The original movie did not include sound, and backing music had been added to the video transfer. This music track has been removed on the clips which are presented here. One reason is that we cannot guarantee that the music was copyright-free; the second reason is that with the splitting of the original into smaller clips, the track would have been disjointed.

So although the clips retain the silence of the original footage, they nevertheless give a fascinating and nostalgic insight into a world which has largely disappeared, even if only forty years have gone by. People's horizons had not yet expanded to take in the whole world as a holiday destination, and they took pleasure in simpler things; there was a greater sense of community; and keeping annual traditions going was important. Looking at the footage, it is easy to see that any attempt to revive the same proceedings in exactly the same way today would stand no chance. Even if enough people could be found to organise it, months of paperwork and permissions/clearances would ensue; motorists would complain about roads being closed; there would be no way that little toddlers would be allowed to walk close to the front and back of moving vehicles; simple fairgound rides would also fall foul of Health & Safety regulations; and what's that chap doing riding round on a motobike through blazing straw and with live flames on the back of his bike, not far from all those people and with only a rope between him and them?!

Click on the links below to enter a world so recently passed away.