadbury as a 16-year-old from school and moved on to the management training scheme very early on in my career.’
His move to Cadbury World was initially just a secondment to help open the attraction but he jokes: ’35 years later I’m still here. The secondment obviously extended a lot!’
Thinking back to that opening day in 1990, Gerrard says: ‘It was a lot of hard work because Cadbury was a chocolate manufacturer, not a leisure operator. We’d stepped into the unknown really.’
In 1990, after more than a century as the one UK’s most iconic chocolatiers, Cadbury ‘stepped into the unknown’ and opened its first-ever attraction – Cadbury World
Gerrard Baldwin, Cadbury World’s general manager, (pictured above) has worked at the attraction since it opened its doors
As the Bourneville site prepares to celebrate its 35th anniversary, MailOnline Travel is taking a trip down memory lane
Within the attraction’s first 10 days of opening, more than 20,000 guests visited. Since then, more than 18 million guests have crossed its doors.
Gerrard was also there to supervise the opening of Cadabra, the attraction’s first ride in 1997 which he describes as the park’s initial ‘step into immersive amusement’.
Cadabra has now been replaced by Cadbury’s Chocolate Quest, an interactive adventure ride where guests work to collect ingredients to make their own Dairy Milk bar.
Another highlight for Gerrard has been working with the attraction’s incredible master Chocolatiers who are charged with designing Cadbury World’s marvellous chocolate creations, including an 80kg dinosaur.
He says: ‘Some of the standout ones that come to mind are the Apollo 11 mission and a replica of Shakespeare’s Globe theatre, which had incredible detail behind it. The team are so, so talented.’
And of course, Cadbury World has attracted plenty of celebrity visitors over the years with Gwenyth Paltrow and Adele among the star-studded guests who’ve passed through its doors.
‘We had John Major open the attraction in 1991. That was our first famous person. Princess Anne was the first royal visit I ever dealt with and she was an absolute delight,’ says Gerrard.
But which celebrity visitor caused the biggest stir?
The attraction’s shop is a highlight for many of its guests
Within the attraction’s first 10 days of opening, more than 20,000 guests visited. Since then, more than 18 million guests have crossed its doors
Celebrities have travelled to the attraction over the years, with Adele and Gwyneth Paltrow among the visitors
‘Peter Andre came with his children,’ reveals Gerrard. ‘I think he’d been here 10 minutes and someone spotted him in the foyer and social media burst into life.
‘By the time he came out the attraction, you could not move in the shop. It was impossible. People had even arrived from offsite to see him.’
Working at Cadbury World for 35 years means that Gerrard, who suitably has a ‘very sweet tooth’, has tried pretty much all of the company’s products.
While he’s a fan of many, it’s the Cadbury Caramel that ‘stands out’.
And which discontinued Cadbury product would Gerrard most like to see back on the shelves?
He says: ‘One that sticks in my mind is Spira, which had a hollow centre and people used it to suck up hot chocolate.
‘And the chocolate would then melt in to the hot chocolates so it was extra chocolately.
‘I’ve always been quite surprised that we’ve never brought that back. It was a fabulous product but tastes do change and you have to move on.’
Cadbury World was officially opened by Prime Minister John Major in 1990
Cadbury World is home to master chocolatiers and guests get to taste the company’s products
After over three decades at Cadbury World, Gerrard says it’s his ‘fantastic colleagues’ that he’ll miss the most when he retires.
But it probably won’t be long until they see him again.
He says: ‘I got given a lifetime voucher last night, so I suspect I will be back.
‘The grandchildren are growing up, but there’s still always a request to come to Cadbury World.’
This article was originally published by a www.dailymail.co.uk . Read the Original article here. .