Carters Steam Fair 2016.

My broken back brace has become a real saga, which is likely to take weeks to sort out now.

As a result, we went out to see Carters Steam Fair on Saturday, come what may.

I must admit that with an army of over excited and unruly teenagers running all around me, I felt very vulnerable - dreading someone bumping into me and hurting my back.

All the same, we loved the Saturday night fireworks and who could not resist this sight?

It's an inferno of steam and electricity - from a time when this was all new and very exciting.

It still is a bit exciting.

The fair was created by John and Anna Carter as they rescued and restored long forgotten fairground attractions, starting in the 1970's.

As a result, their fair (Joby Carter is running it now) is something of an artwork, not least because of the quality of the signwriting.

I've written about the fair before, so this time I've concentrated on The Ghost Train because the artwork was quite exceptional;

Plenty of thrills and spills;

Ghouls and ghosties;

Joby Carter now offers Signwriting courses and if I was in better health I would have liked to have done that.

There is a very strong 1960's cartoon feel to these illustrations, which is probably why I liked them - Robyn had to drag me away in the end.

No "Goulash" for me today, thank you;

These customers certainly enjoyed the ride;

There are some amazing rides - the 100 year old Steam Yachts, the Dodgems, and this favourite....the roundabout;

Lovingly restored with it's own steam engine and Gavioli steam organ.

A real pleasure even if it was very painful.

Neil Harris
(a don't stop till you drop production)
Home: helpmesortoutstpeters.blogspot.com
Contact me: neilwithpromisestokeep@gmail.com

Carters Steam fair 2015.

We went to Carters Steam Fair on Saturday night - the fair was in town!

I normally go on Sunday when its quiet....it was really busy and I got barged about by the crowd (which hurt!) but we wanted to see the fireworks.

It's like having a reunion with an old friend once a year;

Almost every thing is driven by steam engines, these are the mighty 'steam yachts' (giant swings);

With a broken back I can't really do much but we saw 'The Steam Gallopers';

Who could resist?

I had to invest in some tokens, the one on the right has the face of Joby Carter on it;

I couldn't get on the horses but we chose a seat and this is the result;

It was every bit as good as Robyn's photo!

There's a steam engine powering the lights and turning the Merry-go-round. The figures are famous music hall stars of the 19th and 20th centuries ;

There's a magnificent steam powered fairground organ built by Gavioli and Sons and lovingly restored;

And these days they have real 'Dodgem Cars' - complete with 50's Rock 'n Roll and graphics to match.

Surely riding the cars like this is the best job in the world?

 

The last Dodgem I saw was at Dismaland!

 

Anna and the late Joby Carter were art students and put on events after leaving college. I don't believe they had any connection with Showmen but gradually they bought up and saved broken down old fairground rides as they were being phased out.

 

Even in the 1960's, some of these old machines were probably forgotten and rotting in the back of Showmen's yards.

 

As you can see, the restorations have been carried out with real love - last year I posted pictures of the 'Ghost Ride', with its 1950's science fiction/horror inspired graphics.

 

After Joby died, Anna and her son John carried on the tradition and the fair is now a glorious mobile museum of fun; the families travel in immaculately restored caravans, pulled by equally beautifully restored 1930's lorries.

 

The whole fair is just a joy - every one loves it.

 

And Robyn and I enjoyed the fireworks too, a great display.

 

12 months ago we were here on our one and only 'respite' - the year has been such a struggle and a fight since then, with worse to come.

 

It was great to make it back again.

 

 

Neil Harris

(a don't stop till you drop production)

 

Home: helpmesortoutstpeters.blogspot.com

 

Contact me: neilwithpromisestokeep@gmail.com