Dates

• Existence: Active c1980 - 2016

Biography

John Tarleton was born in Redditch, Worcs, the son of a local builder. He didn’t follow his father’s trade, but worked for the General Post Office.

Together with his older brother Ken he built a working model fairground, using as a base a very large drawer he had acquired from the GPO. The model is now at Avoncroft Museum of Buildings, Bromsgrove, Worcs.

John and his brother Ken were both keen fairground enthusiasts and their model was featured at a social function organised by the showmen at Redditch on at least one occasion. Latterly, they lived in what had been a former public house in the Worcestershire village of Feckenham.

By 2016 John was suffering from a terminal illness and was resident in a care home at Droitwich.