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OXFORD ST GILES MODEL SHOW (17/09/2023)
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A new fairground model show and exhibition was recently held support of Oxford St Giles' Fair with coincided with the 3rd World Fun Fair Month organised by Future 4 Fairgrounds.
The show was held inside St Giles Church on Monday 4th of September close to Tommy Matthews' Rotor in Woodstock Road, open from 10am to 4pm the show attracted a fantastic crowd, even the Lord Mayor of Oxford was shown around accompanied by officials from the Showmen's Guild London & Home Counties Section.
Four trophies all sponsored by James Noyce & Sons Funfairs were created and awarded as follows: Best In Show - John Penfold's Octopus; Best Ride - Andy Hill's Waltzer; Best Transport: co-organiser Simon Brazil's Miami load; and Best Layout - Ian Hide's 1:50 working fairground diorama. The church were pleased with the event and told us they had raised just under £500 for the upkeep of the building. The official video from the event is below.
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WELLAND STEAM RALLY MODEL TENT (19/08/2023)
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For a second year running I visited the popular Welland Steam Rally at the end of July held in the shadow of the scenic Malvern Hills.
The Prout family host the annual event on farmland on the edge of the Parish of Welland in Worcestershire. The rally features traction engines, lorry displays, vintage fairground and many craft displays. It is the model tent which is the focus of this video, which has Andrew Grover as the steward.
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ROWELL FAIR SOCIETY MODEL SHOW (19/08/2023)
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Every year the Northants town of Rothwell (near Kettering) hosts its annual Charter Fair, held for eight days around Trinity Sunday which falls on the 8th weekend following Easter.
The fair is organised by the town's Bailiff to the Lord of the Manor, the post is currently held by local enthusiast Frank York. The Rowell Fair Society is an organisation which celebrates the fair's past & present plus protecting the fair's future and on Sunday the RFS organises a model show held in Tresham Hall above the town's Conservative Club. This video is highlights of what the 2023 show had on offer.
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ROWELL FAIR SOCIETY MODEL SHOW (29/12/2022)
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The West Sussex town of Petworth, known for its antiques shops and nearby Petworth Park estate, hosts a one-day Charter Fair in November.
After the enforced Covid break, the fair returned, the Charter is for the fair to be held on 20th November every year. This is except when falling on a Sunday of which was the case in 2022 so therefore the fair was held on Saturday 19th. The amusements at the fair feature the traditional rides of Harris Brothers from nearby Ashingto, a firm that doesn't get the coverage on YouTube that it deserves. So I thought I'd rectify the situation with this video of the fair.
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RIDING THE UK'S ONLY HUSS BREAK DANCE (08/07/2022)
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It was just two weeks ago (24th June) that (from personal point of view) I managed to tick off my no 1 bucket list ride in the UK.
The Huss Break Dance formerly at Luna Park Amusement Park on Coney Island NYC is now UK owned having been acquired a few years ago by young Northeast England showman William Houghton. This ride had been in storage for a few years ago with help from his father Michael and their staff William totally restored and revamped the machine during a lengthy period.
It was March 2020 just before the UK went into lockdown when the ride was built-up at Ocean Beach Pleasure Park at South Shields along the North Sea coastline, eventually opening for the first time in July that year. It has stayed at the park ever since on a three year contract with the park's owners. It is yet to make its UK travelling fair debut.
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IT'S NOT FUN IT'S NOT FAIR - SHOWMEN DOCUMENTARY ON YOUTUBE (02/07/2021)
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Recently a new documentary compiled by Hampshire professional film producer and theme park and fairground enthusiast Marcus Gaines.
The documentary is about Future 4 Fairgrounds, a voluntary support group set up by six show ladies who's aim is to promote fairgrounds and to raise awareness of the issues showpeople regularly face.
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RIDES FROM THE PAST SERIES COMPLETED ON YOUTUBE (19/05/2021)
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Hello folks, apologies for lack of recent updates to the main site. Latest photos from my travels are on Facebook also I had recently compiled a new series YouTube.
Rides Of The Past began in February exploring novelty rides which formerly graced the UK fairgrounds. A full playlist is now available on the Fair-Pix Channel by visiting this link - Rides Of The Past - Full Series
You can watch Episode 5 about the Terminators in the embedded window below. For full list of released videos visit - www.youtube.com/c/fairpixvideos.
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FUTURE 4 FAIRGROUNDS CAMPAIGN (31/01/2021)
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Webmaster Martin Cooper has recently spoke to the social media campaign Future 4 Fairgrounds about his love of the fairground and how the last 12 months has affected his hobby.
The campaign was begun last September by six showladies to raise awarness of the culture of UK fairgrounds, the history and to preserve for future generations. You can find them by searching on various platforms including Facebook and Instagram.
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NEW SERIES ON YOUTUBE CHANNEL (17/05/2020)
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A new series of videos has just begun on the Fair-Pix Videos YouTube channel - Great Dorset Steam Fair 2009.
Originally uploaded to the channel back in 2010, this series of videos are now remastered and improved in quality however due to the original recording parameters these videos will not be able to be viewed in HD. Nevertheless they show quite a number of rides which are no longer gracing the UK fairgrounds.
Below is one of the first videos to be reissued which is a Highlights clip showing many of the rides present. I will be spacing out the uploads over the next few weeks so please subscribe to receive updates from the channel when they become available.
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CAMBRIDGE FAIRGROUND MODEL SHOW 2019 (17/03/2020)
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What was started as a one-off local enthusiast Mick Reynolds hosted his fourth Fairground Model Show in Cambridge last Saturday 14th March.
The venue again was the Murray Edwards College just off Huntingdon Road part of Cambridge University. Two rooms were filled with fairground models and artefacts with exhibits coming far afield as Hampshire and West Yorkshire for the event.
Photos from the event are on the website's Facebook page.
Below is the website's compilation video recently posted onto the's site YouTube page.
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NATIONAL FUNFAIR EXTRAVAGANZA 2020 (02/02/2020)
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The fairground model exhibition season once again kicked off nice and early with the 15th National Funfair Extravaganza two weeks ago on Saturday 18th January.
Organised by enthusiasts Bill Lane and Mike Willis this annual free event was superbly well supported by showmen and enthusiasts from many parts of the UK and by the local residents.
Photos from the event are on the website's Facebook page.
Below is the website's compilation video recently posted onto the's site YouTube page.
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HULL FAIR MODEL SHOW RETURNS FOR 2019 (10/11/2019)
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On Saturday 12th October the model show held in conjunction with the final day of Hull Fair returned using the same venue as 2017 - the Carnegie Heritage Centre located alongside Anlaby Road just outside the fairground entrance.
The show was organised by Leeds modelmaker Paul Needham and sponsored by the Yorkshire Section of the Showmen's Guild with the main hall of the centre filled with model exhibits of all aspects from working models to static transport displays.
Photos from the event are on the website's Facebook page.
Below is the website's compilation video recently posted onto the's site YouTube page.
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LICHFIELD BOWER FAIRGROUND MODEL SHOW 2019 (09/06/2019)
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On Saturday 25th May the 10th running of Lichfield Bower Fairground Model Show was held in memory of its founder organiser Jason Wright sadly passed away suddenly towards the end of 2018.
The now established event took place inside in the Guildroom on the ground floor of Lichfield Guildhall. In Jason's memory the show was organised by Andy Watson & Dave King who brought together a quite a selection of exhibits which ably filled the room. Increased advertising of the show reaped the rewards with a healthy number of passers by popping into the free event to see what was on display, in addition to the usual assortment of enthusiasts and showmen. There was also a photographic display put together by Andy about Jason, who no doubt would have very proud of what was achieved.
Photos from the event are on the website's Facebook page.
Below is the website's compilation video recently posted onto the's site YouTube page.
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STAMFORD FAIR MODEL SHOW 2019 (14/04/2019)
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Stamford Fair Model Show celebrated its 25th anniversary on Saturday 6th April.
The annual show once again took place in the United Reformed Church just outside the fair in Broad Street. Local enthusiasts Terry Baker, Andrew Hill and Keith Hansell put on another great display of models for locals, enthusiasts and showmen to enjoy which was once again very well supported.
Photos from the event are on the website's Facebook page.
Below is the website's compilation video recently posted onto the's site YouTube page.
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CAMBRIDGE FAIRGROUND MODEL SHOW 2019 (18/03/2019)
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What was started as a one-off local enthusiast Mick Reynolds hosted his third Fairground Model Show in Cambridge last Saturday 16th March.
The venue again was the Murray Edwards College just off Huntingdon Road part of Cambridge University. Two rooms were filled with fairground models and artefacts with exhibits coming far afield as Hampshire, Gloucester and Leeds for the event.
Photos from the event are on the website's Facebook page.
Below is the website's compilation video recently posted onto the's site YouTube page.
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NEW COASTER DEBUTS AT CLARENCE PIER 2019 (10/03/2019)
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On Saturday 2nd March the first of two new Coasters opened to the public at Clarence Pier Southsea.
A number of enthusiasts flocked to the Portsmouth amusement park to try out the Mad Mouse which opened at 12 noon. This coaster is one of the Cyclon models from SBF Visa Group (Italy). The second coaster named Tidal Wave is billed as the only one of its kind in the UK and will featuring spinning cars.
Our own on ride POV video featuring local celebrity enthusiast Robbie Alexander.
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BABY VALENTINES FAIR 2019 (10/03/2019)
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Leeds Baby Valentines Fair once again took place on Saturday 16th February, organised by Owen Ralph with sponsorship coming from International Fun Fairs, The Fairground Society and the FAGB.
The venue this year was Billy's Bar at Leeds United Football Club. Exhibits came from all over the UK from far North as Inverness to far South as Hampshire. The prize for the best model at the show went to Steve Wilcox for his semi-built-up Superstar model. A new award for transport was Pod's Prize in memory of regular exhibitor the late Pod Robinson, this was won by John Eva from Scunthorpe with his detailed transport.
Our own video recently released on YouTube shows many of the working exhibits on show.
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NATIONAL FUNFAIR EXTRAVAGANZA 2019 (03/02/2019)
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The fairground model exhibition season once again kicked off nice and early with the 14th National Funfair Extravaganza two weeks ago on Saturday 19th January.
Organised by enthusiasts Bill Lane and Mike Willis this annual free event was superbly well supported by showmen and enthusiasts from many parts of the UK and by the local residents.
Photos from the event are on the website's Facebook page.
Below is the website's compilation video recently posted onto the's site YouTube page.
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NEWCASTLE HOPPINGS FAIR & MODEL SHOW (06/07/2018)
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Last weekend I completed 700 miles drive north for The Hoppings one of Europe's largest fairground held on Newcastle Town Moor.
The fair included a few fresh attractions including Jimmy Bowry's Skid, David Taylor's Air Maxx 360, Keith Jnr & Brett Turner's Miami, Event Leisure's Reverse Bungee and James Smith's Paratrooper on first visits, along with return visits for Walter Murphy's 2Xtreme Capriolo, Stewart Robinson's Dodgem & Twist and Stanley Reeves' Top Scan.
The model show held on the final day was organised by Paul Needham and held inside the marquee adjacent to S & D Leisure's Moose Bar.
Below are the website's compilation videos recently posted onto the's site YouTube page of the fair and the model show.
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KIRKCALDY LINKS MARKET FAIR & MODEL SHOW (14/05/2018)
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Last month I completed 960 miles solo drive north to Kirkcaldy Links Market, Scotland's premier fair. Billed as "Europe's Largest Street Fair" the six day event took place along the Esplanade of the Fife Coast.
The fair itself is well covered in the Reports Index of this website. On Saturday 21st April the Fairground Association of Great Britain held the annual Kirkcaldy Fairground Model Show. The awards went as follows Best in Show: Preston Irvin for his large layout; Best Transport: Iain Roberts for his 4mm diorama; Best Layout: Alex Chalmers with the late Archie Grieve's layout; new trophy donated by Mick Reynolds for Best New or Improved Model: Chris Ace for his 1:24 scale Waltzer; and the Archie Grieve Memorial Trophy: Graeme McQuaker for his transport layout.
There was also trophies for the main attractions on the fair itself, Best Ride: Mitchell Wilmot's Air Raid Extreme; Best Transport: Stanley Reeves Jnr; Best Supporting Attraction: tied between Mattie Taylor's Chocolate Wheel Stall & Dean Stirlings Jungle Adventure Fun House; new trophy Best Juvenile: Frankie Smith's new Convoy ride; and also new Best Catering: Alexandra Whitelegg for the Steam Train Grill stall.
Below are the website's compilation videos recently posted onto the's site YouTube page of the fair and the model show.
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STAMFORD MID-LENT FAIR MODEL SHOW 2018 (19/03/2018)
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The annual model exhibition recently took place during the final day of Stamford Mid-Lent Fair on 17/03/2018. Many enthusiasts came to visit us inside the warm, from very bitterly cold conditions outside.
Organised by local enthusiasts Andy Hill and Terry Baker, the snow blizzards plaguing the UK thankfully failed to keep any of the potiental exhibitors away providing a very well filled hall of models. It was my first viewing of David Wragg's recently acquired amusement ride models from USA, the Tumble Bug and Circle Swing. Also on show for the first time was the latest Miami model from Paul Needham, built for local enthusiast Dan Steele.
Below is the website's new compilation video recently posted onto the's site YouTube page.
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NATIONAL FUNFAIR EXTRAVAGANZA 2018 (24/01/2018)
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The fairground model exhibition season once again kicked off nice and early with the 13th National Funfair Extravaganza last Saturday 20th January.
Organised by enthusiasts Bill Lane and Mike Willis this annual free event was superbly well supported by showmen and enthusiasts from many parts of the UK and by the local residents. From the model exhibits on show for the first time were Roger and Rob Webb's 1:50 showmen's yard layout, Ray Grieve's 1:24 well-lit Waltzer and Paul Needham's self-built 1:24 scale Booster which he started as far back as 2007!
A small selection of photos from last Saturday are on the Archives Funfair Extravaganza feature (more on the website's Facebook page).
Below is the website's new compilation video recently posted onto the's site YouTube page.
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