Hi, talking about fairs etc., I had a moment of 'de ja vou' some years back. I crossed the road where the bridge over the river Cole goes under the Stratford Road nr Springfield ( if I remember rightly - its over 40 years ago). However I suddenly visualised my mother crossing what appeared to be the same road and the same bridge, when I was a child, so that would have been in the forties. On the bank the other side was a gypsy caravan of the type where the door was in the middle, running around were lots of chickens. I remember being told this was my aunt Mary's caravan. Gt. Aunt I should think,
However I gave it no more thought until I started researching my family tree and I questioned an old uncle. He told me that my Granddad had a sister named Mary who ran off with a trapeze artiste named Monseuir le Blond from Collins circus.
I know Collins had a fair but not a circus, although i think they did have various acts in the open at the fair. I thought that the fair came to the River Cole area at Hay Mills, so I thought that mught have been the place. But someone told me that the fairground people wintered at the rive Cole in Yardley ?, just before you turn right for the Hunters Moon?
I think I have set out my locations right, but do any of you fairground buffs, know anything that might help me find out about Gt. Anut Mary? I suspect that Monseuir le Blond is really Fred White!!! thats why I cant find her marriage anywhere.:biggrin:
Incidentally do you remember the parade of animals and artistes when the Circus came to town, and one day I think an elephant escaped. Even if we didnt get to see the Circus, the parade was always exciting. Thanks, Marie.