"The Tunnel of Love" My life on the Traveling Fairgrounds, by rockabilly.

[Rockabilly]

Re: "The Tunnel of Love" My life on the Traveling Fairgrounds, by rockabilly.

I always assumed that you were proper old (1950s at least, maybe 40s) and now I find you're not much older than me

Another dream shattered ...

 

[Rogue]

Re: "The Tunnel of Love" My life on the Traveling Fairgrounds, by rockabilly.

I edited ians wiki and spoke to his sister after so my uncle was not forgotten. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ian_Paice

My uncle didn't have the greatest life and died of liver failure after years of alcoholism, I made sure his name would be remembered somewhere.

I still to this day have respect for Ian and his family for recognising him.

 

[Rockabilly]

Re: "The Tunnel of Love" My life on the Traveling Fairgrounds, by rockabilly.

I edited ians wiki and spoke to his sister after so my uncle was not forgotten. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ian_Paice

My uncle didn't have the greatest life and died of liver failure after years of alcoholism, I made sure his name would be remembered somewhere.

I still to this day have respect for Ian and his family for recognising him.

Such a shame about your uncle. :tophat: FairPlay to Ian Gillan and his family.

I bought a couple of "Gillan" singles back in late 1980. "Trouble" and "New Orleans".

 

[alabamared]

Re: "The Tunnel of Love" My life on the Traveling Fairgrounds, by rockabilly.

Always wanted some brothel creepers

You get more mileage from a cheap pair of sneakers

 

[alabamared]

Re: "The Tunnel of Love" My life on the Traveling Fairgrounds, by rockabilly.

I don't think I know him, but the ironic thing is, I used to live on Acton Road from 1963-67.

I worked for Pressac in Long Eaton from '91 ended up as a Director and it was they that sent me to run the US facility in 2000.

 

[Carlos]

Re: "The Tunnel of Love" My life on the Traveling Fairgrounds, by rockabilly.

Enjoying this Rocka!

 

[Tiff]

Re: "The Tunnel of Love" My life on the Traveling Fairgrounds, by rockabilly.

Really enjoying this , I do have an anecdote on the lead singer of shawoddywaddy that I could not put on a family forum.
If you’re really lucky I will tell you how I got into lighting ...


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[Strummer]

Re: "The Tunnel of Love" My life on the Traveling Fairgrounds, by rockabilly.

You get more mileage from a cheap pair of sneakers

It’s still rock and roll to me.

 

[Dirk Furtull]

Re: "The Tunnel of Love" My life on the Traveling Fairgrounds, by rockabilly.

We had a Ford Consul years ago and I had some dealings with the guy on Acton Road, I bought a few bits off him. On one occasion I turned up on my recently restored Suzuki GT750. I put down the side stand and walked towards the garage only to hear the sickening sound of the bike falling over. The guy came over as I lifted it up and said that looks nice, I said it looked better 2 minutes ago!
Damage wasn't too bad but never being happy with the finish on the frame ( someone else had had it done) I took the opportunity to strip it down again to have it done properly. It's still not back together fully.

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[NooForest]

Re: "The Tunnel of Love" My life on the Traveling Fairgrounds, by rockabilly.

I too as a youngster used to be attracted to how cool Fairgrounds were.

I sort of grew out of it. Then through work I came across a Family who owned most of the Fairground Attractions at " Spanish City " in Whitley Bay. I loved listening to the stories he would tell about what it was like growing up in a Fairground Family and was captivated by it all again.

 

[MASE]

Re: "The Tunnel of Love" My life on the Traveling Fairgrounds, by rockabilly.

Excellent thread RB.

Id have fancied a job on the fairs, Waltzer or Speedway, either would have done. Bloke always looked cool as f*** stood in the middle.

Always used to make a beeline for the wrestling booth. They used to invite folk out of the crowds to have a go, always stuck my hand up, never got picked, took me ages to twig the blokes who got picked were planted in there.

Keep up the good work mate.

 

[Rockabilly]

Re: "The Tunnel of Love" My life on the Traveling Fairgrounds, by rockabilly.

I worked for Pressac in Long Eaton from '91 ended up as a Director and it was they that sent me to run the US facility in 2000.

I left Acton Road just before my 6th birthday. I remember 'Toni Bell' ice cream vans parked at the end of the road. It was a Cul de sac back in those days. There was a mushroom farm opposite and a slaughter house too. There were two 'new build' houses halfway along Acton rd, one those was my house. I remember once when a cow escaped from the slaughter house and trampled over my dads roses on the front garden. Also near where the ice cream vans were parked there used to be a very small 'National' petrol station. My dad would always buy his petrol from there.

 

[Rockabilly]

Re: "The Tunnel of Love" My life on the Traveling Fairgrounds, by rockabilly.

It’s still rock and roll to me.

Beat me to it!

 

[Rockabilly]

Re: "The Tunnel of Love" My life on the Traveling Fairgrounds, by rockabilly.

I too as a youngster used to be attracted to how cool Fairgrounds were.

I sort of grew out of it. Then through work I came across a Family who owned most of the Fairground Attractions at " Spanish City " in Whitley Bay. I loved listening to the stories he would tell about what it was like growing up in a Fairground Family and was captivated by it all again.

Nice one Noo...that could possibly be Keith Turner or the Crow family.

There will be a mention of the Spanish City in a future chapter.

 

[Bryn Gunn]

Re: "The Tunnel of Love" My life on the Traveling Fairgrounds, by rockabilly.

Chapter Two. 'Hey Rock and Roll'.

The summer of '74 was when I got my first paper round. I used to deliver the Derby Evening Telegraph to the houses in and around the Chellaston area of Derby. I got paid 75p per week. I got 50p a week pocket money off my parents too. I was torn between spending my money on records or the funfair. I made a compromise. I would buy one or maybe two 'ex jukebox' records per week from the post office. They were only 10p each. The rest of my money went towards my trips to the fair.

During that summer, I found out the Derby Telegraph were giving away free ride vouchers the week before the fair came to town. That worked out great for me. Every time I stuffed a rolled up Telegraph through a letterbox, at the same time would knock on the door and ask for lasts night's paper so I could collect the vouchers. Bingo! I was rich in vouchers I must have had over a hundred vouchers I'd collected over that particular week.

It was mid July and it was the first night of the fair. I put my Ted gear on, combed my hair and caught the bus into Derby. The fair was held on Bass' recreation ground, opposite the Derby bus station.

As I approached the fair there were groups of teenage lasses hanging around. I looked at them hoping one of them would take a fancy to me. Not a chance! I don't even think they noticed me. The one thing about me during these time was, I was very shy. Although I had the guts to dress in my Ted gear, when it came to girls, I was terrified of chatting them up.
When I arrived at the fair I could smell the diesel from the generators mixed with the sweet smell of candy floss. I looked towards the Speedway ride. The ride was packed, not is single spare bike was to be had. The perimeter handrails/fencing had lots of teenagers eagerly watching the ride and watching the Gaff Lads too.

The lights were flashing and the music was loud... "Hey Rock and Roll,(thump thump, thump, thump)...bring it to town let's stroll (thump, thump, thump, thump) Hey Rock and Roll, let's go, let's go, lets go!" Every person on the ride and those too, that were sitting on the handrail around the ride were fist pumping together in time to the Showaddywaddy tune.

"Lets' hear you girls scream!" bellowed the showman down his mic. I walked up the Speedway steps and stood with the crowd watching with excitement. The atmosphere was electric. "Shang A Lang", "Sugar Baby Love", "Kissing in The Backrow of the Movies" all those tunes added to the wonderful atmosphere.

I got my vouchers out and had my first ride of the night. "Hey Rock and Roll" was on the turntables again... as the ride gained speed I too was fist pumping to that fantastic Showaddywaddy tune. As it got dark the and the ride was at full speed, the lights were turned off for a few seconds and we were riding in the dark. Well it wasn't pitch black as there were a couple of 'Ultra violet' lamps attached to the roof.

Those ultra violet lights were fantastic. They would make every lasses bra and knickers glow in the dark. "When the red light flickers, hang on to your knickers, open your knees and feel the breeze" more banter from the showman in the paybox.

This was the best night of my life so far! The Gaff Lads on the Speedway were up to all their usual tricks. Posing on the ride in front of the lasses. Jumping on and off when the ride was going full pelt. These show offs had lasses drooling over them. They were like pop stars... only pop stars could not do what these lads were doing! They were both brave and stupid. One false move or misjudged leap off the ride would have resulted in serious injury.

I spent the rest of that week going to the fair and spending all my vouchers. I also did happen to buy a copy of "Hey rock and Roll" from Felix's record stall from the indoor market in Derby.

I'm sure that was the night I hit puberty, and my balls had dropped too.

Rocka, was “the wakes” a northern or regional slang term for the fairground?

Great story, the fist pumping to the music made me smile and I could almost smell the candy floss reading through that.

 

[Rockabilly]

Re: "The Tunnel of Love" My life on the Traveling Fairgrounds, by rockabilly.

Excellent thread RB.

Id have fancied a job on the fairs, Waltzer or Speedway, either would have done. Bloke always looked cool as f*** stood in the middle.

Always used to make a beeline for the wrestling booth. They used to invite folk out of the crowds to have a go, always stuck my hand up, never got picked, took me ages to twig the blokes who got picked were planted in there.

Keep up the good work mate.

Thanks Mase.

It was Ron Taylor's boxing/wrestling booth that appeared at Goose Fair and all the other major fairs across the country. I've spent many a day chatting to old Ron (RIP) about the boxing booths on the fairgrounds. Back in the 40s and 50s the boxing was genuine. Ron told me how the local soldiers or sailors fancied their chances against Ron's 'Champions' for a cash prize. It was Ron who taught me how to stand on the front of a show and do the speilling. That will come at a later chapter.

 

[Rockabilly]

Re: "The Tunnel of Love" My life on the Traveling Fairgrounds, by rockabilly.

Rocka, was “the wakes” a northern or regional slang term for the fairground?

Great story, the fist pumping to the music made me smile and I could almost smell the candy floss reading through that.

Yes, 'the wakes' to my knowledge was a Midlands/Northern thing. In more southern areas the word 'Feast' would also be used.

 

[Tony Woodcock's LoveChild]

Re: "The Tunnel of Love" My life on the Traveling Fairgrounds, by rockabilly.

Superb stuff Rocka. Absolutely love it.

Always pictured you at the fairgrounds as a David Essex type character in That'll Be the Day.

Can't wait for the next chapter.

 

[Timothy Pope]

Re: "The Tunnel of Love" My life on the Traveling Fairgrounds, by rockabilly.

Are the ‘balls deep in fanny’ chapters going to be sub-edited/censored by The Geordie?


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[Rockabilly]

Re: "The Tunnel of Love" My life on the Traveling Fairgrounds, by rockabilly.

Superb stuff Rocka. Absolutely love it.

Always pictured you at the fairgrounds as a David Essex type character in That'll Be the Day.

Can't wait for the next chapter.

Cheers Tony :cheers: This is my most favourite film of all time. It also has a big mention in another chapter.

 

[Rockabilly]

Re: "The Tunnel of Love" My life on the Traveling Fairgrounds, by rockabilly.

Are the ‘balls deep in fanny’ chapters going to be sub-edited/censored by The Geordie?


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This is a family Forum. You'll have to wait for the book. :hey:

 

[Rockabilly]

Re: "The Tunnel of Love" My life on the Traveling Fairgrounds, by rockabilly.

Rocka, was “the wakes” a northern or regional slang term for the fairground?

Great story, the fist pumping to the music made me smile and I could almost smell the candy floss reading through that.

Sorry Bryn I forgot to mention the word 'wakes' come from when the factories closed for their annual holidays. The fairs would often turn up on 'Wakes week'.

 

[Rockabilly]

Re: "The Tunnel of Love" My life on the Traveling Fairgrounds, by rockabilly.

Really enjoying this , I do have an anecdote on the lead singer of shawoddywaddy that I could not put on a family forum.
If you’re really lucky I will tell you how I got into lighting ...


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There used to be a novelty type ride on the fair called the 'Scat'.

 

[Dirk Furtull]

Re: "The Tunnel of Love" My life on the Traveling Fairgrounds, by rockabilly.

Yes, 'the wakes' to my knowledge was a Midlands/Northern thing. In more southern areas the word 'Feast' would also be used.

In Ashby where I work the locals call the fair which occurs in September the 'stachits', that's just slang for the Statutes fair. These fairs started as a means of hiring labour after the black death reduced the amount of labour significantly in 1351.
Not sure when the waltzers were added!

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[Tiff]

Re: "The Tunnel of Love" My life on the Traveling Fairgrounds, by rockabilly.

There used to be a novelty type ride on the fair called the 'Scat'.

Spot on

I think I might have told it elsewhere in the past

But you’ll never hear under the moon of love in the same way again.


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