Crowds flock to new event in Bolton town centre

A new spring fair took place in Bolton town centre, built up on land adjacent to Morrisons superstore which was first used when a Christmas and New Year fair took place back in December. The next event in Bolton town centre is usually in the summer but the lessees, Northwest Funfair Supplies, have added this extra fair into their agenda.

The old ground on Cheadie Square is no longer being used and the new venue is in a very prominent position with major routes, always very busy with traffic passing right by the side of the ground. The Morrisons superstore and nearby trading estate will hopefully bring in extra customers to the fair.

There had been an extens ive advertising campaign with posters, radio and the local newspaper the Bolton News promoting the fair and an added £1 a ride promotion was also in place to entice the Bolton public.

The opening of the fair took place on Thursday April 7. It was officially opened at 3.l5pm by the Mayor and Mayoress of Bolton, Councillors John and Lynda Byrne Kurt Hill and his PA Veronica Rutter.

At the opening ceremony the Mayor was presented with a cheque donated by Kurt Hill for the Mayor’s Charity and teddy bears were donated for the children’s hospital. The Mayor stayed for a full hour after the official opening and enjoyed a ride on every machine on the ground.

From 3.l5pm to 4.l5pm all rides were free and before the ribbon was cut at the entrance to the fair, crowds formed a very long queue down by the side of the Morrisons store and around the block, the crowds entering in their droves to take advantage of the free ride promotion. The busy spell continued into Friday and Saturday when again the ground was packed with people enjoying the £1 ride promotion.

World’s Fair visited on Saturday night and spoke to Henry Hill, the promotions manager for Northwest Funfair Supplies who explained that they had a good relationship with Bolton Council and that they fully appreciated them having an extra fair here in the town.

The fair was advertised as Bolton’s Biggest Traditional Funfair with no gimmicks, no catches and no hidden charges. Henry also told us that they have been inspired by the £1 fairs that have been successful by Arthur Silcock at Wigan and were impressed with the promotion of Arthur’s fairs.

Henry said that the theme was ‘going back to the 1980s’ and this was promoted on the posters that were widely spread around the town. The fair had received a good deal of publicity and that it reminded him of ‘the good old days’ back in the 90s.

At the entrance Kurt Hill’s magnificent looking Scammell Explorer and the Bolton Fairground Organ were on display with a collection box for the Mayor’s charities placed alongside the music playing organ, with CDs available for sale. One thing that stood outwere the very smart ride attendants who all were attired in Northwest Funfair Supplies teeshirts and fleeces.

The firm’s rides cormprised the Supreme Waltzer, Skyrider Paratrooper, UFO Meteorite, Christer Twist, and Miami. Their juvenile rides were their new mini jets, recently acquired from Leonard Chadwick and out of the paint shop only two weeks earlier, featuring the firm’s name on every jet in a different advertising form.

There were also two mini Paratroopers, mini Ski Jump, ladybirds, bouncy castle, inflatable slide and catering kio sk. New from the firm was an Italian built clown themed track ride which arrived on Monday April 1 4 in the spot which Laurence Hill’s Super-heroes Fun House vacated to move to Blackburn for the Easter Fair.

Other rides and attractions built up in the impressive line up were Tommy Boswell’s Sky Rider Skymaster; Joel Smith’s Chair-o-planes; James Bedford’s Ski Jump and mini train, which took the place of Dean Hill’s similar attraction on the Monday, which was also moving to Blackburn.

Also on the ground were Michael Hill’s Dodgems and catering kiosk; Nicholas Hill Jnr’s Jumping Jack and Cash Casino arcade; Michael Hill Jnr’s toy set, teacups and grabbers; Robert Hill’s Spiderman bungee trampolines; Stevie Boswell’s square hoopla stall; and Dean Hill’s hook a duck round stall.

The ground was fenced off for added security and Henry Hill told World’s Fairthat North-West Funfair Supplies Events Office supplied all the fencing, security and toilets.

All in all the fair was a very impressive event and Henry and his family deserve all the success for bringing back something special for the people of Boiton to enjoy.