Opening the Charter Fair 100

The Charter Fair has been happening in Buckingham for centuries of course. But this year marked a hundred years since the William Nichols (Grandfather to Marshall Nichols, the current Head Showman) began bringing fairs to the town. The Town Council decided to recognise this and award Marshall with a celebratory tankard. Below is the speech I for the occasion Saturday last. (Plus some pics of course)

Amanda Brubaker, the Town Council Events Coordinator, Mayoress & Mayor, Head Showman Marshall Nichols and our Town Crier, Russell Cross.

The rides begin!

A special organ to celebrate 100 years organised by Marshall Nichols

And the Mayoress gets a bunch of flowers from Mr Tunks, a long time helper at the Fair.

thanks to Katharine McElligott for all the pics.

The speech

Today, we are celebrating 100 years of the Nichols family bringing the Charter Fair to Buckingham. 

In a world which can often feel like a carousel spinning faster and faster, it is wonderful to have this tradition as a rock stable pivot on which the town can be anchored. While we live with the Climate Change coconut shy, the Trump waltzer, the Brexit dodgems and the Artificial Intelligence amusement arcade: we know with certainty that we can all have the real thing here on two Saturdays a year! 


So thank you to Marshall Nichols, Head Showman, all the Nichols families past and present, for bringing such stability and amusement to our glorious town of Buckingham for 100 years!

William Nichols, grandfather to Mr Nichols, was a plumber from Forest Gate in London. He started working for Showman Swayle Bolesworth in the early 1900’s and went on to have his own fairground rides.

In 1923, William Nichols had a steam engine called the Princess Mary which powered the roundabouts. The Nichols family toured the same circuit as the Nichols Fun Fairs do now. Mr Nichols is a 3rd generation Showman. 

On behalf of the Town Council, it gives me great pleasure to present this celebratory tankard to Mr Marshal Nichols to mark this occasion. May this Charter Fair continue to provide pleasure to all of our local townsfolk and people from nearby villages. 

So it just remains for me to say thank you to everyone who is involved in organising, setting up and running this fair. I declare this Fair open!! 

And just to say thanks to Marshall for arranging the buffet for the children at the Woolpack this year from 2pm.