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- AdminAdmin
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Join date : 2013-12-04
Wigan Fair
Tue Feb 21 2017, 10:31
The black peas tent candy floss and rolling pennies. Carrying home that goldfish that dad won. What are your memories?
- Joseph
- Posts : 13630
Join date : 2013-12-05
Location : On't Petty
Re: Wigan Fair
Tue Feb 21 2017, 11:45
The swinging boats, or Shamrock as we called them the noise of the gennies and the smell of diesel. You could see the swinging boats as you walked down Greenough Street on the Market Square. I remember the big lads/bikers with their leather jackets, blue jeans and pointed toed boots walking around like they owned the place then they would lean on the rails of the speedway eyeing up the girls. The sweet smell of the toffee apples and candy floss then the black pea tent with those pot cups, did they ever wash them after folk had finished?
- AdminAdmin
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Re: Wigan Fair
Tue Feb 21 2017, 12:07
Probably not Joseph. But we came to no harm. I remember getting a bird on the end of a bit of string which you twirled round your head. I seem to remember a monkey as well.
- AdminAdmin
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Re: Wigan Fair
Tue Feb 21 2017, 14:01
Paintings by David Barrow
- AdminAdmin
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Join date : 2013-12-04
Re: Wigan Fair
Tue Feb 21 2017, 14:50
"John Silcock's grandfather Edward, the choice to become a showman came about as a way of avoiding a life down the mines.
Edward, along with his four brothers, operated a games stall in Wigan in the early 1900s. They then branched out with a set of swings, a barrel organ, a children's ride and a carousel which they took all over Lancashire.
"My family were coal miners," says John Silcock, the present owner of JE Silcock Amusements.{2012} "My great grandfather died from lung cancer and my grandfather was 16 and he decided he wasn't going to go down there (the pits)."
Mr Silcock gained his own experience of the fairs while still at boarding school - his parents travelled with the fairs on a weekly basis and he spent his weekends working with them"
British Showmen:All the fun of the fair
Edward, along with his four brothers, operated a games stall in Wigan in the early 1900s. They then branched out with a set of swings, a barrel organ, a children's ride and a carousel which they took all over Lancashire.
"My family were coal miners," says John Silcock, the present owner of JE Silcock Amusements.{2012} "My great grandfather died from lung cancer and my grandfather was 16 and he decided he wasn't going to go down there (the pits)."
Mr Silcock gained his own experience of the fairs while still at boarding school - his parents travelled with the fairs on a weekly basis and he spent his weekends working with them"
British Showmen:All the fun of the fair
Re: Wigan Fair
Tue Feb 21 2017, 15:11
I remember same as you Mrs A...the black peas tent, sitting on a bench with a mug full of delicious peas for threepence and the rides and candy floss. Whenever they came our boss at Frank Kings, used to tell us to take newspaper to sit on if we went to the public toilets. I always got the impression that the lads working there were completely free of restraints from social niceties and I envied them. They seemed to do as they pleased, whenever they pleased. Great memories.
- AdminAdmin
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Re: Wigan Fair
Tue Feb 21 2017, 21:56
It always amazed me as a kid how quickly they assembled/disassembled their rides and equipment.
I can remember hearing the rumble of the rides, and people screaming because they were enjoying themselves.
I can remember hearing the rumble of the rides, and people screaming because they were enjoying themselves.
- GuestGuest
Re: Wigan Fair
Tue Feb 21 2017, 22:47
Silcocks used to do an annual fair on the “Black Patch” in Anderton St Higher Ince.
I have no idea how they got so many rides and stalls into such a tiny piece of land.
It was exciting as a kid, the noise, the people, the lights and music.
I’d be bloody annoyed if it happened today!!!!!!!!!!! Bah humbug.
I have no idea how they got so many rides and stalls into such a tiny piece of land.
It was exciting as a kid, the noise, the people, the lights and music.
I’d be bloody annoyed if it happened today!!!!!!!!!!! Bah humbug.
- GuestGuest
Re: Wigan Fair
Wed Feb 22 2017, 13:18
Great fun. Toffee apples were my fav. Some of them fellas on the rides looked tough buggers.
- Sir Bob
- Posts : 8714
Join date : 2013-12-07
Re: Wigan Fair
Wed Feb 22 2017, 13:27
Nosam Derf
I noticed you mentioned. Frank King in your earlier posting, did you know Lawrence King.
I noticed you mentioned. Frank King in your earlier posting, did you know Lawrence King.
Re: Wigan Fair
Wed Feb 22 2017, 14:20
Sir Bob,
Yes, I worked with Lawrence and his father at Frank Kings in 1962/3.
There were some good people there at that time. Ronny Hurst, 'Little' Billy, John was the supervisor who married a lovely little lass. A couple of lovely ladies from Platt Bridge also. Lawrence used to put pigs eyeball into our cups of tea when weren't watching and when we got to the bottom of the cup, there it was...'Keeping an eye on us'
I learned how to make sausages there too.
Yes, I worked with Lawrence and his father at Frank Kings in 1962/3.
There were some good people there at that time. Ronny Hurst, 'Little' Billy, John was the supervisor who married a lovely little lass. A couple of lovely ladies from Platt Bridge also. Lawrence used to put pigs eyeball into our cups of tea when weren't watching and when we got to the bottom of the cup, there it was...'Keeping an eye on us'
I learned how to make sausages there too.
- broady
- Posts : 2233
Join date : 2014-01-24
Age : 74
Location : Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Re: Wigan Fair
Wed Feb 22 2017, 14:28
Was there a Caterpillar on the Wigan Fair? I seem to remember there was.
- AdminAdmin
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Re: Wigan Fair
Wed Feb 22 2017, 14:29
Yes there was broady. Many a kiss has been stolen under that green canvas:D
- AdminAdmin
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Re: Wigan Fair
Wed Feb 22 2017, 18:12
Who remembers the coconut shy?
http://www.silcock-leisure.co.uk/history1.htm
http://www.silcock-leisure.co.uk/history1.htm
- Sir Bob
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Join date : 2013-12-07
Re: Wigan Fair
Wed Feb 22 2017, 19:16
Ronnie Hurst,,,, did he go working for Taylors the bacon people.Nosam Derf wrote:Sir Bob,
Yes, I worked with Lawrence and his father at Frank Kings in 1962/3.
There were some good people there at that time. Ronny Hurst, 'Little' Billy, John was the supervisor who married a lovely little lass. A couple of lovely ladies from Platt Bridge also. Lawrence used to put pigs eyeball into our cups of tea when weren't watching and when we got to the bottom of the cup, there it was...'Keeping an eye on us'
I learned how to make sausages there too.
Re: Wigan Fair
Wed Feb 22 2017, 19:48
Not sure about that Sir Bob, as I emigrated to Canada. He did move to Greens and then he bought his own butchers shop. He now lives in Beech Hill. I must get in touch again soon.
- GuestGuest
Re: Wigan Fair
Tue Feb 28 2017, 15:49
Was the pot fair on at the same time? Them men who sold pots could sell snow to Eskimos.
- AdminAdmin
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Re: Wigan Fair
Wed Mar 01 2017, 16:01
Was there one of these. I vaguely remember there being one in Blackpool fun house but I feel sure there was one on Wigan Fair. Anyone know?
- broady
- Posts : 2233
Join date : 2014-01-24
Age : 74
Location : Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Re: Wigan Fair
Wed Mar 01 2017, 17:47
I don't remember one. Maybe a smaller one called a "Piewalk"
- AdminAdmin
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Re: Wigan Fair
Tue Jul 11 2017, 14:32
Harry Walder print
- weatherwax
- Posts : 4463
Join date : 2013-12-09
Age : 73
Location : Southport
Re: Wigan Fair
Tue Jul 11 2017, 20:49
This might interest someone. As you know I was married before motormouse, and my eldest Daughter is from that marriage. When I started Geneology I had to work on my Daughters side as well, and I found that she was a Direct Decendant of this chap, Look for the name. James Dean.
https://www.sheffield.ac.uk/nfca/researchandarticles/historyshowmensguild
https://www.sheffield.ac.uk/nfca/researchandarticles/historyshowmensguild
- weatherwax
- Posts : 4463
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Age : 73
Location : Southport
Re: Wigan Fair
Tue Jul 11 2017, 20:54
- tonker
- Posts : 8318
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Location : Metropolitan Borough of Haydock
Re: Wigan Fair
Tue Jul 11 2017, 23:20
He once lent his coat to a jester who sang for a king and queen. Apparently!
- Joseph
- Posts : 13630
Join date : 2013-12-05
Location : On't Petty
Re: Wigan Fair
Wed Jul 12 2017, 17:32
tonker wrote:He once lent his coat to a jester who sang for a king and queen. Apparently!
Yes. Oh, and while the King was looking down the jester stole his thorny crown.
What can you do eh?
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