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Key Atrractions lift Mitcham's Status
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Surrey's Mitcham Status Fair was certainly flying high this year with a series of big hitting rides making guest appearances at he 300 plus year old event. The fair got off to a strong start on Thursday August 9 in some style, with crowds already enjoying the thrills of Henry Ive's reverse bungee and return of James Danter's KMG Freak Out Afterburner alongside his Safeco Frogs, making their Mitcham debut.
The first day saw a reduced price promotion, head of the 7pm official launch. Therefore when the time came to gather at the centre of what was yet another imaginative layout, a healthier supporting crowd than had been seen for many years was already waiting.
The three co-lessees that form JJR (Jimmy Botton, John Carey and Robert Birch) welcomed the Mayor of Merton, Cllr John Dehaney and the Mayoress Audrey Dehaney to the ceremonial and then festive duties. Also present were council leader, David Williams and no less then four past Mayors, up to a dozen councillors and officers that formed the official party on the platform of Robert Birch's Tropical Trip Miami.
The Town Crier of Merton and London, Peter Moore was the colourful and authoritative master of ceremonies once again. Then, in a revived tradition from the last four years, the vicar of the local |
St. Matthew's Church, Rev Derek Maddox blessed the fair that the church has adopted. Sadly Rev. Maddox was leaving the parish while the fair is still on, but he will be moving to pastures new in Birmingham and agreed during the opening festivities to maintain links with the showmen and in the Midland Section of the Showmen's Guild.
Te reverse bungee - one of the highest in the country, was only attending for the first weekend and Assistant Fair Manager for MErton Council, Charlotte was keen to sample it for herself in a baptism of fire for her new role. The ride's central position was taken over by RB Leisure's Chinatown mirror show opposite the firm's Miami.
The height stakes were replaced with another guest appearance from the Monday until the second Friday, in the form of Bridget Burton's Fabbri Booster - the only one of 45 across Europe by then able to open with it's enhanced safety features. It left during the second weekend to attend the East London Mela at Barking Park. Alongside this at the south end of the ground was Thomas Benson's Round up that also appeared on the Monday staying until the end of the fair.
Nigel Coneley's new Reverchon Dodgems were at the southern end with Chris Danter's Waltzer alongside on it's first appearance, mirroring Coupland's Dodgems and
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The official party on the platform of Robert Birch's Tropical Trip Miami with, in front, Perry Remblance Jr, Molly Wheatley and Ria Remblance who both presented floral gifts to the ladies.
Elliot Graham's spinning-top Maxwell Waltzer and newly acquired Twist at the northern end.
Guyatts meanwhile, were noticeably absent from the whole fair with their Cobra Dodgems and Laser Dome Waltzer for the first time in memory, following their extended Windsor stay. However, Philip Searle's Silver Dollar Arcade, juveniles and hooplas did make he later journey over, opening at the southern end mirroring colessee John Carey's Gold Rush arcade at the north end with his Go Gator and juveniles. Lewis Carey meanwhile presented his attractive juvenile selection at the northern end while nearby, Neil Hooper's |
Big Top Fun House drew in interest.
Many of the traditional tenants supported the fair with a back row of shows and games including James Bond, Robert Wheatley, George & Tommy Wilson, Grant Horsley, and Darren Gray among several others; while Appletons, Cherise Coupland, John Carey and Willie Webb were among the catering support.
Merton's Leisure
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Development Manager, Christine Parsloe, who has worked to develop licenses for Three Kings Piece among four local parks for a variety of events, was pleased with the public response to the fair and Cliff Isles, the council's head Fair Manager welcomed the layout that was once again within a fenced area, spread in linear style along the middle of the ground.
Former partner in the fair's organizing committee, Bobby
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Remblance, was also back at the opening to support the occasion along with John and Linda Groom, with reminders of the fair's importance to relate to their local guests. Additionally, several of the Mitcham Fair Society supporters were also on hand. both at the opening and on most days, including David Cooper up from Haywards Heath, with photographic reminders of the fair's heritage.
Trading continued strongly into the fair's first weekend and ahead of more uncertain weather, but further price promotions the following midweek lifted the performance as the rain held off, with many teenagers making several return visits. Policing was of the softly softly approach with the Metropolitan Safer Neighbourhoods Team taking the lead and ensuring a No Crime zone within the fenced-off presentation and beyond.
Thus the 2007 Mitcham Status Fair, following all the hard work can officially be said to be well on the road to profitable recovery for the showmen, a community success for the council and excellent value thrills for the visiting public.
From Mitcham the showmen split up to attend the plethora of Bank Holiday fairs across the Metropolis. |
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