Ex-theme park boss who told amputee victim of Alton Towers rollercoaster crash the firm was losing ‘a lot of money’ after the incident is knighted
A former theme park boss who told the amputee victim of a horrific rollercoaster crash at Alton Towers that they were losing ‘a lot of money’ after the incident has been awarded a knighthood.
Sir Nick Varney, the ex-chief executive of Merlin Entertainments, which owns Alton Towers, Legoland and Thorpe Park, was knighted ‘for services to the visitor economy’ in the King’s Birthday Honours. His citation praised him for ‘creating memories for millions of families’.
But the award comes eight years after the Smiler rollercoaster at Alton Towers crashed, resulting in five people being seriously injured, including two young women who each had a leg amputated.
Merlin was fined £5million over ‘catastrophic’ safety failings.
At the time, Vicky Balch, one of those most seriously injured, told The Mail on Sunday how she was left ‘upset and insulted’ when Sir Nick visited her at home after the crash and told her he intended to reopen the ride ‘as soon as possible’.
Former chief executive officer of Merlin Entertainments, Nick Varney, speaks to the media at Stafford Crown Court in 2016, following the crash
Vicky Balch, one of those most seriously injured, told The Mail on Sunday how she was left ‘upset and insulted’ when Sir Nick visited her at home
Vicky, now 28, whose right leg was amputated, said Sir Nick and another senior executive had complained to her that ‘they are not making as much money as they used to’.
Norman Baker, a former Government Minister and critic of the honours system, last night criticised Sir Nick’s award, adding: ‘This knighthood will be seen by the victims of the Alton Towers incident as deeply distasteful and unwelcome. We now need to have a complete revision of the honours system and an independent, credible panel to award honours.’
Sir Nick, 60, announced his resignation last year after transforming Merlin into one of the world’s biggest entertainment groups.
His record was, however, blemished by the 2015 incident, when a rollercoaster carriage slammed into a stranded carriage on the same track.
Sir Nick’s, 60, record was blemished by the 2015 incident, when a rollercoaster carriage slammed into a stranded carriage on the same track (file image of The Smiler)
Judge Michael Chambers QC later said the safety protocols were ‘woefully inadequate’ and a ‘shambles’, and that the crash was a ‘needless and avoidable accident’.
Mr Varney previously told the MoS that his remark to Ms Balch ‘was not raised in a context of the drop of revenues,’ adding: ‘In all my conversations I expressed our sincere apology and acceptance of responsibility.’
A friend of Ms Balch yesterday said she did not want to talk about Sir Nick’s knighthood and had ‘moved on with her life’.
