Meet Andy Lacey: The Man Behind the Magic at Buddens Activity Centre

As Centre Manager of Buddens, Andy’s role is, in his own words, “to make everything else work.” From ensuring activities run smoothly to coordinating the catering, operations, and site teams, Andy is the glue that keeps Buddens functioning.

Andy has called Dorset home for over ten years now, and he wouldn't change that for anything. “After travelling all over the country with work, it’s just nice to be settled,” he says. “I’ve got my wife, my daughter, the dog… this is home now.”

Although he doesn’t work directly with children anymore, Andy jokes that he still works with “big kids”, the team members who train and lead the young people visiting Buddens. “And now, I manage the people that manage them,” he laughs. “So I’m kind of several steps removed, but it’s all still part of the same world.”

We couldn't let Andy off the hook without a few fun questions. Here’s what we found out:

• Mastermind subject of choice? The Sharpe series by Bernard Cornwell. “Fictional military history – I was obsessed with it growing up!”
• Dream dinner party guests? His late grandfather (“a huge influence”), legendary rugby coach Sir Clive Woodward, and… well, he’d probably need a whole month of dinner parties to cover everyone he’d like to chat with.
• Best concert he’s ever been to? The Who, live in Abu Dhabi while working at the Grand Prix. “It was electric, the atmosphere, the environment, just unforgettable.”
• Perfect day? Probably an African safari with his daughter Francesca, who loves animals. “She’d be blown away feeding giraffes,” he says. “It would be incredible to experience that together.”