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SKIDS I

Of all fairground rides, the Skid, or Swirl, seems to have lent itself particularly well to the decorator’s brush, with some wonderful results. There are already individual galleries on Tommy Benson’s Skid – probably the ultimate; and John Crick’s Rollerball Skid, with its amazing interpretation of the cult Sci-Fi movie by Roger Vinney and Fred Fowle.

In this first gallery we take a look at some of the other examples which could be found on our gaffs until only a few years ago. Please note, this is not a comprehensive survey, just a few of the more interesting examples collated from my archive. Also, the names chosen to designate each machine are arbitrary.

Adlams’ Lightning Swirl
Built by R J Lakin in 1938 for Reuben Gilham, and subsequently sold to Adlams, and later Griggs. By the 1970’s the ride was in the Dreamland Amusement Park at Margate, owned by H F Smith. From there it was sold to Hedges, who travelled it for a while in the early 1980’s. In 1984 it was at Stockton Racecourse for a short time, as part of an abortive attempt to establish an amusement park. It was then acquired by Lee Bros., but subsequently scrapped.


Henry Smith’s Lightning Swirl, Dreamland, Margate, 05/08/80 (courtesy Paul Angel)	P J Hedges Skid in the mud, Wanstead Flats, 01/04/83

Botton Bros. Lightning Swirl
This started life as the second of Stanley Thurston's Skids, a nine-car machine built for him in 1939 by R J Lakin, and sold in 1947 when Lakins delivered his famous "Atomic Thriller". Owned for many years by Botton Bros., the ride was eventually acquired by Albert Boyd during winter 1982/3 to replace his previous skid.


Botton Bros. Skid during its last season at Great Yarmouth, 27/06/82 (courtesy Paul Angel)	Albert Boyd’s Skid, Wimbledon Common, 07/06/84.

Two views of Albert Boyd’s newly acquired Skid, Victoria Park, Hackney, 20/03/83.
Note, the cars were repanelled and redecorated for Botton Bros. by Jacksons in the late 1970’s.

Albert Boyd’s Skid
Albert Boyd’s first Skid was an even earlier Lakin machine, built for Sam Crow in 1935, and later travelled by W & A Wallis. Wallis’s sold it to Franklins when they took delivery of their new Maxwell Waltzer in 1956, and it eventually passed to Boyds. Once a magnificent machine, there was little remaining of its original splendour when it got towards the end of its days.


W & A Wallis’s Skid Widnes Autumn Fair, 1955	Albert Boyd’s Skid during its last year on the road, Hampstead Heath Easter Fair, 12/04/82

Two of the cars on Boyds’ Skid showing Fowle décor, Clapham Common, 23/04/81

Mrs A Deakin’s Coronation Swirl
Built for Mrs Deakin by Lakins in 1937, and kept by them until 1970, this 9 car Skid has since had quite a few owners over the years, including Billy Nichols, Drinkwaters, Remblance & Sneap, Bobby Edwards (Yate), John Brett, George Furborough, Enston Bros., and James Holland. As built, it had very elaborate décor by Edwin Hall, but in its latter days travelled as a comparative skeleton.


Mrs A Deakin’s Coronation Swirl	John Brett’s Skid, ex Deakins’ Whitwell, April 1983 (courtesy Pete Tei)

Harry Gray’s Swirl
An early French-built machine with a clerestory-style roof, this was presented for some years at Battersea, before being moved in the 1970’s to the Kursaal Park at Southend. It has long since disappeared, but may be one of several machines cannibalised to make up the Skid currently travelled by Jimmy Bowery.

Although looking a little the worse for wear, there are still evidence of some magnificent decoration on the
ex-Harry Gray Swirl, Kursaal, Southend, 01/04/83.

Harniess’ Supersonic Swirl
Around 1948/9, the Burton on Trent firm of Orton & Spooner built three Skids. They were all nine car, very similar in appearance, and were delivered to Anderton & Rowland, Harniess Bros., and Pat Collins. Of the three, the latter two have survived. The Harniess machine was later sold to Thomas Wilmot in Scotland, then Joe Taylor, who travelled it for some years before selling it to Graeme Johnson, the showman and decorator.


Harniess’ Supersonic Swirl when almost new, Hull Fair, 1949	Joe Taylor’s Skid, Crieff, 09/05/81

Joe Taylor’s Skid, showing a later phase of decoration Kirkcaldy Links, 18/04/84	Interior view of Taylors’ Skid, Caird Park, Dundee, 10/04/81

Elias Harris’s Swishing Skid
One of half a dozen or so Hayes Fabrications machines built in the sixties, this was new to Harris’s in 1963. The Skid was later travelled by Anthony Harris, who had the ride redecorated, again by Fred Fowle, with the new theme Swivelling Skid, and lots of “Disco” lettering. It was then sold to James Crow & Sons at Whitley Bay in 1976, when replaced by a new Maxwell Waltzer. Crows later sold the ride to Cavacuites’ at Brean, and eventually it was redecorated again. A few years ago, the ride was sold again, going to Hunstanton, and is now laid up in Rundles’ yard.


Anthony Harris’s Swishing Skid, in original Fred Fowle décor, Hull Fair, October 1974	One of the cars on Harris’s Skid

James Crow & Sons’ Swivelling Skid, Whitley Bay, 18/06/82	A rear view of the ride, showing decoration of the rounding boards, Whitley Bay, 21/06/81

Detail of front board on Crows’ Skid, Whitley Bay, 19/04/85. Note the Fowle signature, bottom right.

Detail of rounding board on Crows’ Skid, Whitley Bay, 19/04/85.

Above: still bearing Crows’ name, Cadell Brothers’ Skid,
at Brean Leisure Park.

Right: Cadells’ Skid as redecorated by Matt with a Superbowl theme.
Brean Leisure Park, August 1997

Billy Irvin’s Sensational Swirl
Built by R J Lakin in 1948 for Billy Nichols, this Skid was owned by Bretts before being acquired by the Irvins. The Sensational Swirl décor was applied by Fred Fowle in 1973. The theme of décor has remained with the ride to this day, although after it was sold to Stanley Gamble in the late 70’s the Fowle paintwork was initially retouched, and eventually overpainted in a similar style. It has now been packed away for a number of years; at one time it formed part of the Fred Coupland collection, and was sold at the auction in 2002.


Billy Irvin’s Sensation Swirl, Newcastle Town Moor, 22/06/74	The paybox of Irvins’ Skid Newcastle Town Moor, 19/06/76

Inside view of Irvins’ Skid Newcastle Town Moor, 19/06/76	Car on Irvins’ Skid, Newcastle Town Moor, 19/06/76

Above, close up view of a section of Gambles’ Skid, and detail showing the flights inside the ride. Both taken at Burntisland, 11/07/81.

Right: close up of the Mercury and lettering on the front boards, after retouching with fresh colours. Kirkcaldy Links, 18/04/82.

Above: Two views of Stanley Gamble’s Sensational Swirl, with Fowle décor retouched,
Hamilton, 18/04/85


Interior view of Gambles’ Skid Kirkcaldy Links, 15/04/83	One of the cars on Gambles’ Skid, Burntisland, 11/07/81

As it is now: Stanley Gamble’s Sensational Swirl following repaint,
Largs, 29/08/87 (Courtesy Kevin Scrivens)

GO ON TO SKIDS II

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