Carters Steam Fair owner calls for permanent home near Slough

Joby Carter put an end to the 45-year-old attraction on October 30 after become a "slave to the fair," he said.

Now he wants to company, government, council or trust to make sure the collection, which dates back to the 1890s, stays together for the public to enjoy.

“We’d love it if it was in our home town but we don’t have the capital to buy the land, build a shed and get planning permission," said Mr Carter, 37, from White Waltham.

“It’s a case of raising awareness about the plight of the situation and then hopefully someone standing up and going let’s make this happen."

Mr Carter, who held a huge send-off in Reading, said the venture has run his life like a “military operation” since he took the reins from his parents eight years ago.

“We’re a slave to the fair. I love it, I’m so passionate about it, I put my life into it, and in many years propped it up by making money in other ways to keep it going.”

He continued: “The workload is tremendous. It’s like a military operation moving the fair and there aren’t many soldiers.

Carter's Steam Fair in Reading on October 30 (Image: Paul King)

“Until you’ve done it, you can’t fathom how hard it is.”

Carter’s Steam Fair has been touring the country since it was just one ride owned by Mr Carter’s parents in 1977.

People travelled from as far as Australia to Prospect Park to say goodbye to the fair, but Mr Carter said that despite its popularity, the “crazy” travelling was unsustainable and the collection needs a permanent home.

Mr Carter said he and his wife Georgina, 31, “never stopped working” to set up, take down, move and maintain rides dating back to the 1890s.

“Some of the equipment is Victorian and it’s just all fallen on mine and my wife’s shoulders to the point of – no, this is just too much.

“We’ve had no government funding, no lottery grants we’ve done it all off our own back.

Carter's Steam Fair in Reading on October 30 (Image: Paul King)

“This is important, people love this, but there’s lots of other things I love doing as well: I love seeing my family, I like going cycling, I like going on holiday – I’ve never had a holiday in the summer.

He continued: “We’ve said enough is enough, but there can be another way we just need help. That might be from Government, a council, a trust.”

He said he has had offers to buy parts of the ride or to host the collection permanently outside, but he won’t see the attraction split up or damaged by the elements.

“The weather would kill it, it basically needs to be in a working museum or an education centre."

Carter's Steam Fair (Image: Paul King)

Mr Carter spent the final Steam Fair signing vintage posters, hearing stories from his customers and saying emotional goodbyes.

“Thank you to everyone who has supported us over the years and everyone who has worked for us, without them we’d be nothing.”