The fair brought us a week of pure joy

BACK in the day Plymouthwood Close was open land known locally as “The Quarry”. I do not know why but there was a 3/4 foot dip centrally and when flats were built they were placed around the edge so perhaps the land was a bit unstable.

This was our playground, where we camped out, built dens, fought battles with sticks and stones and made Guy Fawkes bonfires with timber cut over Frank Road and dragged back to be jealously guarded against theft or early ignition by other gangs.

During the war some was given over to allotments when in 1943 the US Army erected a prefabricated laundry to serve Cardiff-based units and GIs. That was abandoned after D-Day, virtually overnight, and later demolished, leaving a large hardstanding. Then every year for a long time a travelling funfair would arrive, set up camp and a week of pure joy for Ely kids would follow; also acting as a huge draw with people coming from far and wide to enjoy.

There were massive ex-military vehicles pulling equally huge trailers, all brightly painted, being used for haulage, carrying the wherewithal including mobile generators to provide power for rides and lights, etc. Main attractions were the dodgems, the whip, the rollercoaster and tower slide, surrounded by booths offering a variety of games where prizes were on offer. Even the best Ely darter or air-rifleman could not hit anything with the kit provided and would come away swearing they had been tampered with. Loud music would play later into the night with everything covered in brightly-lit coloured bulbs. With sweets still on ration, candy floss was magic!

The owners lived in high caravans with cut-glass windows and immaculate interiors easily seen in passing. By contrast the roadies lived in the now-empty trailers in absolute squalor; no windows, heating, toilets or creature comforts. For some reason they were a magnet for the local girls and had the pick of the crop, no question.

Then, at the end of the week they were gone, leaving many a broken heart behind them! Dave Prichard Rumney