February Funfair

One thing I wasn't expecting to see last weekend was a funfair. The bonfire fairs typically mark the end of the season so most showmen return to their yards for winter during November and apart from a few small Christmas and New Year events don't go on the road again until mid to late February or sometimes March. The Kings Lynn Mart is the traditional season-starter and that didn't open until Valentine's Day, by which time this fair in Milton Keynes had been there for a week, so it is very early in the season for them to be open for business.

It was quite wet. This was as close as I could get to Denzil Danter's Volvo because of that massive puddle

I used to be quite a dedicated funfair enthusiast but for various reasons have scaled back my interest in recent years: I still attend the local events and if I see a fair in passing I'll stop for a look, but I no longer deliberately travel long distances to visit fairs. My local firms are John Scarrott and Sons, based at Woodford Halse and often to be found in Northampton or Milton Keynes, and Emmetts of Cosgrove, who run the big bonfire fair in Campbell Park along with various smaller events in and around the city. As I no longer visit Northampton regularly for family reasons I hadn't seen Scarrotts for a while.

Making its first appearance in the city, Vortex shines bright against a dull winter sky

Opening from 8th to 18th February, Scarrotts were to be found at the National Bowl in Milton Keynes. I'm told by a local enthusiast friend that John Scarrott himself is still in the yard for winter so this fair was organised by his sons Harry and John Henry, hence a different line-up of rides from those usually found at the family's events, several of which had never been seen in the city before. This is just a brief report of a short unscheduled visit and I couldn't stay very long for a couple of reasons: it was very cold with hail storms and the family were waiting in the car. I'm afraid the photos aren't brilliant either as not knowing the fair was here I didn't have my proper camera with me and had to rely on my phone.

A Welsh Waltzer in place of Scarrotts' Spin-a-Disc

Scarrotts' own Twist, Orbiter and Dodgems were in attendance and I have seen these many times before but most of the other large attractions were new to me. In place of their usual 'Spin-a-Disc' Waltzer, presumably still packed up in the yard, was Denzil Danter's example all the way from South Wales; he wasn't the only Welsh showman there and the Northants Scarrotts have family connections in South Wales. Miami rides are a staple of almost every funfair so the absence of one here was notable; Scarrotts themselves have such a ride but it wasn't open at the Bowl and nobody else brought a Miami in its place.     

This Foden has been on the fairs for a long time with several owners

This was the first time I had seen Harry Scarrott's 'Vortex' ride, delivered new to him last year. I believe this may have been the first such Afterburner or Freak Out machine manufactured in the Czech Republic by ConFolding Group to be bought by a British showman, and these unusually feature outward-facing seats for a different ride experience compared with other manufacturers' Afterburners that have the riders facing inwards. Another star attraction and the aerial landmark of the fair, not seen in Milton Keynes before, was George Brett's 'Over The Falls' Booster, so named because it was originally supplied to a static site at Niagara Falls.

There's no doubt which ride this smart Foden pulls

Barkers Amusements from Leicestershire are regular tenants at Scarrotts' fairs and had their Jump & Smile and Superstar here. The 'Flash Dance' Tagada formerly owned by Barkers also made an appearance in the new ownership of Gareth Smith, and the same showman's Ghost Train was on the other side of the ground for those who wanted a good old-fashioned fright. The big attractions were rounded out by two fairly similar bobsled-inspired rides at opposite ends: the Matterhorn of James Rogers and the Tattam brothers' Superbob, both of which seemed to be doing well considering it was just after opening time on a cold afternoon with occasional hail showers.

Tattams' Superbob was riding well

Fun houses comprised Scott Gray's Crooked Cottage and John Allen's big three-storey circus-themed show, redecorated since I last saw it. Large children's rides were the Apple Coaster of A.J. Simons and a Runaway Train, although I can't remember who this belonged to, and the ground was filled out with an excellent selection of the typical round stalls, catering trailers, juvenile rides and inflatables. All in all the line-up of attractions here at the Bowl was better than I expected, with a dozen large rides, a couple of walk-round shows and an abundance of smaller equipment meaning there was something for everyone (unless you specifically want to ride a Miami).

The bigger of the two fun houses, looking good in its new decor

My main interest however is not so much in the rides themselves as their transport, which is usually hidden round the back, parked in tight spaces and difficult to photograph. The scene is changing here too and the traditional 'showman's specials' of old are a dying breed in favour of often anonymous modern ex-lease artic units that are much less interesting. Nothing stood out as remarkable but it was nevertheless good to see quite an abundance of the old favourite Fodens and ERFs here, along with the inevitable Volvos, DAFs and a Scania.

Vortex is transported by this ERF, sitting quietly in the corner

Despite the cold weather and a fierce hail storm just as I arrived, it was a good fair with a lot of equipment I hadn't seen before so looking round was a pleasant and unexpected diversion on a Sunday afternoon. There seemed to be a steady stream of visitors arriving so I hope the Scarrott family's brave decision to open so early in the season paid off for them and their tenants.