For a number of the showpeople involved, including lessee Bob Wilson’s Funfairs, there was a swift overnight move from Stratford upon Avon to Banbury for this year’s Banbury Michaelmas Fair. But the hard work paid off.
Judging by what we saw on opening evening (October 13) and reports from the following two days, the moving had been worth it with decent business being done, in line with a number of the back-end fairs this year. As always, Bob Wilson’s had the fair very well advertised in and around town.
Speeches at Wednesday afternoon’s opening ceremony were kept short and sweet. On behalf of the lessees, Willie Wilson welcomed everyone before handing the Golden Key to the vice-chairman of Cherwell District Council, Phil Chapman, who welcomed the fair back to the centre of Banbury and described it as a fair to be proud of.
Then the Mayor of Banbury, Councillor Shaida Hussain, declared the fair open for fun. When the Golden Key was touched against an attraction ride during the civic tour, the children enjoyed a free ride. This popular tradition was started a good number of years ago by Willie and Emily Wilson.
There was plenty of variety here with a number of debutants among the attractions, such as Harry Jones’ Freak Out style Space ride, which stood alongside the Town Hall. Nearby, William Robert Wilson’s Storm Booster towered over all in Bridge Street where Andrew Holmes’ Monster Trucks were something different for the children.
At the side, the large games stalls of Danny Smith and John Lock were very well stocked.
In the Market Place, the light show from Perrin Mott’s Trooper XL was well worth watching. Nearby the Welsh flew the flag for the first time on John Evans’ Super Star alongside Andrew Holmes’ colourful Can Can Jump & Smile as well as regular attender Charles Deakin Stevens’ Las Vegas Dodgem track.
A short walk away Harry Hebborn’s Gallopers and Jordan Herbert’s Monkey World Fun Horse returned to The Horsefair and there were the usual children’s amusements by The White Horse Inn.
Major rides and attractions at Banbury Michaelmas Fair
William Sheldon’s Twister
William Robert Wilson’s Storm Booster
Bob Wilson’s Funfairs’ Formula 1 Dodgems
Jorden Crole’s Rotor
William Hebborn’s Waltzer
Harry Jones’ Space
John Holdsworth’s Crazy Bulls
Steven Hill’s Miami Trip 3
George Irvin Jnr’s Extreme
Perrin Mott’s Trooper XL
Andrew Holmes’ Can Can Jump & Smile
Robert Russell’s Nightmare Express Ghost Train
John Evans’ Super Star
Charles Deakin Stevens’ Las Vegas Dodgems
Perrin Print’s Super Bob
Harry Hebborn’s Gallopers
Charlton Harris’s Crazy Jungle Fun House
RB Leisure’s Raiders’ Jungle Adventure Fun House and China Town Mirror Maze
Jordan Herbert’s Monkey World Fun House
Neil Renton’s Alpine House
Main photo: Perrin Mott’s Trooper XL.
