Historic Berkshire steam fair holds auction of memorabilia
Carters steam fair stopped touring last year
Fairground owner Joby Carter is busy making final preparations for an open day and auction at the headquarters of Carters Steam Fair in White Waltham, Maidenhead this weekend.
On Saturday 8 July, visitors can access the main fairground storage yards where restoration takes place for the fairground rides and vintage vehicles that Carters Steam Fair is famous for.
At the Open Day there will be an opportunity to buy the remaining items of fairground merchandise which were left over from their final tour in 2022 as well as location posters and banners used to advertise the fair. For the first and only time, Carters Steam Fair branded uniform will be available to purchase.
The Open Day also gives an opportunity to preview the wide range of lots available in the auction the following day. There are 347 lots available including fairground art, vintage signs, dodgem cars, galloper horses, generators, rare vintage vehicles including two Scammell lorries, various spare parts and other fairground related equipment and spare parts.
The auction takes place at 10am on Sunday 9 July, with doors opening at 8am. Anyone wishing to bid at the auction must be registered as a buyer. This can be done online by 4pm on Saturday 8 July or in person before 9am on Sunday 9 July.
Fairground owner Joby Carter says:
“This is a very exciting opportunity for people to come and see our headquarters on the open day and see what we have been up to since we finished our final tour, including the restoration work we have been continuing. Even though the fair has not been on the road, we have been finishing various vintage lorries and wagons which people will be able to see when they visit.
"We have got 347 auction lots which are all Carters Steam Fair or signwriting related available. These are surplus to the main core collection but are very desirable, ranging from galloper horses to old dodgem cars we stopped using in 2014 and lorries from the fair. Among the items we have a 1944 Scammell lorry which belongs to my mum, Anna Carter which was used to pull her vintage living wagon. Then there’s an ERF lorry which was used to pull our staff accommodation known as the ‘kip truck’ and a fully restored 1966 County tractor which we used to help manoeuvre the rides and attractions on location.
"It's nice to sell this stuff to people that will use it and cherish it. I always say that we are only mere custodians of this stuff and now it’s time to pass these cherished items to new people. Every single item has a story to tell as to why it’s on this planet.
"Alongside this, we also have some older advertising material from the fair, posters and banners and the old staff uniform. We will also be selling the remainder of our fairground merchandise including mugs, magnets and posters.
"It will be an enjoyable weekend – I look forward to seeing people on the day. “
Address for the open day:
Carters Yard, Grove Park Industrial Estate, White Waltham, Maidenhead, SL6 3JF
Open day – Saturday 8 July 10-5pm, free entry
Auction – Sunday 9 July. Doors open at 8am, auctions starts at 10am.