The Source, Alton Towers’ staff newsletter, has recently confirmed that the resort’s Divisional Director, Russell Barnes, will be leaving Alton Towers at the end of the season.

So what does this mean for the theme park? Well, it leaves a job open for the most important position at the park and we can only hope that whoever takes the reigns is full of imagination and ideas that will fully restore the magic at Alton Towers!

As for Russell Barnes, it is rumoured that he will be remaining within Merlin and will be taking charge of the SEA LIFE chain. I don’t quite know what to make of  Russell Barnes to be honest. It would be fair to say that in his time he has introduced some good stuff and made changes for the better, but looking back on the years he has been manager, things don’t look so good in comparison to the previous tenureship. Since Ralph Armondo left and Russell came in, the magic that made Alton Towers seems to have faded and tarnished with lacklusture additions such as Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and The Dung Heap, inferior music changes and the decline of decent events for gimmicks such as the Gnome Day and Sound of Music event.

On the other hand, I am somewhat dissapointed to hear of Russell Barnes’ departure. Just as Alton Towers has been finding its feet for the first time in many years, just as the resort is being refreshed and many areas renewed, he leaves. I hope whoever comes on continues the good work that is being done across the resort!