photo of It was a welcome return for the gala celebrations and funfair at Poulton, on the Fylde Coast, which took place for the first time in three years.

Good news as Poulton gala day and funfair return to Cottam Hall

It was a welcome return for the Poulton gala celebrations and funfair at Poulton, on the Fylde Coast, which took place for the first time in three years.

Even better news for the Showmen and women was the Gala proceedings returning to the fairground fields at Cottam Hall, a venue it last used back in 2016. For three years prior to the pandemic the entertainment had been focused around the town centre, potentially deterring the public from making the short walk to the playing fields to visit the fair.

Normally taking place over the first weekend of June, this year was also the first time that Poulton gala had been held in May, from Friday 27 to Monday 30. The history of the event goes back over 200 years, and a parade is always the pinnacle of gala day on the Saturday. There’s also musical entertainment, food, drink, charity stalls and more, and Britain’s Got Talent juggling sensation Steve Royle was performing this year.

The large fun fair running alongside all the gala entertainment was as always organised by Susan Foster and Brinley Gore. It opened on the Friday night from 6pm to 9.30pm, and on Saturday from 1pm to 9.30pm, while a Super Sunday featured rides at only £1 each with the purchase of a £1.50 wristband. For the final day (and for the first time) there was a Dinosaur Monday, which saw the impressive creatures roaming around the ground.

There were two newcomers amongst the major attractions, one of which was Jonathan Walker’s Scorpion Tri Star. Manufactured in 2001 by Tivoli, Jonathan acquired the machine from Sean Bailey in April of this year, replacing his Flying Coaster which he brought to the last gala fair in 2019. The other newcomer was Lincoln Gore’s Joker Jump & Smile, which he purchased in 2019 to take the place of his now sold Extreme Tagada.

Returning attractions from the line up of 2019 included Nathan Jones’ Extreme Power Meteorite Round Up, Antony Cubbins’ Formula 1 dodgems and Insania Miami, plus Mark Manders’ Energy Rush waltzer. Also on return visits were Jonathan Walker’s ghost train, Stanley John Cubbins’ Sizzler Twist, and the one walk round show, Laurence Hill’s Super Heroes fun house.

As always there were plenty of supporting attractions at Poulton gala, most of which had appeared at the 2019 event. Among them were Brinley Gore’s Runaway Train juvenile coaster, bungee trampolines, hook-a-duck, catering kiosk and, new this year, his balloon juvenile ride. They were joined by Tate Gore’s toy set, mini wheel, mini planes and Minion inflatable play zone. Warren Cubbins was here with his Convoy, Games 2 Play mixed games, ring toss round stall and penalty shoot out, while Lincoln Gore presented his helter skelter, hook-a-duck and catering kiosk.

Mason Gore’s children’s play centre and spinning Bumper Carz were in support, along with Nathan Jones’ toy train and hook-a-duck, Gary Walker’s rings over blocks and hook a duck, and Richard Hamer’s mini paratrooper and toy train. Laurence Hill also brought his hook-a-duck and rings over blocks, and there was more catering from Stanley John Cubbins, Sophie Gore, John Jones and Katie Walker.

The fair was marketed with lots of large roadside advertising boards in strategic places in the town and surrounding areas, and it would have been hard not to know the fair was in town. Dinosaur Monday and the wristband special offer were promoted strongly on the advertising material.

Main photo: Jonathan Walker’s Scorpion Tri Star, new to him in April this year, waiting to open at Poulton gala

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