Clacton Pier lighting up to celebrate World Fun Fair Month
The pier will be turning red, white and blue for the whole of September
Last updated 12th Sep 2021
Clacton Pier will be turning red, white and blue to celebrate World Fun Fair Month.
It comes after fairs had to be halted because of the coronavirus pandemic.
The current Pier owners Billy and Elliot Ball have said they can trace their routes back to the Showman community.
They recognise its importance to modern day leisure and entertainment.
Billy Ball said:
"Fun fairs have a very rich history and involved all sections of society – right up to royalty.
"The Pier is a business which has its own funfair; these go back to trading markets which then went on to encompass entertainment, including shows, performing artists, parades, biascopes, boxing booths, and shows of strength.
"It’s where the term Showman comes from."
Mr Ball added:
"We acknowledge their vital place in the community, the role they have played in our heritage and feel it is important to celebrate that.
"We have decided to turn our lighting red, white and blue for the whole of September in honour of World Funfair Month.
"There has been a great deal of talk about the difficulties experienced in this area by our industry recently and it is about us acknowledging that and recognising it is where it all started for us.
"We can trace our Showman routes back five generations on our father, Billy Ball Senior’s side of the family and several generations on our mother’s side."
Mr Ball said that while it is crucial to look forward and strive for improvements, it is also necessary to look back.
He continued:
"The future and how we aim to upgrade our offer is vital, but we should also look back and remember our rich history and how we got here.
"It should never be forgotten."