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Ilkeston - The 767th
w/e 20 October 2019
All of this week's pictures were
taken with a Kodak DX6490
Another year, another October, another Fair and this
time it celebrates the 767th anniversary of the granting of the
Royal Charter in 1252.
Most of the travelling showmen trundled their vehicles into town
over the preceding weekend and the town centre roads were closed
on Tuesday to enable the rides and stalls to be erected.
By Wednesday morning finishing touches were all that were needed
for the Fair to be ready to start on Wednesday evening although
the official opening as per the Charter, is not until the first
Thursday after the first Sunday after the 11th of October each
year.
To record this photo as your favourite
from this week's selection vote for "Finishing Touches"
below.
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The ringing of the bells to signify the opening is scheduled
for noon on Thursday but when I arrived on the Market Place shortly
before the hour the opening ceremony for some reason had already
been conducted and the Mayor and other Civic leaders from neighbouring
boroughs were already queuing for the Big Wheel.
To record this photo as your favourite
from this week's selection vote for "Queuing" below.
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The Mayor and invited guests were soon seated on the ride for
the traditional free of charge first ride.
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from this week's selection vote for "Seated" below.
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Even before the Big Wheel started spinning, Council workers had
begun to take down the platform where the official opening ceremony
had taken place.
To record this photo as your favourite
from this week's selection vote for "Big Wheel & Platform"
below.
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I remember a time when children from local schools would hurriedly
make their way to the Market Place to partake of the free rides
but as other attractions started to operate, there were only
a few thrill seekers on board.
To record this photo as your favourite
from this week's selection vote for "First Ride" below.
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The Civic Party however were still enjoying the privilege and
made its way from the Big Wheel to the Dodgems for another free
ride.
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from this week's selection vote for "On The Dodgems"
below.
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As darkness fell I returned to the Fair where the same rides
and more were all lit up with brightly coloured lights. No Fair
would be complete without at least one photo of the Cakewalk
and here are two - the usual one from the front and another from
behind.
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from this week's selection vote for "Bright Lights"
below.
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The Fair changes little from year to year although there are
a few different rides and stalls each year. The changes only
become apparent when looking back over a number of years but
changes there are. At first glance one could be forgiven for
thinking the City Hopper has stood here year after year but I
remember this spot being occupied by the Sky Rockets, The Caterpillar
and The Whip at previous Fairs.
To record this photo as your favourite
from this week's selection vote for "City Hopper" below.
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Among the hot dog, mushy pea, hot chestnut and burger stalls
among others, a new one I spotted this year was selling all kinds
of sweet treats, fudges, candies, nougats and a host of other
temptations - maybe a temptation too many!.
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from this week's selection vote for "Temptation" below.
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It's the old favourites though that draw many people to the Fair.
It will be another year before the Scala and the Town Hall are
overshadowed by the Helter Skelter and the Big Wheel for it will
be October 2020 before the showmen return for the 768th Charter
Fair. By Sunday this year the Market Place was cleared, the roads
reopened and life in Ilkeston was returning to normal.
To record this photo as your favourite
from this week's selection vote for "Old Favourites"
below.
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