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Bristol Post
Bristol Post
World
Tristan Cork

Britain's 'wealthiest Gypsy' surprises holidaymakers by dropping in at campsite

People staying in a Cornish campsite were left baffled after a helicopter randomly landed in the middle of the site - and reality TV star and self-proclaimed 'Britain's Richest Gypsy' Alfie Best got out for a visit.

Best, who boasted that he will be a billionaire when expands his mobile home park empire to include more than 100 sites, dropped out of the sky in his personalised Aston Martin helicopter at the campsite in Indian Queens.

Guests at the Indian Queens campsite watched, a bit confused, as the helicopter landed on the grass. A few figures stepped out, got back in and then the helicopter flew off again.

Read more: Bristol version of BoxPark to open by next Easter

Eyewitness Callum Stephenson told Cornwall Live, the main figure stepping out of the helicopter was businessman Alfie Best, who came to prominence nine years ago by appearing with his son in the Channel 4 documentary "My Big Fat Gypsy Fortune."

Mr Stephenson said he talked to the pilot of the chopper, who confirmed he was flying Best around, along with two other people.

Best made his fortune after getting into the business of owning mobile home, retirement and holiday parks, and most recently bought one in Sennen, near Land's End. He's controversial though, with residents at parks he has bought known to protest against changes and extra fees he imposes, and has been the subject of several Private Eye articles.

Best, who has made donations to the Conservative Party, later took part in the ITV series Undercover Boss, where he said he felt like he'd lost touch with his property business, so went undercover as a drainage worker at his holiday parks empire. When asked about the experience, Best said: "We've got it wrong along the way.

“That's apparent, but our failures make us better and our successes have kept us going. I'd love to do it again in a few years time and see how much has changed," he added.

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