My interest in fairgrounds and their living wagons started when I was very young, even before I started at infant's school. When I was old enough to go on my own, I would always go to see the fair arrive and depart. There was something quite magical about the way the fair appeared on what was just an area of grass a few hours earlier, to become a self contained community providing entertainment for the public and homes for all of the show folk who worked there.
Although I found the rides and stalls quite exciting, it was always the large bespoke living wagons that really caught my attention. I would wander around where the wagons were parked in the hope of finding one with the door open, allowing me a sneak view of the interior but this seldom ever happened.

From a very early age I developed an interest in making things, usually from odd scraps of wood that I found. Over the years I have tried my hand at various types of model making but I have never had any training in any of the skills required other than spending a couple of terms at Art School. I have developed my own methods of doing things and if the end result is OK then that is fine by me. I believe that the right way of doing something is the way that best suits the individual to get a satisfactory result although it may be completely wrong for other people.

When I retired it was my intention to make a large scale carved rocking horse and a 1/12th scale model Gypsy Living Wagon. The plans for both of these are still in the bookshelf and the models have never been started as I came across an advert for Model Fairground Designs, which included plans for a 1930s Showman's Living Wagon which I duly sent for. Vic King drew these plans so I guess that he has a lot to answer for as 14 years later, I am still building 1/12th scale Showmen's Wagons.

Cheers Vic.


Ted Burst