In the UK, there is a famous Vintage fairground called Carters Steam Fair. Carters has traveled around the county of Berkshire for almost 50 years with its collection of rides - some dating back to 1895! Several are powered by steam, and all have been lovingly restored to immaculate condition.

Testament to this is the fact the fairground has appeared in numerous films/music videos - such as Rocket Man, The Theory of Everything and Paddington 2. Numerous testimonials from its hundreds of thousands of visitors refer to the beautiful aesthetic – making the fairground as much a museum as it is a entertainment attraction. The operators of the fairground have decided to stop ‘touring’ (moving from location to location) the fairground as the process of doing this isn’t good for the aging attractions. They have since decided to sell the fairground in the hope that it can be found a new, permanent, home.

Thus far nobody has agreed to take on the fairground in its entirety. What is more likely is that its constituent parts will be sold off individually, to private business and individuals. It really devastates me that there exist cultural monuments like this, that lacking investment, are consigned to pictures on the internet.

More importantly, though, I think there is a missed opportunity here. The uniqueness of the experience (there are VERY few of these in the world, and several of the rides are likely the only ones in the world) strikes me as being a brilliant opportunity for education, as well as preserving a piece of history. I have a ‘vision’ to use the fairground as a basis for a ‘Museum of engineering, culture, and energy’ – offering the fairground as a backdrop to educate people (particularly young people) on humankind's journey from fossil fuels, such as coal, to more sustainable methods like wind, solar, and tidal. 

Entwined within the beautiful hand painted artwork of the Carters collection is compelling account of how the production and transferal of energy has evolved throughout the decades.

Newcomen’s steam engine; Tesla’s AC current electricity; Rudolf Diesel’s engine, the fairground demonstrates it all. And more importantly, does so in a way that is salient, unique, and engaging.

For instance, anyone who has ridden the dodgem cars will likely recall the sparks produced as the long pole at the back of the car grazes the electrified grid above - a rather lovely and memorable means of demonstrating how things conduct electricity.

What about the gallopers? Like coal fired power stations, the gallopers burn a fossil fuel to create steam, which is then used to turn a rotating shaft. In the case of a power station, this rotating staff is connected to a turbine, which when married to a generator, creates electricity. For the gallopers, the transfer of energy provides the rotation and up-and-down motion of the horses. What about the obvious lessons on centrifugal force that can be gained from riding the yachts (which despite going near vertical, have no restraining harnesses!)? Or how the basic laws of motion that can be understood via a ride on the swing boats. The possibilities here are endless.

I also think we should use this as an opportunity to celebrate evolution and change. The UK now produces a staggering amount of its electricity via wind turbines. And, due to the rapidly decreasing cost of photovoltaic cells, can only assume that solar will continue to contribute increasing amounts.

With this in mind, I would like to propose that a section of the rides are powered by these newer means of power generation, as it shows how a nation - so influential during the industrial revolution - has continued to evolve. Could ‘The Lightning Skid’ be powered by solar panels on the roof of the location? Could ‘The Octopus’ be powered by a small wind turbine. It only takes slither of imagination to see where we could go with this.

None of the above are lessons that are particularly revolutionary, but they are important. If we want more young people engaged in STEM subjects, then surely a place where they can be introduced to key concepts in a way that is both educational and fun is a pretty good place to start.

With a comparatively small investment (we are not talking HS2 budgets here), a little imagination, and the right partners, I am wholly convinced that this could become one the finest visitor attractions in country. 

 

A picturesque ‘village green’ type environment, with trees, grass, and walkways, would surround the Carters collection. Among the core collection would be a series of related exhibitions that tell the story of Energy: where our countries’ supply originally came from; how this influenced power generation, engineering, and broader society; and where we are heading now.  This could almost be chronological, given date span of the attractions (1895 to 1960).

The venue would be encased by a large geodesic dome (think Eden project), which whilst letting in natural light, would protect the collection, and allows for visitors all year round. The space would be open to the public, schools, and could even host corporate events as a means of funding. 

Carters is something totally unique, family owned, an embodiment of dedication, craftsmanship, and passion. At its core, it is a family business that has put in thousands of hours of work to making these unique attractions available to the many. In absence of an investor with a vision, it will disappear. 

The fairground itself is quintessentially British: eccentric; progressive; inclusive. I think the breaking up for the fair would be a huge loss – not just to people like me that grew up with it, but to generations of people that will never get the opportunity to experience it (or anything like it).

Over the years, Carters has touched the lives of hundreds of thousands of visitors. And if Carters is to be preserved for generations to come, we need collective action. We shouldn’t want to save it because a conglomerate thinks it can charge £39 for a day pass (plus queue jumping). It should be preserved because of its intrinsic qualities. 

My ambition is to use this petition as a means of demonstrating the grassroots support Carters has - with the intention that we use this to help find the crucial funding needed to keep the fairground together. 

Sign below and share your memories of Carters.