SCOTLAND’S Greatest Showmen – and women – are struggling for survival as traditional fairs are under threat, a new documentary has revealed.
For hundreds of years, travelling shows have been a staple in seaside towns and cities with thousands of folk flocking for fun on the rides.
3
3
But the multi-generational families that run the fairgrounds are seeing less of their offspring going into the business.
Sarah Sheeran says: “The rides cost more money for younger people and it’s becoming tougher for us to get grounds so it’s definitely harder to be a show person now than it was 30 or 40 years ago.”
Alex James Colquhon, Junior Vice President of the Showman’s Guild of Great Britain, agrees: “Many years ago, probably the dad would continue the business. If his son would get married, he would come into the business.
“But because of the expenses involved now and families being bigger, they can’t always do that. There’s not the same opportunity to pass down.
“But I also think opportunities for education are different. I didn’t have a great education because I was travelling all around Scotland at that time. But the Guild has worked really hard to ensure there are better methods, along with education departments, to make sure that the kids have computers and things that they can take away.
“I think the way of life is changing. Children are getting opportunities to do more, to go on and be lawyers or doctors or nurses.”
Alex, 56, a seventh generation showman, is one of a cast of characters viewers meet in the new six-part BBC documentary series Showpeople: Licensed to Thrill, which kicks off tomorrow.
It gives audiences a glimpse into life on the road for a number of show families, who spend hundreds of thousand of pounds on the latest rides – which some care for like they are their kids – to keep pulling in customers.
And the show also reveals the highs and lows of the industry.
Alex said: “One of our issues is trying to find new sites because cities are being developed.
“Like in Glasgow’s George Square, that’s probably the last of our Christmas fairs that will be held there because it’s going to be developed.
“And new sites just are really difficult. You have stigma from local people and it’s difficult to get them through with licensing and with councils.”
But while it can be a hard business, it’s in the blood for those who work in the fairs, who shun the nine to five.
Mitchell Wilmot insists he “loves” his job even though he had to have a toilet installed in the control room of his £650,000 Air Raid ride.
He says: “When I do the festivals I’m in there from 10am to 6am the next morning so had a toilet fitted so I never needed to leave it.”
But Mitchell can rake in up to £96 for every three minute long ride, if it’s full to maximum capacity of 24 people at £4 a go.
He adds: “I don’t think there’s another showman out there who loves it as much as I do, especially when you’re operating the ride.”
Now looking to the future, Alex spends his time in the Guild working to make life better for people in the business.
He recently attended the Scottish Parliament to lobby for the industry while he also travels round the world to find better ways of working.
And he hopes Scotland can learn from parts of Europe, where funfairs are treated with more respect, as part of cultural heritage.
Alex, who’s based in Rutherglen, said: “We can learn from these guys from Germany, Holland, Norway and Sweden. Their local authorities seem to work much more in conjunction with fairs. When you go to a fair the shops will team up with the rides and if you buy something in the shop, you get a discount voucher for the ride. McDonald’s even does a special fun fair menu.
“They work together to promote the town and promote the event. It brings people out so it benefits everybody. We don’t always get it but that’s something that we should look at trying to do in the future.”
Read more on the Scottish Sun
But Ava Hickey reckons being a show woman is in her blood. She explains: “The fact it has been passed down from your parents and your grandparents and their grandparents means it matters more. It’s more than just a job.”
- Showpeople: Licensed to Thrill is on BBC Scotland on Mondays at 9pm or on iPlayer now
3
