The Waltzer was rare at the time, in that it travelled complete on one load, an Atkinson 8 wheeler and a large centre truck. The Atkinson was named “The Lion” and carried the cars, strips, ceilings, gratings, steps and trams. The truck, which was on 2 axles, carried the platforms and girders, gates, uprights, sleepers and handrails. The ride was also unusual in that it never had and still does not have any top rounding boards.

When I was 14 I helped on my first ever pull down of the Waltzer, I arrived early Sunday morning to a ride almost completely still built up. The problem was simple the very large spanner used to undo the car bolts had snapped. This was no ordinary spanner being some 3 foot in length with a giant head on it. It was welded back together and thus my first pull down began. I don’t remember much about the pull down except it was hard work and I got very filthy. I do remember getting the job of undoing the tram bolts.

A&R visited Exmouth twice a year, just after Easter and just after Whitsun, on the return at Whitsun I managed to persuade “Kuzz” the ride manager to let me take money on the ride. I was able to ride the platforms having done this for many years on the Ark, but riding the Walzter was different particularly as cars were spinning. I knew that if I were to stay I would have to spin cars and soon found my feet and was able to spin cars. Thus started an affair that lasted many years. Nelson De-Vey would come out and operate the ride at about 20:00 and we would ride until 22:30. Sadly Nelson died the following Easter, and his wife Madeline took over running the ride. Over many years since I have got to know Mrs De-Vey and hold the greatest respect for her.

Life continued with taking money and pulling down. The next post Whitsun visit Colin De-Vey asked me on the Sunday evening after they had pulled in if I would help build up the next day. The answer of course was YES, but I had never bunked off school before, but it was well worth it and I was rewarded with a trip to Exeter Cattle Market where the Waltzer load was parked up and I rode back in the cab.

Colin DeVey in the Ark Paybox.

The Waltzer truck was modified around this period, a new arctic dolly was fitted to the front and the back was put onto low slung twin axles. This removed the need to take the wheels off but left the ride quite high up. At Exmouth 2 trenches were dug for the truck to drive into thus keeping the back of the truck low to the ground. The new truck meant that all the platforms and girders packed one way instead of turning half of them. Around this time the old plywood ceilings were replaced with aluminium ones. These were so much lighter than before and once again could all pack in one stack without half being turned.

I left school when I was 17 and joined A&R at Exeter where they opened just down from the Quay. I slept in the infamous “Noddy” lorry but was no stranger to this mobile home having stayed odd nights in previous years. The crew on the Waltzer at the time were Kuzz, JR, Gribble and myself, with David & Cowboy on the Ark. First stop was Honiton and travelling life for real had begun.

The Ark in 1978 at Exmouth.

It was an enjoyable first season, staff came and went, and I had my first taste of the Devon regattas, which still occur today only for much longer durations. Back then Paignton meant parking up Sunday night at Goodrington and a very early start Monday morning pulling onto the green and building straight up and opening for 14:00. It rained during build up on my first Paignton regatta. Kuzz put me in charge of the second gang of men and I had to get the cars on while he worked up top doing the ceilings. What an experience that was, at Paignton you always get “strappers” and supervising the cars going on with 4 helpers was interesting to say the least. I did however feel very proud of this achievement. It was a season of notable firsts for me, visiting the regattas, the back end fairs and Bridgewater. The season ended for us at Sherbourne, after which we pulled into the Yard at Bristol. It was close to the city centre but not in a particularly nice part of Bristol. I stayed the winter along with JR and Cowboy. Topsham Brian from Ernie De-Veys dodgems and Dave from Micheal De-Veys twist also stayed the winter.

I did not enjoy the winter much it was cold, money was short and often I caught the coach home to Exmouth. During that winter the Ark had a lot of work done to it, the new rounding boards were decorated, we made new shutters and altered the bottom of the ride reducing the gates and increasing the use of struts. New handrails were added and a new gearbox was put on the centre.

So that ended my first season and winter with A&R.

Mail me now at carl.barlow@cb99.freeserve.co.uk