Friendship Circle of Showland Fans. (FCSF) (c1940 - 1969)
Biography
The fairground preservation movement started in the 1940s as a result of the changes on the fairground at the end of WWII. This saw an initiative to preserve the rapidly changing elements of the fairground by withdrawing engines, organs and items from the fairground scene and resurrecting them as preservation projects in the emerging rally scene. Alongside this preservation scene we also saw the formation of the Friendship Circle of Showland Fans (FCSF) who commenced their 'Merry-Go-round' bulletin in March 1941.
The aforementioned meeting was reported in the World's Fair and through the year a sizeable membership was accrued. Early members included Rowland Scott, Colin Pass, Jack Wilkinson, Philip Bradley and Frank Buckley, alongside a large contingent of showmen who formed a committee of vice-presidents.
The outlook of the FCSF was very much of the 'memory lane' variety, with an understandable imperative to document the soon-to-be-extinct details of engines and organs in showland service.
The FCSF thrived through the 1940s and published the Merry-Go-Round at a rate of about 10 issues per year. The theme of 'looking back' remained constant, and recycling of articles was already occurring. At the end of the decade the FCSF descended into some controversy and a separate organisation was formed - the British Fairground Society (BFS). The BFS published a similar journal entitled 'The Tober'. The following decade, the 1950s, saw some rivalry between these two organisations with regular heated discussions alongside some of the landmark engines at the big fairs. The FCSF had survived its controversy and, much to the efforts of Bill Wilkins of Tewkesbury and Stuart Johnstone, kept up a regular publishing regime.
By the end of the 1950s the BFS had ceased publishing and the FCSF publications were dwindling in useful content. The nostalgia-facing outlook was starting to dry up and repeat articles from earlier and out-of-print editions, and the society had still not grasped any kind of sense of imperative for an engagement with the contemporary fairground. Meanwhile specialist interest in fairground organs had migrated to the Fairground Organ Preservation Society (FOPS) founded in 1957, and traction engines to the Leeds and District Traction Engine Club who, by forming in 1963, absorbed the remains of the BFS. The FOPS hit the ground running with its 'Key Frame' publication and continues with some strength to this day.
Found in 24 Collections and/or Records:
Arthur Jones Collection
The photograph library of the Friendship Circle of Showland Fans (FCFS). This collection includes material relating to famous fairs, engines and rides. As well as containing a full bound set of 'Merry-Go-Round' journals and numerous books, letters and other journals. The collection includes various catalogues and notebooks documenting the use of traction engines on the fairground.
Articles, c1960 - 1969
Selection of internal communications, draft articles, manifestos and lists from the Friendship Circle of Showland Fans.
Articles, c1950 - 1960
Collection of manuscript and typescript articles, written for the Merry Go Round, magazine of the Friendship of Showland Fans, compiled by Stuart Johnstone.
Bill Weeks Collection
This collection contains photographs of fairgrounds and steam engines, journal articles, newspaper cuttings, correspondence and books on railways, engineering, fairgrounds and other related topics.
Correspondence, c1968 - 1981
Collection of letters addressed to Ronald Allen Taylor from various showland people, particularly amusement firm proprietors. Includes many letterheads. Also a Friendship Circle of Showland Fans membership card, several postcards and some advertising material. Manuscript and typescript.
Correspondence, c1950 - 1969
Correspondence between the Friendship Circle of Showland Fans members.
Correspondence, c1930 - 1960
Correspondence of Stuart Johnstone, relating to his involvement in the Friendship Circle of Showland Fans.
Correspondence from the Friendship Circle of Showland Fans, c1950 - 1969
Various letters from the Friendship Circle of Showland Fans members discussing fairground issues and model making. Includes all correspondence with Father Greville. Manuscript and typescript.
Correspondence from the Friendship Circle of Showland Fans, c1960 - 1969
Various letters from the Friendship Circle of Showland Fans members discussing the demise of the Friendship Cricle of Showland Fans organisation and correspondence in World’s fair newspaper. Includes members listings. Manuscript and typescript.
Fairground Photographs, 1930 - 1970
Black and white negatives and photographs relating to fairs and fairground transport in the East and West Midlands by various authors. Includes ten bound albums donated to the Friendship Circle of Showland Fans library, which Arthur Jones loaned to members. These albums, compiled by members, include regional photographs.
Friendship Circle of Showland Fans Correspondence, c1930 - 1960
Large cache of unsorted letters written to Stuart Johnstone, relating to his involvement in the Friendship Circle of Showland Fans, and possibly his time as the editor of Merry Go Round Magazine.
Friendship Circle of Showland Fans Membership Card, 28 March 1952
Bill Weeks' Friendship Circle of Showland Fans' membership card.
Friendship Circle of Showland Fans Photographs, c1930 - 1960
Black and white photographs, with annotations on the reverse, of fairs, amusements rides, fairground engines and transport, as well as the activities and social events of the Friendship Circle of Showland Fans, compiled by Stuart Johnston. Notably includes amusement rides belonging to Remilly Brothers, J. Farrar, Crighton,
Friendship Circle of Showland Fans Scrapbook, c1900 - 1930
Scrapbook compiled for the Friendship Circle of Showland Fans library (book number A3) entitled early days to 1930. Various dates from 1900s onwards.
Merry Go Round Articles, c1950 - 1960
Manuscript and typescript articles, written for the Merry Go Round, magazine of the Friendship of Showland Fans, compiled by Stuart Johnstone.
Monographs, c1960 - 1969
Selection of unpublished or early draft material written by Arthur Jones as part of the Friendship Circle of Showland Fans.
Monographs and Articles, c1960 - 1969
Selection of monographs, articles and communitations written by Arthur Jones.
National Fairground and Circus Archive Collection
Contains thousands of posters, programmes, photographs, handbills, original documents, specialist journals, newspapers and a library containing publications on all the areas of collecting
Newspaper Cuttings, c1970 - 2000
Copied articles on Switchbacks, their centres and organs. Material from World’s Fair, Tober, Friendship Circle of Showland Fans, Merry Go Round and Key Frame.
Newspaper Cuttings and Scrapbooks, c1930 - 1939
Newspaper cuttings and scrapbooks containing cuttings from the World's Fairs and other newspapers.