I arrived in bridgwater in the summer of 1963 and the weather was great compared to the dreary North East. All summer long the lads kept telling me about this great fair that came to town every year in October, everything they told me I took with a pinch of salt, I explained that we had fairs up north and that nothing could be as big as some I had been to there.
Well wasn't I proved wrong !!!!

I remember walking up west street, well pushing my way up, the street was packed with people listening to the sales patter at all the stalls. It took ages to push our way along and all the time I could hear this loud music, not that I could distinguish what was actually playing as it was all mixed up.
When we finally got to the entrance to the fair ground at St Matthews Field, I was gob smacked, the whole place was thriving and I had never seen so many amusement arcades and rides in my life before.
Because it was my first time the lads took me round to show me just how big it was and to also rub my nose in it because of the comments I had made earlier.
We had loads of rides, loads of beer which didn't stay down too long, I must have puked after every second or third ride, finally decided drinking whilst riding wasn't such a good idea so left the drink alone until we had decided we had had enough rides and decided to go to the wrestling and boxing booths.

Now to say that the wrestling and boxing was fixed is too polite a way of saying it, there would obviously be a couple of the fair lads having a go, once they were finished, volunteers from the audience were asked to have a go. There was always somebody who thought they had a good chance of winning the money but boy were they in for a shock because the fair lads really let go after a couple of rounds playing around.
Still all good fun for us youngsters.

Back to the drink, we had to queue at the side window of the Horse and Jockey just as they do today, cannot remember what the drink was served in back then but today its in plastic containers.
The landlady is Alan Salisburys Sister Pat !!!!!

What with going in the Army at 19 and then living all over the place including 30 years in Scotland I hadnt been to the fair for say 25 years at least.
Well in 2007 my Father moved from his House into a Bungalow so I with my Grandson came to town to help him move just as the fair arrived in town.
On the Friday night I took him along West street and to the showground. He like me all those years ago, was dumbstruck at the size of it, the only thing was, I couldnt find the wrestling and boxing booths but seemingly they had stopped quite a few years ago.
Anyway we spent a couple of hours looking around and then made our way back along West street to go home.
No drinks this time at the Horse and Jockey or anywhere else, seeing as my Grandson was only 17.
No doubt, he like the rest of us at that age, would have already sampled a few beers but I suppose he wouldnt have wanted me to know that...........................................