Dates

• Existence: Born 25 February 1923 - [?]

Biography

Thomas Henry (Harry) Wigfield was born on 25 February 1923 at The Barracks, Hill Street, Elsecar to Thomas Wigfield and Frances Wigfield (nee Penty).

Harry developed an interest in fairgrounds as a young boy, while watching Tuby’s engines towing the loads into the fair site on Broadcarr Road. He became fascinated with the process of arrival and set up of the rides, from a trailer load to a set of Gallopers or a Noah’s Ark.

During the Second World War, Harry worked driving a milk float, which allowed him to get his driving licence. After finishing school at Ecclesfield Grammar School, Harry went to Scarborough to do a teacher training course. Still underage, Harry altered his date of birth by one year to be able to volunteer to serve in the RAF, he hoped to enlist to be a pilot, however he failed the eyesight test and was assigned to administration duties at Long Marston Airfield near Stratford-on-Avon.

Once released from service after the war, Harry started his own business, T. H. Wigfield, in Warwickshire manufacturing timber framed farm buildings.

Harry married Jill Pluck in 1950 and had two children Michael (b.1951) and Carole (b.1957). Jill’s brother Jack later joined the family business, which was renamed Wigfield and Pluck.

Harry’s interest in fairgrounds continued during his adult life and he was a regular visitor to the local Mop fairs and Nottingham Goose fair among others. Harry was also an avid reader of the World’s Fair newspaper and always kept up to date with the latest trends in the sector and the showmen.

In the 1960s steam fairs, organised by enthusiast societies started to emerge around the country and Harry decided to organise his own in Stratford-on-Avon, which proved very popular, and over the years he helped others organise similar events.

Harry and Jack run Wigfield and Pluck until the early 1970s when Harry left to establish Armroyd Lane Amusement Contractors with business partner Les Enston in Chipping Campden, Gloucestershire. At Armroyd Lane Harry and Les restored fairground rides and trucks including several Noah’s Arks, Gallopers and Scammell trucks, which they then sold back to showmen in the UK and Canada. Harry’s son Michael joined the business as soon as he finishing his school years and helped renovate some of the Noah’s Ark and showmen’s vehicles his father loved so much.