The third annual Funfair Extravaganza took place at Churchdown Community Centre on Saturday January 19^th.  The event is organized by TFS Treasurer Mike Willis along with Gloucester member Bill Lane and has proved a great success with Showmen and Enthusiasts alike. The proceedings were opened by Steven Hill, deputy Chairman of the Western Section of the Showmen’s Guild of Great Britain who kindly sponsored the event.  Running from 10.30am – 5pm visitors had the pleasure of viewing 13 Showmen’s vehicles in the car park and inside were treated to the Country’s second largest fairground model show. During the day there were slide shows presented by “World’s Fair” Midlands’s reporter Rod Spooner, Ian Trowell from the National Fairground Archive at Sheffield University and by the Curator of “Dingle’s” Fairground Heritage Centre, Michael Smith.  Graham Downie, Chairman of the Fairground Association of Great Britain presented William Wood with the Ron Taylor memorial trophy for “Showman of the year” and last year’s winner, David Wallis, was also present.  Hot and cold refreshments were available throughout the day and a bar was available during the lunchtime period.  Once again there was a raffle draw with a large number of prizes kindly donated by exhibitors and visitors.  The show was visited by no less than 16 reporters from the “World’s Fair”  Although there was no admission charge for the event donations were sought for the Fairground Heritage Trust and, with all profits from the event also being donated, the Trust benefitted by £625.  The 2009 event will be held at the same venue on Saturday January 17^th and promises to be a great day out.

Well it wasn’t the Old Boy’s last parade (See last year’s newsletter). In April this year they were again persuaded again by there former leader John Lampitt to play in the parade for the boy’s brigade anniversary march in Cheltenham. The drummer “boy’s” are left to right Dave Fellows (Chairman), Neville Bassett (Founder Member), Steve Perry (Vice Chairman)