Following a very pleasing two weeks at Bloxwich, Pat Collins Funfairs moved to the city of Lichfield to be part of the city’s 900 year old Bower celebration. The event is always held on Spring Bank Holiday Monday, but with this year’s bank holiday moved to coincide with the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee the event was moved to Saturday 4 June.
The amusements are spread over three locations, Market Square, Bird Street car park and Beacon Park, the first two also being open on the Thursday and Friday whilst in Beacon Park it was just Bower Day.
The big day itself was dull but mainly dry apart from a few spots of rain. A good number of people did turn out but not as many as in previous years, with so much going on over the Jubilee weekend. Showmen’s reports varied from “just about got a living” to “above our expectations”.
On Market Square were Stuart Stanworth’s Waltzer supported by the William Jones’ juveniles, David Morris’ bungee trampolines, games from Jimmy Hall, David Morris, Phillip Hackett and James Jones, with food supplied by David Morns and William Jones.
On Bird Street car park were Michael Harris’ Fast and Loud Dodgems and Superstar; Christina Harris’ Scream Miami; Charles Harris’ Sizzler Twist; and Gareth Smith’s Flashdance Tagada. In support were half a dozen juvenile rides plus a small number of joints, hooplas and food outlets.
In Beacon Park there were a couple of machines appearing here for the first time, these being Wayne Smith’s Sky View Star Flyer and Pat Gooch’s Eurowheel, both giving riders a view of the park and the city’s three spired cathedral.
Other attractions were Anthony Harris Jnr’s Waltzer; Charles Harris’ Crazy Hopper Frogs; Wayne Smith’s Extreme; Gareth Smith’s Ghost Train; Jameson Weston’s Disney Coaster; and Joseph Merrin’s Pirate Fun House. A good number of juvenile attractions, games and food outlets completed the presentation although there were a few gaps this year.
The following weekend it was the turn of Rugeley to celebrate their June Charter Fair. Normally the local town council join in the fun and present a carnival and show, but this year put a Jubilee event on in the town centre the previous weekend, so for the first time for several decades the fun fair stood alone.
Once again, the Showmen used the Green Lane playing fields situated in the middle of a vast housing estate and close to the main secondary school. This again was a three day fair opening on Thursday 9 June until Saturday 11 June.
Business levels here were excellent every day. Graham Stokes and Liam Edwards t/a Orbital Fun Fairs are in charge here and presented their F1 Dodgems and Hard Rock Miami, Sizzler Twist and Waltzer.
In support were the firm’s toy set, train ride, Disney cups & saucers, hook a duck and canteen, plus sole tenant Patrick Allen with his hoopla and cups & saucers.
Main photo: Ariel view of the fair at Beacon Park, Bower at Lichfield
