One of my favourite works of fiction is the Deptford Trilogy by the late Canadian author, Robertson Davies. A master story-teller if ever there was one.
In it, one young boy’s instinctive reaction sets the fantastical ball of the story rolling. But it’s when another boy runs away and joins a travelling circus that the dance of their fates begins.
We all recognise stereotypes of circus and fairground: tricksters and con-men, squalor and crime. Deceptions, grotesques and life on the road.
Stereotypes perhaps drawn of ignorance. Fear of strange, mysterious communities, living life on the edge.
I’ve never been a circus fan, but the illicit appeal of the fairground had me hooked from an early age.
At school in my teens, when we were asked to write about the fair which visited town at seasonal intervals, I began my story with a newspaper, blowing down a road at night, after the fair had gone.
I can still see that image in my head. An image drawn from reality. The rest was a product of my over-active imagination.
Which may explain why I found myself at a lunchtime talk by Norman Wallis, proprietor of Southport’s ‘Pleasureland’. Whose family dalliance with fairgrounds dates from the nineteenth century.
A man who might – in days of yore – have been regarded as ‘undesirable’, the term officials in our coastal town used, more than a century ago, for the fairground folk.
Norman was a good ten minutes into his talk when I arrived and had to enter, mortified, from the front of the hall. In full view of the man himself – and everyone else.
As I climbed the stairs to a seat my heart sank. A silver-headed crowd. Story boards propped against the stage. One man at a lectern. All the makings of a dull – I checked my watch – how long?
But…
I guess a man from a family like Norman’s is almost guaranteed to be a showman and a salesman, whether born, or raised.
And a very good salesman he was.
‘There are more flowers in Pleasureland than on Lord Street,’ he said. ‘We were up at one o’clock this morning watering them.’
More flowers than leafy Lord Street? On which Napoleon III supposedly modelled the boulevards of Paris?
I had to check it out.
Which is why I found myself, one sunny Sunday, pre-loved camera in hand, wandering past the bowling greens en route to the rides.
Were there more blooms in Pleasureland than on Lord Street? I’ve no idea. But there were some jolly big ones….
As for Norman being up at one in the morning watering them? Well, it had been very dry and they were still blooming. I’m just not convinced he wields the hose – or watering can – himself.
But why quibble? It doesn’t matter.
We’re talking about a fairground (sorry, Norman, I know you don’t like the term) with flowers everywhere.
Where the uniformed staff are polite and friendly.
And no-one harangues me to ‘roll up,’ ‘try your luck,’ or ‘have a go.’
I don’t feel I have to clutch my purse to my side, don’t feel everyone is out to make a fast buck.
A slow buck, maybe …
‘If I had a pound for every time someone took a picture of that carousel…’ grimaces Norman.
Yes, we all love a picturesque carousel, but I see his point. When did you last ride one?
I’ll be honest, I didn’t spend any money, that Sunday. But I am writing about it. And I have spent money on previous visits and will again, because…
Well, look at the pictures and tell me – could you resist?
But before I give way to more scenes that had me waking up next day feeling glad to be alive, a few words about Norman’s future plans.
I’m sure he’ll meet resistance. Isn’t there always, to grand plans? But I have a feeling he’ll get his way.
This is the man who, as a little boy, ran away from school three times. (The opposite, when you think about it, of running away to the circus.)
His opportunity to acquire this showground came in 2011 when another man with vision died. That man’s main business was (whisper it) in Blackpool. The gaudy relative up the coast.

Blackpool Tower is clearly visible just right of centre, way below the wingwalkers wowing the crowds at this year’s air show – as seen from the pier by me on a really grand day out
But that man’s business heirs didn’t want rivalry from the upstart down the coast.
When Norman took over it had been trashed. Looked like a battleground.
‘I thought electric cables grew out of the ground,’ he said, ‘there were so many of them buried everywhere.’
And when it rained those cables flowered sparks.
But he persevered. Despite the vandalism and arson attacks.
And after seeing the images I think there should be a Wallis’s ride called ‘the phoenix.’ Because a truly fun fair (sorry, again, Norman) has risen from those ashes. Not the biggest, not the most extensive, but fun.
He wants – naturally – to attract more people. Make Southport (via Pleasureland, of course) a major destination.
He’s talking dinosaurs, animatronics, augmented reality. He’s talking indoors and outdoors, grown-ups and children.
Distractions compelling enough to prise us away from our screens.
And if anything can do it surely an exhilarating fairground ride can?
As the man says, ‘you can’t feel the wind in your hair on the internet.’
But Blackpool’s not forgotten. Nor, I suspect, forgiven. Despite the fact Norman’s early career was there, in marketing (what else).
You can see its famous Tower – and the big, big ride – from Southport beach.
From the pier.
From Pleasureland, probably (I didn’t look).
Across the Ribble estuary it lurks and smirks, cocking a snook at Southport.

Pleasureland on the right behind the beach, also seen from the pier during the airshow wreathed in the smoke the aircraft use for displays
But the showman’s world is about enticing the crowds with the latest thing.
Bigger, better – both.
So Norman has a plan.
A hair-blasting, big, big ride.
His face cracks into a grin.
His eyes crinkle and twinkle.
‘You’ll be able to see it from Blackpool,’ he chuckles.
I’m usually not drawn to such places — but through your eyes, pleasureland does look fun indeed! Which ride would you been most keen to try? Those big plastic balls that let you walk on the water intrigue me very much.
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I want to go on the chair-o-planes – I love them! Now I have to wear a bike helmet when cycling it’s the only place to get that wind-in-your-hair feeling (except the pier on the beach!). I think the balls on the water might be a bit child-sized?
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Now you have me singing Jefferson Airplane’s “Give me a Ticket for a Chair-O-Plane” in my head. Ha ha!
As for those water-balls: I’m willing to fold up like a spider to fit inside, if that’s what it takes. 🙂
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Haha! I think maybe we should pop into Liverpool for a day out in the summer – sometimes they have reeeelly big ones (well, adult size not t-rex size) in the docks 🙂 And lunch after?
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I would love that SO MUCH. Well … if I start walking now, I could be there in — what — three weeks? 🙂
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I just loved everything about your blog. Blue skies, colorful rides, flowers, fun! Thanks, I needed that!
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Hooray, I thought we all needed some cheer! Glad you enjoyed the vicarious rides 🙂
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What a delightful interlude this has been! I adore Pleasureland … although next time I think I shall pass on that thing that turned me upside down, for my stomach is still somewhere co-mingling with my lungs! Thank you for taking me on this adventure with you … let’s do it again soon!
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Hah! You are too adventurous! Hugs – and cheers!
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I am adventurous only when my feet can remain on solid ground. Airborn, I am a coward extraordinaire! The carousel was great fun, though!!! Many hugs, my dear friend!!! ❤
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Oh wow, I feel like I am aged about ten years old… I’ve never lost fascination and delight for fairs and their accoutrements. I love the lights, sights, sounds, smells, tastes and the rides, the colourful sparkly ones not the big tall scary rides, after all I am only ten. I love that reality changes as you walk through the gates into something magical. Before visiting I vowed my disinterest in Disneyworld but once amidst I didn’t want to leave. Have you read The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern? I never wanted it to end.
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You can come with me next time! But can we still give the big scary rides a miss please?
Thanks for the book recommendation, will definitely track that down, after I finish Fahernheit 451 which I was inspired to read by Ardys’ blog.
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