• Make a contribution
  • Get the Print Edition
  • Sign up for our daily newsletter
Friday, May 23, 2025
  • Login
Reading Today Online
  • HOME
  • YOUR AREA
    • All
    • Caversham
    • Central Reading
    • East Reading
    • Katesgrove
    • Reading
    • Southcote & Coley
    • Tilehurst & Norcot
    • Whitley

    Cllr Alice Mpofu-Coles elected as Mayor of Reading

    Workers ‘optimistic but overwhelmed’ about AI, new research shows

    European Movement in Berkshire welcomes news of a UK/EU ‘relationship reset’

    Council announces fresh wave of cost of living support

    Knife crime in Thames Valley down nearly 10% last year, ONS figures show

    Nearly 100 singers raised their voices for women’s health

    TK Maxx moves to The Oracle, gives customers the chance to win a gift card

    Man wanted for dangerous driving and failing to stop

    Woman in her seventies sexually assaulted on bus in Reading

  • COMMUNITY
  • READING FC
  • SPORT
    • All
    • Basketball
    • Football
    • Rugby

    Former Reading FC manager Ruben Selles linked with League One job

    Four in a row for BAPCO

    Reading fans – you can finally dare to dream again

    Rob Couhig reveals new Reading FC CEO following takeover

    It’s a podium streak for Wokingham racing star Bobby with a win at Silverstone

    Rams RFC celebrate at end of season ball

    Lewis hits brilliant century to see Berkshire CCC beat Buckinghamshire

    ‘Without you, there would be no club’: Defender sends farewell message to Reading FC fans

    Style and splendour returns to Newbury

  • ENTERTAINMENT
    • ARTS
    • READING FESTIVAL
    • READING PRIDE
    • WOKINGHAM FESTIVAL
  • PRIDE OF READING
  • OBITUARIES
  • JOBS
  • ADVERTISE
  • CONTACT US
No Result
View All Result
Reading Today Online
No Result
View All Result
Home Featured

Carters the stoppable steam machine: vintage fair to go on sale in November

Jake Clothier by Jake Clothier
Thursday, April 28, 2022 1:02 pm
in Featured, Uncategorized
A A
After 45 years of ownership by the Carter Family, the fair will go on sale later this year. Picture: DVision

After 45 years of ownership by the Carter Family, the fair will go on sale later this year. Picture: DVision

Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

CARTERS Steam Fair is set to find new ownership, after the Carter family announced it was selling up.

Its current tour will prove to be its last with the current owners, Joby and Georgina Carter.

Once the tour concludes in October, the collection of vintage rides and attractions will go on sale in November.

In a post on the fairground’s website, Joby and Georgina said, on behalf of the Carter family: “After much consideration, we have taken the decision that 2022 will be our final tour.

“After having toured our unique range of vintage fairground rides and vehicles around the UK for the last 45 years, it is now time for a new chapter.”

The steam fair is currently touring, stopping in Maidenhead until Monday, May 2.

Related posts

Cllr Alice Mpofu-Coles elected as Mayor of Reading

Workers ‘optimistic but overwhelmed’ about AI, new research shows

European Movement in Berkshire welcomes news of a UK/EU ‘relationship reset’

Council announces fresh wave of cost of living support

It will continue travelling as planned through the summer, before stopping for its final weekend in Prospect Park, Reading, in October.

In the online post, Joby and Georgina said: “We have been looking for suitable land for the fair to be placed on and have talked to the council and other landowners around the UK.

“As a family run business with expertise in restoration and travelling the fair, we have done our best to familiarise ourselves with the endless details of planning laws.

“We are now facing the reality that the best future for the fair is for it to be re-homed on a permanent site and operated by someone else.”

The sale of the collection will be the first time a fully operating vintage funfair has been sold.

It currently has a guide price of £2.5 million.

“We are keen that the new owners will ensure that our beloved collection of iconic fairground rides and side stall games that we have curated over the years will continue to be enjoyed as an irreplaceable piece of British living history for generations to come.

“For Carters, it’s time to pass the baton and let someone else continue the magic.”

The fair was started in 1977 by Joby’s parents, John and Anna Carter, who wanted to preserve fairground history.

They bought the Jubilee steam gallopers, similar to a carousel, in 1976 and began work restoring the attraction, which dates back to 1890s.

From the gallopers, the Carter family built a collection of classic attractions, most constructed between the 1890s and 1960s.

Now totalling 13 rides, the collection also includes a fleet of traditionally restored wagons, which the fair’s employees use as living quarters, and a Gavioli organ previously owned by Roger Daltrey.

In 1999, John Carter was diagnosed with Hodgkins Lymphoma, and died the following year.

The Carter family decided to continue John’s work, touring and restoring the fair.

In recent years it has been maintained by Joby and Georgina, as well as other members of the family, and is known as the largest travelling vintage fair in the world.

Under their stewardship, the fair continued to expand.

Joby established workshops and courses for traditional signwriting, as his work on the fair’s decoration is famously distinctive.

The fair has also been opened up for tours, covering the history of the attractions and fairground art.

Joby’s work has even spread online, with his work garnering around 400,000 views on TikTok, which he will focus on after the sale of the fair.

In the online post, the family expressed their thanks and said: “We are keen to spread the word as far and wide as we can in the hope of finding a suitable new owner and forever home.

“In the meantime, please join us at an event and make 2022 our best year ever! Take photos and videos and make magical memories with your family. Remember to tag us with #Carters2022 so we can join in the fun.”

Carters Steam Fair is in Maidenhead from Saturday, April 30, to Monday, May 2.

It will return for its final weekend of the current ownership to Prospect Park on Saturday, October 15, and Sunday, October 16.

 

Keep up to date by signing up for our daily newsletter

We don’t spam we only send our newsletter to people who have requested it.

Check your inbox or spam folder to confirm your subscription.

Previous Post

Eversley Cricket Club teams raring to start new season

Next Post

Reading FC: Paul Ince on his future, transfer embargo, summer transfer plans

FOLLOW US

POPULAR STORIES

  • Young man and woman attacked by group of teenagers in Reading robbery

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Former Reading FC star to be released as free agent by Championship club

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Former Reading FC star to become free agent following Championship relegation

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Thousands experience power outage in Reading, not expected to be fixed for hours

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Reading FC group Sell Before We Dai makes generous donation following end of campaign

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0

RDG.Today – which is a Social Enterprise – provides Reading Borough with free, independent news coverage.

If you are able, please support our work

Click Here to Support RDG.Today

ABOUT US

Reading Today is dedicated to providing news online across the whole of the Borough of Reading. It is a Social Enterprise, existing to support the various communities in Reading Borough.

CONTACT US

news@wokinghampaper.co.uk

Reading Today Logo

Keep up to date with our daily newsletter

We don’t spam we only send our newsletter to people that have subscribed

Check your inbox or spam folder to confirm your subscription.

The Wokingham Paper Ltd publications are regulated by IPSO – the Independent Press Standards Organisation.
If you have a complaint about a  The Wokingham Paper Ltd  publication in print or online, you should, in the first instance, contact the publication concerned, email: editor@wokingham.today, or telephone: 0118 327 2662. If it is not resolved to your satisfaction, you should contact IPSO by telephone: 0300 123 2220, or visit its website: www.ipso.co.uk. Members of the public are welcome to contact IPSO at any time if they are not sure how to proceed, or need advice on how to frame a complaint.

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In
No Result
View All Result
  • HOME
  • MY AREA
    • Central Reading
    • East Reading
    • Bracknell
    • Calcot
    • Caversham
    • Crowthorne
    • Earley
  • COMMUNITY
  • SPORT
    • Reading FC
    • Football
    • Rugby
    • Basketball
  • ENTERTAINMENT
    • ARTS
    • READING FESTIVAL
    • READING PRIDE
    • WOKINGHAM FESTIVAL
  • PRIDE OF READING
  • OBITUARIES
  • JOBS
  • ADVERTISE
  • CONTACT US
  • SUPPORT US
  • SIGN UP FOR OUR NEWSLETTER
  • WHERE TO GET THE PRINT EDITION

© 2021 - The Wokingham Paper Ltd - All Right Reserved.