PERHAPS A GIFT VOUCHER FOR MUM?: MOTHER'S DAY
I have memories of visiting the Deptford Show Ground as a young child and helping my father run the Bingo. It sadly closed when I was thirteen in 1961. Fast forward to 1996 when I came across an album compiled by my great aunt Daisy about her early life on the Show Ground from 1912 and before. Later I read an article about the Show Ground in the Fairground Society magazine 'Platform' that only told part of the story. A BBC documentary about Deptford High Street, made no mention of the Show Ground. This set me thinking about the history of the Show Ground and of my family and I started to find out more: I visited the National Fairground and Circus Archive at SheffieldUniversity; I read the published works of different fairground historians; I contacted family members for information; finally I made contact with local people via Facebook about their memories of visiting the Show Ground as children. This book is an important contribution both to the history of South London and to the story of fairgrounds. This is my first book; I have an MA in Applied Social Studies from Warwick University which has been of great benefit in this endeavour.
"""'Deptford Show Ground' is a fascinating piece of research into a much overlooked subject. Encouraged by the discovery of the family's archive, Angela has uncovered the fascinating story behind what was a big part of her childhood. It is so important for this to be recorded, otherwise another aspect of fairground history would have been lost forever. "" Stephen Smith, Fairground Historian ""A really interesting read, with great stories, facts and photographs. Although I thought I knew plenty about the Deptford Showground, I've learned so much more. It's wonderful that this very special story will now live on into the future."" Harley Bell, great grandson of Charles and Hannah Cain, Show Ground proprietors ""Bumper cars.. penny a time...gambling machines...air rifle stall...and Frankie Laine records: magic for me at the time in the fifties."" John William Cripps, 'I grew up in Deptford SE8 London' Facebook group"
