Fair Game

There are many urban myths around the annual event of Hull Fair in East Yorkshire, UK.

It is the largest travelling funfair in Europe and for 8 days and nights it occupies its longstanding site on Walton Street just to the west of the central city area. Many who make a point of attending the inaugural evening have to consider the urban myth that they are in  fact just guinea pigs to check that, under a full compliment of riders and passengers, all of the nuts and bolts have been tightened up, the safety bars and cages are indeed secure and the complex electronics and controls of the latest technologically sophisticated attractions are working as they have been designed for.

The first night has not been without danger and tragedy in the past with well documented accidents and incidents but given the enforcement and sanctions that are an integral part of modern health and safety culture these are very much diminished and this year, as far as I am aware, the Fair passed without any thing to report by way of injury.

Other myths revolve around the food stalls that are very much a tradition amongst the pastimes and recreations.

Take one of the most famous purveyors of Fair fare, the home grown Bob Carvers Emporium. His reputation of providing good old grub has been established through his city centre shops for decades. A Saturday night out on the town would not be complete without his fish and chips after pub closing time, the cooking fat soaking through the newspaper and putting your best going-out clothes and taxi upholstery at risk of reasonable salvage.

The stall bearing Carver's livery and under startlingly bright floodlights is always crowded with hundreds queuing up for the signature dish of gritty chips, mushy peas and a pattie.

In my early years in Hull I regularly heard stories about the reason for the gritty texture of the famous chips. This could range from the use of poor quality potatoes in rotten or bruised skins to the failure of Carver's Staff to actually clean the soil and field debris from the newly delivered stock. What the chips were cooked in was also a matter of speculation from second hand fat to the positively unthinkable.

I actually stumbled across the true reason for the distinctive crunchiness of the chips when, in Hull Fair week, I was stuck behind a pick-up truck with the open load bay full of plastic bins of cut chips just barely covered in scummy water. I could see the surface of the bins collecting the particulates of pollution as the vehicle crawled through the traffic congestion, generally worse than usual because of the road closures and volumes of Fair-goers. Although very evident as the source of the unusual texture I still made sure that a Carver's supper was on of my first purchases at the Fair.

The huge exodus of the public to the Walton Street venue produces its own problems in terms of transport and parking.

In recent years a Park and Ride Service has been laid on from the western suburbs and this has proven popular as trying to find any parking place for the duration of a visit to the Fair is very difficult.

The surrounding streets are full of just residents cars and there is a high possibility of getting a parking ticket if frustration just leads you to abandon your vehicle anywhere.

Enterprising businesses within a short walk of the Fairground and with an empty out of hours Car Park or spaces can cash in on the demand with anything from £3 to £5 charged for a 2 to 4 hour session.

I was talking to a property owner just yesterday, a mere 4 days after the travelling entourage of the Fair had dispersed for their winter holidays or to move to the next pitch.

His large double fronted house within 100 metres of Walton Street was being renovated and so was vacant. A Contractors van had damaged the side gates to the rear yard and this meant that there was nothing in place to stop Fairgoers, if they were minded to do so, from using the spacious yard as impromptu and free parking.

The man and his wife made their way to the property on the thursday evening or day 6 of Hull Fair. The trip was to include their usual check over the premises but also with the intention of enjoying all the fun of the Fair.

At the side drive of the house there was a dark clad figure and next to him a neatly hand written sign of "Hull Fair Secure Parking £5".

This shocked the couple and even more so the gesturing of the self styled attendant to move along and find a space before paying him.

They pulled up alongside the house, in effect blocking in the 8 or more cars already using the facility.

When challenged by the couple if this was with the owner's consent the positive was offered most enthusiastically.

"If that is the case then I am due half of your takings as I am the owner"

There followed a swift legging it of the individual down the street and out of sight.