The Men of Thornley Leisure Parks
Celebrating International Men’s Day at Thornley Leisure Parks
At Thornley Leisure, we’re celebrating International Men’s Day by honouring the men who bring passion, dedication, and expertise to our parks across Wales, Cheshire, and Yorkshire. Recognising the diverse contributions of our team members is essential to creating memorable holiday experiences for families and visitors. As we shine a spotlight on the Thornley Leisure Parks team, get to know some of the men who contribute to our parks’ continued success and help create a welcoming environment for all our guests. Learn more about each of our parks where our team members work to make your stay memorable.
International Men’s Day Spotlight: Meet the Dedicated Team Members
Bill Thornley
Along with his wife Dorothy, Bill founded Thornley Leisure Parks in 1962. A master baker by trade, Bill decided to make a career change for his family’s wellbeing. The demands of bakery hours weren’t ideal for a young family, so he made the leap into the holiday park industry.
Bill’s strong work ethic and commitment to providing families with quality time together are still at the heart of Thornley Leisure Parks’ ethos today, guiding each member of the team in their work. Read more about our history and values.
David
How long have you worked for Thornley Leisure Parks?
I started working for Thornley Leisure during my school holidays, shortly after the family bought Dinlle Caravan Park in the summer of 1990. My first tasks included peeling and chipping potatoes to fill two large bins, restocking the bottles in the bar, and picking up litter around the park.
What excites you the most about your job role?
My job is varied, and no two days are the same. I love going around the parks and take great pride in all the hard work our team puts into making Thornley Leisure Parks look fantastic.
What do you enjoy doing in your spare time?
I enjoy skiing, riding bikes when the weather is nice, and walking my dogs on Conwy Mountain. Most of all, I love spending time with my wife and our little girl!
Will
How long have you worked for Thornley Leisure Parks?
Nearly 7 years now, time flies when you are having fun!
What excites you the most about your job role?
I love the property element of the business, we are always renovating, redeveloping, improving or building something, who doesn’t love a before and after!
Over and above that, I really enjoy the people, it’s the customers that make a Caravan Park. We are a family business and the team really do feel like one big family.
What do you enjoy doing in your spare time?
Spending time with the family, I love the beach and I am a petrol head so anything car related, particularly 1950’s and 60’s sports cars.
Dave
How long have you worked for Thornley Leisure Parks?
I have worked at Ocean Heights and Green Pastures Parks for 11 years.
What excites you the most about your job role?
I enjoy my job as a groundsman to help maintain the high standards of the parks. I enjoy meeting people, making them happy, and the fact that no two days are the same.
What do you enjoy doing in your spare time?
In my spare time, I enjoy walking locally on the Llyn Peninsula with my wife, Clare, and our new puppy, Rose. I also enjoy taking city breaks around Europe and dining out in local restaurants. I also have four cats to look after—Boris, Betty, Daisy, and Cooky.
Tony
How long have you worked for Thornley Leisure Parks?
I’m currently in my ninth year at Craiglwyd Hall.
What excites you the most about your job role?
I love the variety my role brings; no two days are the same. Some days I’m in the office, while other days I get to show potential new owners around the park. Meeting new people, from owners to renters, is always a highlight, especially as I live on the park.
What do you enjoy doing in your spare time?
I’m a self-confessed workaholic, so I spend some of my spare time helping with entertainment on the park. However, a lot of my spare time is spent cruising—I love visiting different places and having a new destination to explore each day.
Chris
How long have you worked for Thornley Leisure Parks?
I have been a part of the Thornley Leisure Parks family coming up to 24years.
What excites you the most about your job role?
No day is the same,
I enjoy working with a great team making sure The Beach looks fantastic and facilities run smoothly so people get to enjoy they’re time at here.
What do you enjoy doing in your spare time?
Well, I did enjoy playing football until a recent setback and probably should admit defeat and retire. I still get to watch my son play so that’s a bonus. I also love my snooker, keeping fit, running etc. Also, I do love a ski holiday with family and friends.
Rob
How long have you worked for Thornley Leisure Parks?
I’ve been part of Thornley Leisure Parks at Maenan Abbey for 11 years.
What excites you the most about your job role?
I really enjoy getting to know our owners and meeting holiday guests. Every day brings something new, and it’s great to see the park at its best as it changes with the seasons.
What do you enjoy doing in your spare time?
In my spare time, I love spending time with my family and friends. Those moments together are always special to me.
Paul
How long have you worked for Thornley Leisure Parks?
I’ve worked at Gallaber Park for six months.
What excites you the most about your job role?
I really enjoy cutting the pitch-and-putt green, as I used to be a greenkeeper at a top local golf club.I was a fireman for 26 and a half years before starting grounds work, and I also enjoy meeting customers on the park.
What do you enjoy doing in your spare time?
I’m a big F1 fan and love watching Stock Car Racing at my local stadium, Odsal Top in Bradford. I’m also a huge fan of musicals! Recently, I’ve been to see shows in the West End, including Jersey Boys, Six, The Book of Mormon, and many more.
I have two children—my daughter Emily has a passion for horse riding and show jumping and keeps a pony at a local stables, and my son Benjamin loves cycle racing. Between horse and cycling events, my wife Wendy and I are kept busy at the weekends!
Oh, and we have two dogs, Billy and Bobby, who are part of the family fun!
James
How long have you worked for Thornley Leisure Parks?
I’ve worked for Thornley Leisure Parks for almost two years.
What excites you the most about your job role?
I really enjoy working alongside the fantastic team at Thornley and meeting new people on the park every day. It’s always exciting to connect with so many different individuals and make their experience memorable.
What do you enjoy doing in your spare time?
In my free time, I like to stay active by playing golf, tennis, and football. I’m also a big fan of supercars and love spending time admiring them whenever I can.
Tom
How long have you worked for Thornley Leisure Parks?
I have worked for Thornley Leisure Parks for almost 2 years
What excites you the most about your job role?
There are many aspects of my role that I enjoy from greeting guests to helping on the grounds with new projects. I also enjoy speaking to guests about local attractions and activities in the local area.
What do you enjoy doing in your spare time?
I’m very much an outdoors type of person, my spare time is spent mostly with my wife and 1 year old daughter, I enjoying walking, jet skiing around our beautiful coastline and also fishing.
Joe
How long have you worked for Thornley Leisure Parks?
Since March 2021
What excites you the most about your job role?
Job satisfaction is huge for me. I have helped over 120 families find their new holiday homes at The Beach caravan park since I started and some of those have been owners here for over 30 years. People love the park and it’s easy to see why. The view from my office beats 99% of workspaces in the UK!
What do you enjoy doing in your spare time?
I have a young family and so quality time with my children is what I prioritise. When I am not being a monster chasing the kids around the house, I enjoy family days out and playing computer games.
James 
I love coming to work with Mum and Dad during the school holidays! My favourite thing is testing the 2p machines and arcade games on the parks to make sure they’re working for guests. When I’m not at work, I love watching Manchester United, even if I’m not as big a fan as my Uncle Dave!
Interested in Joining Our Community?
As we celebrate International Men’s Day at Thornley Leisure Parks, our team is dedicated to creating a welcoming and memorable experience for every guest. Imagine making these parks your regular holiday destination! Whether you’re looking to buy your first holiday caravan or upgrade your getaway, our parks in Wales, Cheshire, and Yorkshire offer a variety of options to suit every taste.
