Rockabilly
GAFF LAD. "Open your knees and feel the breeze"
Over the last 12 months or so, I've received several pms from folk on here asking if I'd write about, or tell a few of my stories about my life on the traveling fairground.
Chapter one. 'How it all began'.
I was born in Long Eaton in 1962. When the fair came to visit West Park in Long Eaton, my parents would take me to the fair and of course have a go on the rides too.
It became obvious to my mum and dad that the fair had a hold on me, even at an early age before I started school. When the heavy loads pulled up on West Park, I knew the fair had come to town. I made mum parked my push chair next to the rides being set up.
My parents told me how they remembered how I was allured to the bright lights and the wonderful painted colours on the rides and stalls.
As time went on, I was taken to more and more fairs. Long Eaton, Goose Fair, Ilkeston, Derby, were all visited every time they were on.
When I was at Junior school I was forever telling teachers I wanted to work on the fair when I grow up. They thought I was nuts. On one particular parents evening, my form teacher mentioned I needed encouraging away from a career on the fair. My dad thought that was hilarious. He'd already got plans for me following in his footsteps as a plumber.
I was about ten years old, when I started taking a very keen interest in the music played on the rides. The music got me even more hooked on the fun fair.
Tunes from artists such as Del Shannon and Dion too. In fact the whole package of 1950s rock 'n' roll helped get me hooked.
Back in 1972, there was a rock 'n' roll revival going on. All the old teddy boys were getting their drapes and brothel creepers back out. Loads of new generation Teds were latching on too. Most teenagers were following the Glam Rock trends and fashions, but I wanted to be a Ted. It was in 1974 when I got my first pair of brothel creepers, drainpipe trousers, fluorescent socks and a bootlace tie too. Much to my mum's horror, I greased my hair into a quiff with a D.A too.
The summer of '74 was when I was liberated. At last, I was allowed to go down to the fair on my own. I would spend hours and hours walking around, looking at the artwork, listening to the music and most of all.... watching the 'Gaff Lads' (fairground workers) pulling birds and doing death defying tricks on the rides. THIS... is what I wanted to do!!!!
Chapter one. 'How it all began'.
I was born in Long Eaton in 1962. When the fair came to visit West Park in Long Eaton, my parents would take me to the fair and of course have a go on the rides too.
It became obvious to my mum and dad that the fair had a hold on me, even at an early age before I started school. When the heavy loads pulled up on West Park, I knew the fair had come to town. I made mum parked my push chair next to the rides being set up.
My parents told me how they remembered how I was allured to the bright lights and the wonderful painted colours on the rides and stalls.
As time went on, I was taken to more and more fairs. Long Eaton, Goose Fair, Ilkeston, Derby, were all visited every time they were on.
When I was at Junior school I was forever telling teachers I wanted to work on the fair when I grow up. They thought I was nuts. On one particular parents evening, my form teacher mentioned I needed encouraging away from a career on the fair. My dad thought that was hilarious. He'd already got plans for me following in his footsteps as a plumber.
I was about ten years old, when I started taking a very keen interest in the music played on the rides. The music got me even more hooked on the fun fair.
Tunes from artists such as Del Shannon and Dion too. In fact the whole package of 1950s rock 'n' roll helped get me hooked.
Back in 1972, there was a rock 'n' roll revival going on. All the old teddy boys were getting their drapes and brothel creepers back out. Loads of new generation Teds were latching on too. Most teenagers were following the Glam Rock trends and fashions, but I wanted to be a Ted. It was in 1974 when I got my first pair of brothel creepers, drainpipe trousers, fluorescent socks and a bootlace tie too. Much to my mum's horror, I greased my hair into a quiff with a D.A too.
The summer of '74 was when I was liberated. At last, I was allowed to go down to the fair on my own. I would spend hours and hours walking around, looking at the artwork, listening to the music and most of all.... watching the 'Gaff Lads' (fairground workers) pulling birds and doing death defying tricks on the rides. THIS... is what I wanted to do!!!!
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