Eden Camp:
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Press Release Eden Camp: |
26th August 1993
MAD MILLIONAIRE
In 1985 when self made millionaire and entrepreneur Stan Johnson proposed to develop the former Prisoner of War Camp No. 83 at Malton into an Museum most people, including his family, thought he was mad!
The national media of the days headlines read "Hi-de-heil!" and "Mein Kampf!". The experts in tourism and the councils looked on with sceptisism offering words of negative wisdom.
However, here we are eight years on and Eden Camp Modern History Theme Museum is a thriving success. During 1992 just under 230,000 visitors passed through the Camp and two major awards were received, the Yorkshire 7 Humberside Visitor Attraction of the Year and Silver in the England for Excellence Tourism for all Award.
You may ask if all this success has gone to our Stanley's head, nothing could be further from the truth, he has remained a true Yorkshireman with strong views on the local community, he is not afraid to speak his mind, often to the annoyance of the other local councillors with whom he serves.
His main love of life is helping people with ailments, mainly with ones that doctors have given up on, by techniques such as shiatso, massage and reflexology, he has had many successes where other have failed.
The story of Eden Camp and the man behind it shows the determination an individual can have during the current economic times, not to mention the boost to the local economy that 25 all year round jobs, peaking to 65 in the summer season has had! He has come a long way since his early days as a lamp lighter on the railways.
I believe that Stan's grit and determination along with his wit, would make for a very interesseting interview for any media program.
Please do not hesitate to contact the Museum if you require any further details.
© Copyright 2002 Eden Camp
Malton, North Yorkshire
Telephone 01653 697777
