We are always intrigued to see how our visitors experience the fair – we know that everyone focusses on different things and finds inspiration and joy in different places. Some love the fun of the rides, others marvel at the fairground art or the shiny vintage vehicles powering the rides.
In this article we hear from Alan Pianosmith, a creative writer who travelled from Solihull to visit the fair at Beacon park, Lichfield, with his daughter and grandchildren (Bernard, 5 and Martha, 2 and a bit).
Here, he shares his experiences with us alongside some images we took when the team from the Black Country Living Museum paid us a visit this week:
Alan says:
‘The ‘Living Museum’ has emerged in many guises these last few years, and jolly creative they are too. That may sound deriding or disingenuous, but the notion of bringing the past to life demonstrates how things really were – especially when the life-that-really-was is exactly as it really was; no reproductions. No gimmics. No virtuals.
Carters Steam Fair, then, ticks all the boxes for a living museum. But then it really surpasses the image of a museum because there is nothing to gaze at with longing and wishing the kids could have experienced all-the-fun-of-the-fair from yesteryear. They actually can and do. What is surprising with Carters is in the fine print; the detail. Rides are just like they were made all those decades ago. Like brand new. Perfect fairground livery. I mean, who in their right mind would still use a steam engine to drive the immaculate carousel? But there it is, operative with oil can in his hand keeping the machine well lubricated – just like the whole enterprise; well oiled and functioning smoothly. The well-tuned fairground organ (made in Paris, folks!) in perfect tune bashing out ‘Blaze Away’, ‘I Do Like To Be Beside The Seaside’ and many other classics that most 7 years olds would never have heard of. An education in itself.
It must surely be a therapy, too, escaping to a time when white knuckle rides, mobile phones and computer games simply didn’t exist. There is a wholesomeness in indulging in the stimulation of fun rides and side-shows for all the family, bright colours and nostalgic pop songs, low volume and gentle pace being the order of the day.
I leave you with a poser… Something for you to work out. How come there was no litter on the Carters showground site? Nobody was going round litter-picking. Did the integrity and consideration predominant in the 1950s somehow pervade through the timeless artwork and equally timeless personnel? The relaxed and stress-free Carters Crew somehow seemed to tell us that this was like being at home with the family?
I really don’t know. But as long as Carters Steam Fair keeps steaming, there will always be a wholesome family fun day where we can drink in a snapshot of a gentler, friendlier past.’
Thank you so much to Alan for getting in touch and sharing his fantastic viewpoint. If you are a writer, photographer or creative that has been inspired by the fair, do get in touch if you would like to do a guest post with us. Email [email protected]
Thank you to the team from the Black Country Living Museum for coming along to the fair and striking so many glamorous poses for us!
Find out more
If you’d like to visit the fair you can see our 2021 tour dates here.
