1983 was the last season that I travelled full time. During the winter I had purchased a caravan for £150, and with my partner Sally we ventured into the travelling world with something a bit more homely than the “Noddy”. The caravan was quite old and heavy but during the winter I carried a lot of adjustments to it putting in a fridge, cooker and fire.

It was wired for 240 volts and had a 12 volt lorry battery on board. We could always have light from the battery, electric or gas mantles. I built in new kitchen worktops and cupboards. It was very cosy but could get quite damp inside from condensation. First stop was Exeter which allowed us to get the caravan there easily as we had spent the winter in Exmouth.

After Exeter we went to Goodrington for Easter and from there all the way back up to Yeovil. We had to go on a car park right at the top end of the town beside the old football ground. It was here that Colin fitted a 240 set into the back of his 6 wheel ERF. The old 240 “popper” set was retired. Colin also bought out a new Hot Dogs that year which Vicky ran.

The Cornish fairs passed without much to report, it was slightly drier than previous years. One of the bonus’s of the year was having a car which was great when you were a long way from town. At Penzance we ended up taking most of the travellers kids to the cinema, which was an episode itself. After Cornwall we went to Exmouth as normal and then for the first time in many years we went to Tiverton. The journey was adventuousome and Colin’s ERF and two wagons got stuck on a narrow bridge. The bridge was the middle of Z-Bend and by the time the ERF was off at one end the last wagon was pulling in tightly to the wall. All of Colins loads were queued up behind and nothing could cross the bridge. The problem was solved quickly much to the amazement of the gathered public. The back axle of Colins wagon was jacked up and we stood on the bridge wall and pushed the wagon off the jack back into the centre of the road. Getting into Tiverton was fun the ground was off a few narrow streets.

The ground was excellent with hardstanding and grass and I remember it being bery warm there. Tiverton was also a first for Kuzz and I. The two of us built the waltzer up from start to finish on our own. I think we just wanted to see if we could. The hardest part was the light strips and the ceilings. When you have to carry everything as one gang it seems never ending. We did have to get help with the front principle.

Tiverton turned out to be quite good the ground was well located and the locals had not seen a fair that big for a long time. From here we journeyed to Honiton and then on to Taunton. I think Topsham Brian came to help us pull down at Taunton and build up at Paignton for the regattas.

At paignton on pull down night we took the ride all the way down for the first time ever. That year we went straight from Babbacome to Torquay as we stayed open at Babbacome after the regatta dates had finished for private business. We pulled the Waltzer straight down and then drove to Torquay. We arrived back at our trailers at about 5:00 in the morning, just as others were getting up to go and build up again.

At Torquay that year there was trouble when Cheesy got into a fight and took some severe cuts from a stanley knife to his face. At one point a policeman was holding his face together.

At Newton Abbott that year due to town centre re-development we went on a ground at the back end of town near the rail station. There was a lot of trouble at the fair after a group of bikers fell out with staff on the dodgems of D Rowlands. We stayed up very late to keep watch over the fair in case of return. The bikers came back early in the morning and set fire to Robert Keffords Slip. The fire was put out quickly but damage had been done to the bottom gates and it had to be pulled down. It was in all the papers and the councillors came down to apologise.