Every journey starts with but a single step, so the proverb goes. Well the fairground certainly did, its journey began over 30 years ago, little did we know where it would lead.
I grew up in Middlesbrough and the Crow family would present their fair in Albert Park for the summer holidays, as their stay was a lot longer than you would get anywhere these days the show people became part of the local community for the time they were there. I was fascinated with how the rides worked, how they were built up and transported from one place to another. I’d watch the build up and pull downs and started to replicate this with LEGO at home. It wasn’t as easy back then as we didn’t have the huge array of parts we do today. Round rides tended to be square back then.
During the period the fair came my family and I got to meet many showmen & women.
After I left school I ended up working for a number of years around the South Yorkshire area. During this time I learnt many things including changing the old fashioned lights into the more modern lights.
Moving forward many years this knowledge of how rides were built etc came to the fore with building the LEGO fairground. My wife and I have built many different rides both from plans and based on our own ideas. All the larger rides are fully functioning and many now have LED lights fitted. There’s currently around 25 large rides, including a Waltzer, Top Scan, Paratrooper and a Superstar plus a vast array of supporting attractions and vehicles.
It’s always expanding and there are plans to add a breakdance and an XXL in the next few months.
Although we’re based in the Hull area we do take the fairground to shows around the country, ranging from Reading in the south to Newcastle Upon Tyne up north most places in-between! It’s never the same twice and the size of the layout depends on the duration of the show.
The UK’s Largest Travelling Brick Fairground is always a hit with the family’s that visit as the parent’s remember the rides they went on and the kids the ones they see on grounds today!
It’s also been visited by Showmen and women at events and this usually results in a good conversation of why a fairground and my background with them.
We fully support a Future for Fairgrounds and take part in World Fun Fair month in September.
