Weeks, Bill (William), 1928 - 2016 (Fairground Enthusiast)
Dates
- Existence: 1928 - February 2016
Biography
Bill Weeks was born in 1928 in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, where he attended the Royal Grammar School and was one of 400 pupils evacuated to Penrith, in Cumbria, during the Second World War.
After graduating from Kings College in 1947, he enlisted in the Army for a short service commission, which he left due to funding cuts.
Following a spell at Cheshire School of Agriculture, he joined Newcastle University in 1948 as a lecturer in agricultural and food marketing, role which he held for more than 40 years.
Bill had a keen interest in steam engines and fairground organs, and was involved in the organisation of several traction engine rallies in the north-east of England. Bill was a member of the Showmen’s Guild of Great Britain and a founding member of the North of England Steam Traction Engine Society.
As well as his career in teaching Bill was an elected member of Newcastle City Council for many years, he wrote articles for ‘The Journal’ and many regular appearances on radio and TV as an authority on food production and an advocate of British farmers.
On his retirement, he moved from Jesmond to run a smallholding at his holiday home in Seahouses and got involved in many aspects of community life including President of Seahouses Rotary Clue and pioneer of the Tyneside Summer Exhibition.
Following the death in 1984 of his wife Betty, mother to their daughter Jane, he married wife Alison, who had a young daughter Charlotte and a son, Joseph.
Bill died on February 2016 aged 88.
Found in 16 Collections and/or Records:
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, c1950 - 1991
Items of correspondence addressed to Bill Weeks.
Correspondence Addressed to Bill Weeks Relating to Fairgrounds, c1950 - 1991
letters to Bill Weeks relating to fairgrounds topics, includes 2 draft letters from Bill Weeks, and some ephemeral material connected with the correspondence. Manuscript and typescript.
Friendship Circle of Showland Fans Membership Card, 28 March 1952
Bill Weeks' Friendship Circle of Showland Fans' membership card.
History of the Town Moore Fair Monograph, 1994
History of the Town Moor Fair in: Kenton Local History Society Bulletin 6 by William G.R. Weeks. pp. 3-6. 30cm ISSN 0954-1667
Invitation to Barbecue, 19 September 1970
Invitation for a steam barbecue with galloping horses at Fawley Hill.
Monographs, 1954 - 1994
Monographs on fairground related topics by various authors.
Newspaper Cuttings, c1950 - 1989
Newspaper cuttings on fairground related topics.
Newspaper Cuttings Relating to Fairgrounds, c1950 - 1989
Newspaper cuttings relating to fairs, fairground organs, traction engines and other fairground related topics.
Photographs, c1900 - 1999
Black and white photographs and negatives of fairgrounds and other related topics.
Photographs and Negatives of Fairgrounds, Fairground Rides and Steam Engines, c1900 - 1999
Black and white photographs and some negatives of fairground rides and steam engines by various authors.
Photographs and Postcards, c1900 - 1999
Photographs and postcards of fairground related topics.
Photographs and Postcards of Fairgrounds, Fairground Rides and Steam Engines, c1900 - 1999
Photographs and postcards of road locomotives, roundabouts and general faiground scenes.
Showmen's Guild of Great Britain Item, 12 November 1986
Showmen's Guild of Great Britain with Mss notes on reverse.
The Development of Fairground Machinery Monograph, 16 July - 3 September 1954
Some notes on the development of fairground machinery. A series published in 'The Engineer' by P.W. Bradley.
Various Items, 1952 - 1986
Various items of fairground ephemera related to Bill Weeks, the Showmen's Guild of Great Britain and the Friendship Circle of Showland Fans.
Additional filters:
- Type
- Archival Object 15
- Collection 1
- Subject
- Amusement rides 13
- Engineering 3
- Fairground art 5
- Fairs 15
- Gallopers 3