Celebrating the People Behind Thornley Leisure Parks
A familiar face is never far away
A holiday park is more than its location. It is also about the people who welcome you, maintain the grounds and keep everything running smoothly. At Thornley Leisure Parks, many of those people have been part of the family for decades.
This year we are proud to celebrate six long serving team members who together represent more than 120 years of service. Their dedication shows exactly what Thornley stands for. We value our people, we look after our teams, and we build lasting relationships with our owners and guests.
As members of the Holiday and Residential Parks Association, we share a commitment to high standards, professionalism and trust. However, the real difference always comes down to the people on the ground.
Let us introduce the team members whose hard work helps make Thornley Leisure Parks what it is today.
Park Manager, The Beach Caravan Park
Chris Darby, 25 Years
Chris has spent twenty five years managing The Beach Caravan Park in Llanddulas. He oversees daily operations and supports owners and guests across the park.
The Beach sits on the North Wales coast with panoramic sea views and direct access to the coastal path. The park also features Tides Café Bistro and the Beachcomber Bar, both popular spots for owners and visitors.
Chris has become a familiar face on the park. His experience helps ensure every visit feels welcoming and well organised. Chris says ‘I have been with the company full time for 25 years. I started with a season glass collecting, then started full time on the grounds then progressed to gas engineer and now general manager. They have been great to work for and put me through all my qualifications. It’s like being part of a big family.’
Maintenance Manager
Stuart Watkins, 25 Years
Stuart marks twenty five years with Thornley Leisure Parks as Maintenance Manager.
He oversees maintenance work across the parks and ensures facilities remain safe and reliable. His knowledge and experience help keep everything running smoothly. Stuart says ‘Working for TLP has been great experience not just from the learning experiences and the chances to gain further qualifications but the colleagues that I get to work with day to day, managing a maintenance team of 10 including myself, of Gas engineers, Builders, Painters, Electricians and Gardeners. The family create a great place for people to work and make them feel valued in what they do and this creates a real family atmosphere within the company.’
Electrician Across Thornley Leisure Parks
Sean Senior, 22 Years
Sean has worked as an electrician across the Thornley parks for twenty two years.
He ensures electrical systems remain safe and reliable for owners and visitors. His work supports every park in the group.
Sean is a trusted member of the team and a familiar face across multiple locations.
Sean started with TLP about 20 years ago as an apprentice electrician, this was combined with Llandrillo College and North Wales Training as a work based apprenticeship. Once fully fledged Sean took to electrical work like a duck to water and is a real asset to TLP. Day to Day Sean can be seen between the various sites effecting repairs, upgrades and any testing that’s required be it on new or pre- loved caravans. Sean is very well liked amongst his peers and has grown as a person and is a very highly valued member of staff .
Sean Says: ‘I have been at Thornley leisure parks for 22 years. I came here as a young apprentice straight from school and have worked my way up to head of the electrical department. During my time I have seen the business grow from 7 parks to 10! Its been a real pleasure working here for so long on these beautiful parks and I have met some great people along the way!’
Groundsman, Lakeside Caravan Park
Rupert Charnock, 21 Years
Rupert has spent 21 years at Lakeside Caravan Park maintaining our grounds, and making sure the park runs smoothly and looks immaculate. We are very proud to have Ru on our team!
Ru says: ‘I am incredibly grateful to our head office, my managers, and staff who have put their trust in me over the years. Reaching this 21-year milestone fills me with immense pride. It has been an honour to serve as the backbone of our maintenance department for Thornley Leisure Ltd. As I look ahead, I have no plans to slow down—I’ll see you out on the grounds, ready for the next challenge. I am incredibly grateful to our head office, my managers, and staff who have put their trust in me over the years. Reaching this 21-year milestone fills me with immense pride. It has been an honour to serve as the backbone of our maintenance department for Thornley Leisure Ltd. As I look ahead, I have no plans to slow down—I’ll see you out on the grounds, ready for the next challenge.’
Head Groundsman, Dinlle Caravan Park
Mike Jones, 21 Years
Mike has spent over two decades caring for the grounds at Dinlle Caravan Park near Caernarfon! His dedication helps protect the natural beauty that makes the park so special.
Mike says ‘
I have worked at Dinlle since April 2004, I started on grounds mowing and strimming then progressed onto the maintenance team to help jacking, moving and siting caravans. Over the years I have collected a vast amount of knowledge about the park and I enjoy passing on that knowledge to the amazing team at Dinlle’
Long serving teams create lasting relationships
A Business Built on Trust
Long service reflects strong values. At Thornley Leisure Parks, we believe in supporting our teams and building lasting relationships.
That stability benefits owners and guests alike. A familiar face is never too far away, and that consistency helps create the welcoming atmosphere people return to year after year.
These six team members represent the dedication and care that make Thornley Leisure Parks a place people trust.
