Viktor
Bee Gees Fan Club member #00001
Re: "The Tunnel of Love" My life on the Traveling Fairgrounds, by rockabilly.
Noted, thank you
Noted, thank you
"The Tunnel of Love" My life on the Traveling Fairgrounds, by rockabilly.
- Thread starter Rockabilly
- Start date
- Status
Rockabilly
GAFF LAD. "Open your knees and feel the breeze"
Re: "The Tunnel of Love" My life on the Traveling Fairgrounds, by rockabilly.
Chapter Forty… “We’re only making plans… for Joolz”
It was January 2012 when Joolz decided to migrate South, from Gateshead and live with me in Melbourne. We’d only been together for six months but we both knew it was the right thing to do. The village lifestyle suited her. Every Saturday, we’d go the local ‘church coffee mornings’ to sit and have a cup of tea with the old folk. We both loved talking to the old villagers. We’d go to our local cafe ‘Welcome Cafe’ in Melbourne, and spend the afternoon chatting to the pensioners that would frequent the cafe. During one our trips to the cafe, Joolz had mentioned that she’d never been on holiday abroad. I was shocked. Although she did also say that she had been on a weekend trip to Paris and was refused entry up the Eiffel Tower due to her being drunk!
After supping tea with the pensioners in the cafe, I dragged Joolz across the road and booked us a holiday in Cala Millor. It would be Joolz’s first sunshine holiday abroad. So off we both went on our holiday to Cal Millor in Mallorca. I chose her a nice small and friendly hotel. When we were over in Mallorca, we kept away from the tourist bars and restaurants, We would go to the local tapas bars and eat and drink with the locals, at the same time brushing up on our Spanish. Our motto was… keep well away from the British.
It was on one particular night in Cala Millor, when I decided to drag Joolz down to the Jetty on the beach. It was about 10pm, it was a warm night and there was a lovely full orange moon shining and reflecting on the sea. So I got my phone out, and played one of our favourite tunes. As the tune played, I got down on one knee and proposed to Joolz. She accepted my proposal and we went off for a romantic walk in the moonlight. The ironic thing is… Joolz had always said that she would never ever get married.
After we had returned home from our holiday, we gave our families the good news. It was now time for me to plan for something special at a later date.
It was now June 2012, and I’d reached my 50th birthday. The time was right for me to officially retire. Back in 1978, my dad had made sure that I saved into a Pension Policy, so that I could retire at fifty and enjoy life. Well that day had arrived, so now I was officially retired. What better way to spend retirement than with Joolz. Because of my illness, I never take life for granted. Myself and Joolz would often spend our weekends away at the seaside, along with weekends up in Gateshead to see her family.
Life was looking good for us both and I was grabbing my new found happiness with both hands. There was something about the two of us that had really clicked into place. There were certainly no signs of the angry Geordie that I’d saw on Facebook. Joolz had definitely unleashed a different Gary, a Gary that even I didn’t know had existed.
The year was now 2013, me and Joolz were very happy together. It was now time for me put my special plan into place.
My plan was to take Joolz on a trip across ‘Route 66’ in the USA, stop off at Vegas and we’d get married in the ‘Little White Chapel.’ Both Joolz and myself had a keen interest in Route 66, especially the 1950s culture spread along the route. This all had to be done without her knowing anything about it. I wanted it to be a surprise for her.
I booked the holiday with a company called ‘Titan’. It would be a coach holiday. Because of my illness, there’s no way I could’ve drove from Chicago to LA. I managed to book the holiday and keep all the paperwork and correspondence away from Joolz. I’d told Joolz we were going to Spain, and I was taking care of the booking and paperwork. Everything was sorted and ready for our trip to the States.
,
Chapter Forty… “We’re only making plans… for Joolz”
It was January 2012 when Joolz decided to migrate South, from Gateshead and live with me in Melbourne. We’d only been together for six months but we both knew it was the right thing to do. The village lifestyle suited her. Every Saturday, we’d go the local ‘church coffee mornings’ to sit and have a cup of tea with the old folk. We both loved talking to the old villagers. We’d go to our local cafe ‘Welcome Cafe’ in Melbourne, and spend the afternoon chatting to the pensioners that would frequent the cafe. During one our trips to the cafe, Joolz had mentioned that she’d never been on holiday abroad. I was shocked. Although she did also say that she had been on a weekend trip to Paris and was refused entry up the Eiffel Tower due to her being drunk!
After supping tea with the pensioners in the cafe, I dragged Joolz across the road and booked us a holiday in Cala Millor. It would be Joolz’s first sunshine holiday abroad. So off we both went on our holiday to Cal Millor in Mallorca. I chose her a nice small and friendly hotel. When we were over in Mallorca, we kept away from the tourist bars and restaurants, We would go to the local tapas bars and eat and drink with the locals, at the same time brushing up on our Spanish. Our motto was… keep well away from the British.
It was on one particular night in Cala Millor, when I decided to drag Joolz down to the Jetty on the beach. It was about 10pm, it was a warm night and there was a lovely full orange moon shining and reflecting on the sea. So I got my phone out, and played one of our favourite tunes. As the tune played, I got down on one knee and proposed to Joolz. She accepted my proposal and we went off for a romantic walk in the moonlight. The ironic thing is… Joolz had always said that she would never ever get married.
After we had returned home from our holiday, we gave our families the good news. It was now time for me to plan for something special at a later date.
It was now June 2012, and I’d reached my 50th birthday. The time was right for me to officially retire. Back in 1978, my dad had made sure that I saved into a Pension Policy, so that I could retire at fifty and enjoy life. Well that day had arrived, so now I was officially retired. What better way to spend retirement than with Joolz. Because of my illness, I never take life for granted. Myself and Joolz would often spend our weekends away at the seaside, along with weekends up in Gateshead to see her family.
Life was looking good for us both and I was grabbing my new found happiness with both hands. There was something about the two of us that had really clicked into place. There were certainly no signs of the angry Geordie that I’d saw on Facebook. Joolz had definitely unleashed a different Gary, a Gary that even I didn’t know had existed.
The year was now 2013, me and Joolz were very happy together. It was now time for me put my special plan into place.
My plan was to take Joolz on a trip across ‘Route 66’ in the USA, stop off at Vegas and we’d get married in the ‘Little White Chapel.’ Both Joolz and myself had a keen interest in Route 66, especially the 1950s culture spread along the route. This all had to be done without her knowing anything about it. I wanted it to be a surprise for her.
I booked the holiday with a company called ‘Titan’. It would be a coach holiday. Because of my illness, there’s no way I could’ve drove from Chicago to LA. I managed to book the holiday and keep all the paperwork and correspondence away from Joolz. I’d told Joolz we were going to Spain, and I was taking care of the booking and paperwork. Everything was sorted and ready for our trip to the States.
,
Re: "The Tunnel of Love" My life on the Traveling Fairgrounds, by rockabilly.
„Thank you ma‘am, uh-huh-huh!“
„Thank you ma‘am, uh-huh-huh!“
Rockabilly
GAFF LAD. "Open your knees and feel the breeze"
Re: "The Tunnel of Love" My life on the Traveling Fairgrounds, by rockabilly.
Is that you Mr Presley?
Is that you Mr Presley?
Rockabilly
GAFF LAD. "Open your knees and feel the breeze"
Re: "The Tunnel of Love" My life on the Traveling Fairgrounds, by rockabilly.
I managed to find the picture.
I managed to find the picture.
I'm Red Till Dead
Stuart Pearce
Re: "The Tunnel of Love" My life on the Traveling Fairgrounds, by rockabilly.
Well done. So it was the one on the right.
It looks really good.
Well done. So it was the one on the right.
It looks really good.
L
lard
Guest
Re: "The Tunnel of Love" My life on the Traveling Fairgrounds, by rockabilly.
Sorry Rockabilly, I struggle with long posts so haven't read your thread but I am sure its brilliant but sorry for not engaging with it .
You are a fantastic person but I have always struggled with reading long posts and is the reason I can't engage with a book .
Sent from my SM-A600FN using Tapatalk
Sorry Rockabilly, I struggle with long posts so haven't read your thread but I am sure its brilliant but sorry for not engaging with it .
You are a fantastic person but I have always struggled with reading long posts and is the reason I can't engage with a book .
Sent from my SM-A600FN using Tapatalk
Redemption
Chief Eye Roller
Re: "The Tunnel of Love" My life on the Traveling Fairgrounds, by rockabilly.
When he's done, I'll sum it up in a Haiku for you Lard.
Sorry Rockabilly, I struggle with long posts so haven't read your thread but I am sure its brilliant but sorry for not engaging with it .
You are a fantastic person but I have always struggled with reading long posts and is the reason I can't engage with a book .
Sent from my SM-A600FN using Tapatalk
When he's done, I'll sum it up in a Haiku for you Lard.
Rockabilly
GAFF LAD. "Open your knees and feel the breeze"
Re: "The Tunnel of Love" My life on the Traveling Fairgrounds, by rockabilly.
Thanks Red. :cheers:
Thanks Red. :cheers:
Rockabilly
GAFF LAD. "Open your knees and feel the breeze"
Re: "The Tunnel of Love" My life on the Traveling Fairgrounds, by rockabilly.
No problem lard, you're a good 'un. :cheers:
Sorry Rockabilly, I struggle with long posts so haven't read your thread but I am sure its brilliant but sorry for not engaging with it .
You are a fantastic person but I have always struggled with reading long posts and is the reason I can't engage with a book .
Sent from my SM-A600FN using Tapatalk
No problem lard, you're a good 'un. :cheers:
Battered Sausage
Matchday Squad
Re: "The Tunnel of Love" My life on the Traveling Fairgrounds, by rockabilly.
Greased back hair
Shagging and painting
meets geordie.
Just about covers it.
Greased back hair
Shagging and painting
meets geordie.
Just about covers it.
Rockabilly
GAFF LAD. "Open your knees and feel the breeze"
Re: "The Tunnel of Love" My life on the Traveling Fairgrounds, by rockabilly.
Aye... and a middle finger to the O level twat.
Aye... and a middle finger to the O level twat.
Rockabilly
GAFF LAD. "Open your knees and feel the breeze"
Re: "The Tunnel of Love" My life on the Traveling Fairgrounds, by rockabilly.
Chapter Forty One… “We Got Our Kicks On Route 66”
The night before our ‘so called holiday to Spain’ Joolz had just finished packing our suit cases and then it was early to bed ready for our early morning taxi.
At was 5am when a mini bus came and collected us to take us to the airport.
Living in Melbourne meant we were only five minutes away from East Midlands Airport. As the mini bus driver drove past EMA, Joolz looked confused and said “He’s gone past the airport”. “Aye… I forgot to mention, I couldn’t get any flights from East Midlands, so unfortunately, we’re flying from Heathrow.”
When we arrived at Heathrow, it was at ‘check in’ when Joolz knew I was up to something, especially when it said Chicago above the desk. I then told her we’re having three weeks in Chicago and the surrounding areas.
After landing in Chicago, we met up with our Titan rep. When we boarded our coach, that was the moment Joolz realised we were on a Route 66 trip. Yep, we were going all the way from Chicago to LA. Titan had put a slight detour in the trip to spend one night in Las Vegas at the Golden Nugget hotel. Julie the Titan rep, was in on my wedding surprise for Joolz. Every now and then on the trip, she would pull me aside and ask me to sign a form from time to time. I’m sure Joolz thought there was something dodgy going off between me and the rep.
Joolz was over the moon that we were on Route 66, but she had no idea we were going to get married in the little white chapel. The tour was a dream come true for the both of us. Plenty of the 50s American culture was along the way. Art Deco buildings, Diners, Gas Stations, old signs, Neon, and of course the old cars and trucks, along with plenty of good music too.
There was one particular incident that happened in St Louis, that very nearly gave the game away. As usual we avoided all the usual ‘tourist traps’ and when it came to having a beer, we wanted to drink with the locals, not a bunch of tourists. We found a small bar off one the side streets. It was a typical American bar, very similar to the bar in the tv show ‘Cheers’.
When we entered the bar there was a lady behind the bar and a young American man sitting at the bar. As always… me and Joolz would sit on a bar stool at the bar. We ordered our drinks and sat and admired the retro style decor. It was at this point the young man came over and sat next to us. “Excuse me, are you guys from England? We’ve never had any English folks in this bar before” said the young man. He then went on to say he worked at the Budweiser Brewery, and that he also did an Elvis tribute act in his spare time. We got chatting about music. Every tune that I said I liked, the lad would use his phone and ‘Blue tooth’ it onto the Jukebox. It turned out the lad’s grandfather was the of 70s singer Tony Orlando.
This is where my wedding plans were nearly scuppered. The lad told us Tony had a night club in Vegas that did ‘Elvis Shows’ every night. The lad rang Tony Orlando up on his phone and told him that a couple from England would be visiting Vegas next week. Tony Orlando had got us both VIP tickets for the show. Free entry, free food and drink and back stage passes to meet the cast of the show. Here came the problem… we were only staying in Vegas for one night only and that was going to be our wedding night. Eventually, when Joolz had gone to powder her nose, I let him in on my sneaky wedding plans.
As time went on in the bar, the young lad had been buying all of our drinks, he would not let us buy him a single beer. As far as he was concerned, we were his guests. Funny thing was… the lady behind the bar reminded me of a young Suzi Quatro. Before the end of the afternoon, the lad had phoned all of his mates and had told them “we’ve got two people in here all the way from England!” They all came down to meet us. A good time was had by all in that back street bar.
The day before our wedding we were at the Grand Canyon. We spent the full day there… it was kind of a stag and hen day. Little did Joolz know what would be happening the next day. The Grand Canyon was a wonderful experience, the perfect day to spend together before our wedding.
We arrived in Vegas, mid afternoon in the blistering heat. We checked in at the Golden Nugget and I needed to get my plan under way. The first thing I needed to do was go to ‘Clark County Court’ to obtain a wedding licence. On our arrival at Clark County Court, Joolz said, “Why have we come here?” “That’s because you and I me my dear, are getting married… that’s if you’ll have me?” Joolz said yes, then we got the correct paper work signed and back to the hotel we both went.
Back at the hotel, I said to the lady on reception “Could you ring the Little White Chapel please, we want to get married tonight”. The lady made a note of our room number, and called me back a short while later. After I put the phone down, I said to Joolz, we’re getting married at 9pm tonight, the taxi is picking us at 8-45pm.
We got married at the Little White Chapel on the dot at 9pm. There was only the Pastor, the photographer and our good selves. The wedding ceremony took about fifteen minutes. After the ceremony, we were whisked off in one of stretch limousines, and we were given a quick tour of Las Vegas. We had told nobody back home that we had got married. Instead, Joolz sent all our relatives a post card from Vegas which read “Just Married”.
Eventually we completed our Route 66 journey at Long Beach, California. We decided to take a trip on a boat to go ‘whale watching’ Along the way we saw pods of dolphins swimming along side the boat. It was wonderful to see them in their natural habitat and to see those giant blue whales spouting water up in the air was a once in a lifetime experience. Seeing those huge whales really was a privilege and a thing of beauty too. What a wonderful way to end our trip across the USA.
And that… was how we ‘got our kicks on Route 66’
Chapter Forty One… “We Got Our Kicks On Route 66”
The night before our ‘so called holiday to Spain’ Joolz had just finished packing our suit cases and then it was early to bed ready for our early morning taxi.
At was 5am when a mini bus came and collected us to take us to the airport.
Living in Melbourne meant we were only five minutes away from East Midlands Airport. As the mini bus driver drove past EMA, Joolz looked confused and said “He’s gone past the airport”. “Aye… I forgot to mention, I couldn’t get any flights from East Midlands, so unfortunately, we’re flying from Heathrow.”
When we arrived at Heathrow, it was at ‘check in’ when Joolz knew I was up to something, especially when it said Chicago above the desk. I then told her we’re having three weeks in Chicago and the surrounding areas.
After landing in Chicago, we met up with our Titan rep. When we boarded our coach, that was the moment Joolz realised we were on a Route 66 trip. Yep, we were going all the way from Chicago to LA. Titan had put a slight detour in the trip to spend one night in Las Vegas at the Golden Nugget hotel. Julie the Titan rep, was in on my wedding surprise for Joolz. Every now and then on the trip, she would pull me aside and ask me to sign a form from time to time. I’m sure Joolz thought there was something dodgy going off between me and the rep.
Joolz was over the moon that we were on Route 66, but she had no idea we were going to get married in the little white chapel. The tour was a dream come true for the both of us. Plenty of the 50s American culture was along the way. Art Deco buildings, Diners, Gas Stations, old signs, Neon, and of course the old cars and trucks, along with plenty of good music too.
There was one particular incident that happened in St Louis, that very nearly gave the game away. As usual we avoided all the usual ‘tourist traps’ and when it came to having a beer, we wanted to drink with the locals, not a bunch of tourists. We found a small bar off one the side streets. It was a typical American bar, very similar to the bar in the tv show ‘Cheers’.
When we entered the bar there was a lady behind the bar and a young American man sitting at the bar. As always… me and Joolz would sit on a bar stool at the bar. We ordered our drinks and sat and admired the retro style decor. It was at this point the young man came over and sat next to us. “Excuse me, are you guys from England? We’ve never had any English folks in this bar before” said the young man. He then went on to say he worked at the Budweiser Brewery, and that he also did an Elvis tribute act in his spare time. We got chatting about music. Every tune that I said I liked, the lad would use his phone and ‘Blue tooth’ it onto the Jukebox. It turned out the lad’s grandfather was the of 70s singer Tony Orlando.
This is where my wedding plans were nearly scuppered. The lad told us Tony had a night club in Vegas that did ‘Elvis Shows’ every night. The lad rang Tony Orlando up on his phone and told him that a couple from England would be visiting Vegas next week. Tony Orlando had got us both VIP tickets for the show. Free entry, free food and drink and back stage passes to meet the cast of the show. Here came the problem… we were only staying in Vegas for one night only and that was going to be our wedding night. Eventually, when Joolz had gone to powder her nose, I let him in on my sneaky wedding plans.
As time went on in the bar, the young lad had been buying all of our drinks, he would not let us buy him a single beer. As far as he was concerned, we were his guests. Funny thing was… the lady behind the bar reminded me of a young Suzi Quatro. Before the end of the afternoon, the lad had phoned all of his mates and had told them “we’ve got two people in here all the way from England!” They all came down to meet us. A good time was had by all in that back street bar.
The day before our wedding we were at the Grand Canyon. We spent the full day there… it was kind of a stag and hen day. Little did Joolz know what would be happening the next day. The Grand Canyon was a wonderful experience, the perfect day to spend together before our wedding.
We arrived in Vegas, mid afternoon in the blistering heat. We checked in at the Golden Nugget and I needed to get my plan under way. The first thing I needed to do was go to ‘Clark County Court’ to obtain a wedding licence. On our arrival at Clark County Court, Joolz said, “Why have we come here?” “That’s because you and I me my dear, are getting married… that’s if you’ll have me?” Joolz said yes, then we got the correct paper work signed and back to the hotel we both went.
Back at the hotel, I said to the lady on reception “Could you ring the Little White Chapel please, we want to get married tonight”. The lady made a note of our room number, and called me back a short while later. After I put the phone down, I said to Joolz, we’re getting married at 9pm tonight, the taxi is picking us at 8-45pm.
We got married at the Little White Chapel on the dot at 9pm. There was only the Pastor, the photographer and our good selves. The wedding ceremony took about fifteen minutes. After the ceremony, we were whisked off in one of stretch limousines, and we were given a quick tour of Las Vegas. We had told nobody back home that we had got married. Instead, Joolz sent all our relatives a post card from Vegas which read “Just Married”.
Eventually we completed our Route 66 journey at Long Beach, California. We decided to take a trip on a boat to go ‘whale watching’ Along the way we saw pods of dolphins swimming along side the boat. It was wonderful to see them in their natural habitat and to see those giant blue whales spouting water up in the air was a once in a lifetime experience. Seeing those huge whales really was a privilege and a thing of beauty too. What a wonderful way to end our trip across the USA.
And that… was how we ‘got our kicks on Route 66’
Last edited:
Rockabilly
GAFF LAD. "Open your knees and feel the breeze"
Re: "The Tunnel of Love" My life on the Traveling Fairgrounds, by rockabilly.
The final chapter…. “The Missing Piece Of The Jigsaw”.
Looking back over the years, a lot had changed in my life. The shy bullied shoe repairer called Gary, had become Rembrandt ‘Chief show off and bird puller’… then he became the ‘Rockabilly drummer’… who in turn became the well respected ‘Showman’s Artist…’ and now, at last I had finally become the real Gary Bignall, the settled down husband.
Also along that journey, Violet Warwick, Bill’s dear wife had passed away back in 2002. It was at Violet’s funeral where I would see Billy Warwick for the very last time. Billy Warwick died in 2015. I attended Bill’s funeral, where I was reunited with his now grown up son William and his daughter Michaela. We still keep in touch now. I had recently received a message from William Warwick which read “Thank you for all of what you did for us”. That message nearly bought a tear to my eye. Saying goodbye to Bill at the funeral did bring tears to my eyes, it was almost like saying good-bye to my own father. Billy Warwick was more than just a friend to me… he was and always will be my ‘hero’. Rest in peace Bill.
There was one final piece of my jigsaw that hadn’t been put in place yet. That was to happen back in the spring of 2015.
Since my marriage to Joolz in 2013 life has been good. Joolz had embraced life living in the East Midlands and I think most of the East Midlands has embraced her too, lol.
During the springtime of 2015, myself and Joolz had taken a stroll to our local pub. We often called in at our local pubs after a cup of tea at the ‘Welcome Cafe’ and a slow stroll around the village. As we were being served at the bar by a new barmaid, the lass looked me in the eye as she passed my beer over to me. She then asked “Is your name Gary?” “Yes” I replied. Her next question made the blood drain from my body. “You used to work on the fair didn’t you?” She said. As I turned and glanced at Joolz, I could see she didn’t look too happy at what was happening. “I remember you working on the Skid” she said. f***ing hell, who the hell was this woman, is she about to inform me I’d got a grown up son or daughter that had been conceived on the Gaff? For what seemed like an eternity, I was in shock. I was rooted to the spot unable to move or even utter another single word from my trembling mouth. “Don’t look so worried” she laughed. Then she looked over at Joolz and said “It’s alright Duck, I’m not one his ex girlfriends”. As the blood began to flow around my body again, I asked “Do I know you?” “Yes” she said, “My name’s Sharron, I used to go out with your mate Teabag”.
One of my few regrets in life was losing touch with Teabag after our caravan holiday at Chapel St Leonards back in the late 1980s. I’d always missed Teabag over the years. I knew he’d have been proud of my Fairground Art as well as my time playing drums in the band. Many, many times over the years I’d asked around on the Gaffs and ex Gaff Lads, if they’d heard of or seen anything of my old pal. Nobody seemed to know anything about Teabag. For all I knew, he could have passed away without me knowing.
So now in the pub, Sharron was explaining to myself and Joolz that she was an old girlfriend of Teabag’s. She went on to say that until a couple of years ago, Teabag did if fact live in Derby. He’d been living in Derby with Sharron since he retired from the Gaff back in 1988. Also Sharron had a child with him too. Bloody hell… I’d been searching for Teabag for the last twenty five years or so, and all this time he’d been living right under my nose! Sharron then went on to say that things didn’t work out between them and Teabag was now living in Hull. Then what she told me next was music to my ears! “We still keep in touch regular and he often asks about you” she told me. I couldn’t believe my ears. The final piece of my life’s jigsaw was finally going to be put in place.
It was ironic that myself and Teabag’s reunion was at the funeral of Billy Warwick. Although a very sombre occasion, myself and Teabag were finally reunited and we had a lot of catching up to do. I remember Joolz laughing and then saying “I can see how you two caused so much havoc together on the fairs back then”
So life is good now, myself and Mrs Joolz Bignall are very happy. I still keep in touch with the old Gaff Lads, Teabag, Crockerpod, ‘Tiny’ from the Speedway and Andy from the Waltzer. We are all a lot older and wiser now. We often talk about the good old days on the Gaff. It’s in our blood, once the gaff gets into your blood, it’s stays there forever. Once a Gaff Lad, always a Gaff Lad.
I am now nearly sixty years of age. When I was a little boy I would watch the Goose Fair go past my bedroom window… it was always MY dream to work on the fair. If YOU have a dream, hold on tight to it… go and chase that dream, you won’t regret it, I didn’t. Have I any regrets? Not many. Would I do it all again? You bet I would!
Thank you all, for taking the time to read about My Life on the Traveling Fairground.
This story is dedicated to Billy Warwick and my wife Julie.
The final chapter…. “The Missing Piece Of The Jigsaw”.
Looking back over the years, a lot had changed in my life. The shy bullied shoe repairer called Gary, had become Rembrandt ‘Chief show off and bird puller’… then he became the ‘Rockabilly drummer’… who in turn became the well respected ‘Showman’s Artist…’ and now, at last I had finally become the real Gary Bignall, the settled down husband.
Also along that journey, Violet Warwick, Bill’s dear wife had passed away back in 2002. It was at Violet’s funeral where I would see Billy Warwick for the very last time. Billy Warwick died in 2015. I attended Bill’s funeral, where I was reunited with his now grown up son William and his daughter Michaela. We still keep in touch now. I had recently received a message from William Warwick which read “Thank you for all of what you did for us”. That message nearly bought a tear to my eye. Saying goodbye to Bill at the funeral did bring tears to my eyes, it was almost like saying good-bye to my own father. Billy Warwick was more than just a friend to me… he was and always will be my ‘hero’. Rest in peace Bill.
There was one final piece of my jigsaw that hadn’t been put in place yet. That was to happen back in the spring of 2015.
Since my marriage to Joolz in 2013 life has been good. Joolz had embraced life living in the East Midlands and I think most of the East Midlands has embraced her too, lol.
During the springtime of 2015, myself and Joolz had taken a stroll to our local pub. We often called in at our local pubs after a cup of tea at the ‘Welcome Cafe’ and a slow stroll around the village. As we were being served at the bar by a new barmaid, the lass looked me in the eye as she passed my beer over to me. She then asked “Is your name Gary?” “Yes” I replied. Her next question made the blood drain from my body. “You used to work on the fair didn’t you?” She said. As I turned and glanced at Joolz, I could see she didn’t look too happy at what was happening. “I remember you working on the Skid” she said. f***ing hell, who the hell was this woman, is she about to inform me I’d got a grown up son or daughter that had been conceived on the Gaff? For what seemed like an eternity, I was in shock. I was rooted to the spot unable to move or even utter another single word from my trembling mouth. “Don’t look so worried” she laughed. Then she looked over at Joolz and said “It’s alright Duck, I’m not one his ex girlfriends”. As the blood began to flow around my body again, I asked “Do I know you?” “Yes” she said, “My name’s Sharron, I used to go out with your mate Teabag”.
One of my few regrets in life was losing touch with Teabag after our caravan holiday at Chapel St Leonards back in the late 1980s. I’d always missed Teabag over the years. I knew he’d have been proud of my Fairground Art as well as my time playing drums in the band. Many, many times over the years I’d asked around on the Gaffs and ex Gaff Lads, if they’d heard of or seen anything of my old pal. Nobody seemed to know anything about Teabag. For all I knew, he could have passed away without me knowing.
So now in the pub, Sharron was explaining to myself and Joolz that she was an old girlfriend of Teabag’s. She went on to say that until a couple of years ago, Teabag did if fact live in Derby. He’d been living in Derby with Sharron since he retired from the Gaff back in 1988. Also Sharron had a child with him too. Bloody hell… I’d been searching for Teabag for the last twenty five years or so, and all this time he’d been living right under my nose! Sharron then went on to say that things didn’t work out between them and Teabag was now living in Hull. Then what she told me next was music to my ears! “We still keep in touch regular and he often asks about you” she told me. I couldn’t believe my ears. The final piece of my life’s jigsaw was finally going to be put in place.
It was ironic that myself and Teabag’s reunion was at the funeral of Billy Warwick. Although a very sombre occasion, myself and Teabag were finally reunited and we had a lot of catching up to do. I remember Joolz laughing and then saying “I can see how you two caused so much havoc together on the fairs back then”
So life is good now, myself and Mrs Joolz Bignall are very happy. I still keep in touch with the old Gaff Lads, Teabag, Crockerpod, ‘Tiny’ from the Speedway and Andy from the Waltzer. We are all a lot older and wiser now. We often talk about the good old days on the Gaff. It’s in our blood, once the gaff gets into your blood, it’s stays there forever. Once a Gaff Lad, always a Gaff Lad.
I am now nearly sixty years of age. When I was a little boy I would watch the Goose Fair go past my bedroom window… it was always MY dream to work on the fair. If YOU have a dream, hold on tight to it… go and chase that dream, you won’t regret it, I didn’t. Have I any regrets? Not many. Would I do it all again? You bet I would!
Thank you all, for taking the time to read about My Life on the Traveling Fairground.
This story is dedicated to Billy Warwick and my wife Julie.
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Rockabilly
GAFF LAD. "Open your knees and feel the breeze"
Re: "The Tunnel of Love" My life on the Traveling Fairgrounds, by rockabilly.
Teabag. Picture taken in 2015.
Teabag. Picture taken in 2015.
Rockabilly
GAFF LAD. "Open your knees and feel the breeze"
Re: "The Tunnel of Love" My life on the Traveling Fairgrounds, by rockabilly.
Teabag on the Gaff.
Teabag on the Gaff.
Timothy Pope
I know that Nuno that I know that Nuno that I know
Re: "The Tunnel of Love" My life on the Traveling Fairgrounds, by rockabilly.
Pollens up
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Pollens up
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Rockabilly
GAFF LAD. "Open your knees and feel the breeze"
Re: "The Tunnel of Love" My life on the Traveling Fairgrounds, by rockabilly.
A sad end to the Foden I'd painted back in 1985.
A sad end to the Foden I'd painted back in 1985.
Timothy Pope
I know that Nuno that I know that Nuno that I know
Re: "The Tunnel of Love" My life on the Traveling Fairgrounds, by rockabilly.
This really would make a fantastic book Rocka.
If you want to get it published, then I’m happy to chuck some cash in the kitty as I suspect many others would. Some of us did the same for Alex Walker’s “The Glory of Forest “ book.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
This really would make a fantastic book Rocka.
If you want to get it published, then I’m happy to chuck some cash in the kitty as I suspect many others would. Some of us did the same for Alex Walker’s “The Glory of Forest “ book.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Battered Sausage
Matchday Squad
Re: "The Tunnel of Love" My life on the Traveling Fairgrounds, by rockabilly.
I know this great publisher out Nottingham way, Pineapple books, don;t know if anyone knows it.
I know this great publisher out Nottingham way, Pineapple books, don;t know if anyone knows it.
Rockabilly
GAFF LAD. "Open your knees and feel the breeze"
Re: "The Tunnel of Love" My life on the Traveling Fairgrounds, by rockabilly.
The Tunnel of Love. by Dire Straits.
Getting’ crazy on the Waltzers but it’s the life that I choose
Sing about the six blade sing about the switchback and a torture tattoo
And I’ve been riding on the Ghost Train, where the cars they scream and slam
And I don’t know where I’ll be tonight, but I’ll always tell you where I am
In a screaming ring of faces I saw her standing in the light
She had a ticket for the races
Yeah just like me she was a victim of the night
I put my hand on the lever I said let it rock and let it roll
I had the one armed bandit fever
And there was an arrow through my heart and my soul
And the Big Wheel keep on turning,
Neon burning up above
And I’m just high the world
Come and take a low ride with me girl
On the Tunnel of Love, yeah love
It’s just a danger when you’re riding at you own risk
She said “you are the perfect stranger’
I said “baby let’s just keep it like this”
It’s just a cakewalk, a twister mania, yeah baby step right up and say
“Hey mister, give me two, give me two now, cause any two can play”
Well it’s been money for muscle on another whirly gig,
Money for muscle and another girl I dig
Another hustle just to, just to make it big
And rock away rock away, oh rock away rock away
And girl it looks pretty to me, like it always did
Oh, like the Spanish City to me, when we were kids
She took off her silver locket, she said remember me by this
She put her hand in my pocket, I got a keepsake and a kiss
And in the roar of dust and diesel
I stood and watched her walk away
I could have caught up with her easy enough
But something must have made me stay
Yeah now I’m searching through these Carousels and carnival arcades
Searching everywhere, from steeplechase to balustrades
In any shooting galleries where promises are made
To Rock away, rock away
From culler coats to Whitley Bay and to rock away
And girl it looks so pretty to me like it always did
Oh like the Spanish City to me, when we were kids.
The Tunnel of Love. by Dire Straits.
Getting’ crazy on the Waltzers but it’s the life that I choose
Sing about the six blade sing about the switchback and a torture tattoo
And I’ve been riding on the Ghost Train, where the cars they scream and slam
And I don’t know where I’ll be tonight, but I’ll always tell you where I am
In a screaming ring of faces I saw her standing in the light
She had a ticket for the races
Yeah just like me she was a victim of the night
I put my hand on the lever I said let it rock and let it roll
I had the one armed bandit fever
And there was an arrow through my heart and my soul
And the Big Wheel keep on turning,
Neon burning up above
And I’m just high the world
Come and take a low ride with me girl
On the Tunnel of Love, yeah love
It’s just a danger when you’re riding at you own risk
She said “you are the perfect stranger’
I said “baby let’s just keep it like this”
It’s just a cakewalk, a twister mania, yeah baby step right up and say
“Hey mister, give me two, give me two now, cause any two can play”
Well it’s been money for muscle on another whirly gig,
Money for muscle and another girl I dig
Another hustle just to, just to make it big
And rock away rock away, oh rock away rock away
And girl it looks pretty to me, like it always did
Oh, like the Spanish City to me, when we were kids
She took off her silver locket, she said remember me by this
She put her hand in my pocket, I got a keepsake and a kiss
And in the roar of dust and diesel
I stood and watched her walk away
I could have caught up with her easy enough
But something must have made me stay
Yeah now I’m searching through these Carousels and carnival arcades
Searching everywhere, from steeplechase to balustrades
In any shooting galleries where promises are made
To Rock away, rock away
From culler coats to Whitley Bay and to rock away
And girl it looks so pretty to me like it always did
Oh like the Spanish City to me, when we were kids.
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Rockabilly
GAFF LAD. "Open your knees and feel the breeze"
Rockabilly
GAFF LAD. "Open your knees and feel the breeze"
Re: "The Tunnel of Love" My life on the Traveling Fairgrounds, by rockabilly.
Thanks for your kind gesture Tim.
I need to have a good think about putting all this down in to a book. I've got plenty more stories and happenings I could add to a proper published book.
Thanks for your kind gesture Tim.
I need to have a good think about putting all this down in to a book. I've got plenty more stories and happenings I could add to a proper published book.
Re: "The Tunnel of Love" My life on the Traveling Fairgrounds, by rockabilly.
You’ve got to be careful about „The Glory of Forest“.
There’s all sorts of weirdos get a name-check in there, including me.
You’ve got to be careful about „The Glory of Forest“.
There’s all sorts of weirdos get a name-check in there, including me.
Viktor
Bee Gees Fan Club member #00001
Re: "The Tunnel of Love" My life on the Traveling Fairgrounds, by rockabilly.
A great read, Rocks. Been really interesting, and a great laugh.
A great read, Rocks. Been really interesting, and a great laugh.
- Status