27 replies to this topic

[Alan]

Who remembers it coming to Queen's Rec? All-in wrestling tent, dodgy air-rifles on the shooting stalls, the furr lads making the girls scream on the Waltzer, the Kentucky Derby stall, the music, the smell of fried onions, waffles and candy floss. Great wunnit

[Dave]

Yeah - I remember the fairs there. They were fantsatic and worth waiting for. Don't remember a wrestling tent though. When did they stop them? Was it after they got the Toxteth riot grant to make the sports centre?

[Alan]

I'd say the all-in wrestling stopped in the sixties the same as the all-comer boxing booths. I imagine it was some licensing requirement that killed it off.

The boxing usually took place at Rainford fair. It was entertaining seeing the local hard cases being made a fool of by some or other veteran lightweight who'd just dance around popping jabs out without a glove being laid on him

[Voll]

The name Billy Beach comes to mind but I can't remember if he wrestled or boxed.

[Dave]

I meant - when did they stop the actual fair coming to Reccy Park? Somebody might be able to remember, but my guess is that it coincided with the emergency grants that were made available to make the sports centre and the floodlit astroturf football pitch (which completely destroyed the character of the park). I'd guess early 1980s.

[Maz]

The Silcocks live in Birkdale

[Alan]

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The name Billy Beach comes to mind but I can't remember if he wrestled or boxed.

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He was a local hardman and a regular challenger of wrestlers such as The Masked Marauder

[ciders]

I remember there was a fair regularly on the waste ground at the bottom of Elephant Lane, off Leicester Street, not a big one a waltzer and a speedway usually. I went to my first circus there too, performing animals the works. I wonder if it was them that put the dead lion in the Clegg then?

[Allan]

Last saw Babe Beach when he wrestled on the saints ground parking lot,i think he went under two names Babe Beach & Dr Death dont remember who's furr it was.

[gypsygeoff]

Silcocks used to winter over in Thatto Heath,who remembers the lads who always worked on the fair,one from the Manor was David (Davvy app)Appleton he had indian ink tattoos all over his face.

[Olliebeak]

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Silcocks used to winter over in Thatto Heath,who remembers the lads who always worked on the fair,one from the Manor was David (Davvy app)Appleton he had indian ink tattoos all over his face.

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Hello everybody - I lived in Lingholme in the 50's/60's and well remember the Silcock's fair coming to the park every summer. It was always there for the August Bank Holiday Weekend (when it was the first monday in august - not the last as it is now!!!!!). It used to arrive on the Tuesday afternoon, put up on the wednesday and thursday. Opened on friday, saturday, closed sunday, opened for the monday and taken down tuesday and away before teatime. you could always see where the stalls and rides had been cos the grass was always pale green in patches on the field. Not sure when it stopped but I know it was there in summer 69. Summer 68, I think was the St.Helens Centenary Show at Sherdley Park and the fair was there for that. Maybe they thought it a better venue sometime after that. I remember the vintage cars gathering in Queen's rec to join the Centenary Parade to Sherdley Park.

Does anyone remember a large travelling theatre coming to the Queen's Rec? Not sure what year. It may have had something to do with American Soldiers. I'm sure they were giving away hamburgers and hotdogs to local kids. I thought they tasted hideous but everyone else seemed to like them!!!!!!

Olliebeak

[Facboydim]

The waste ground behind Edgeworth St in Sutton was called "the show field" and there used to be a small fair there every year I think it was on Bonfire night.
It was where the Legion used to be, not so much a field as a patch of waste ground covered in cinders with some pre-fab garages that we used to run along the roofs of. It must have been awful for the residents with all the noise, the rides can't have been farther than 30 or 40 feet from their back gates.
I was clearing some stuff out of my mums attic a few years back and found a compass key ring my auntie won for me. The last one must have been about 1972.

[ARJones]

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Who remembers it coming to Queen's Rec? All-in wrestling tent, dodgy air-rifles on the shooting stalls, the furr lads making the girls scream on the Waltzer, the Kentucky Derby stall, the music, the smell of fried onions, waffles and candy floss. Great wunnit

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The soddin dodgy darts were worse .not many won a fish on them...but the air rifles if you aimed slightly to the left of the target( a tin man ) you would hit the bugger every time...ARJ

[ARJones]

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I meant - when did they stop the actual fair coming to Reccy Park? Somebody might be able to remember, but my guess is that it coincided with the emergency grants that were made available to make the sports centre and the floodlit astroturf football pitch (which completely destroyed the character of the park). I'd guess early 1980s.

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I remember taking my lad when he was a baby 1975...and Im reliably told by she that must be obeyed it shut down in 1977..