93-year-old special guest reopens popular Derbyshire Dales tourist attraction 86 years after her first visit

Iris Jean Dixon first visited the Heights of Abraham in 1937 when she was eight-years-old.

In 2022, to celebrate her 93rd birthday, her family brought her to take her first ride on the cable cars and revisit the Heights for the first time in 85 years.

Jean said: “I could not believe all the changes that had been made, the person who had built and developed this must have had a wonderful imagination. I feel very excited to be given the privilege of pressing the green button and hope you have a lovely busy summer.”

Jean, of Retford, was joined by her daughter and grandchildren Matthew and Emma.

Heights director Rupert Pugh said: “Following her successful visit last year we felt she was the ideal guest to start our 2023 season, and it was a real pleasure to meet her.”