Classycanopies

Lynda Jones, Perfect Prams, asked me if I would like to take some of my coachbuilt prams to the Wolverhampton Steam Fair on the weekend of 7th and 8th June 2008 and of course I jumped at the chance as we had such a great time last year.

The weekend actually started at the beginning of the week when Lynda and I began to sort out which prams we were taking to the Show, then making sure they were roadworthy, clean and polished and, in some cases, decorated.  Jan Matthews very kindly helped Lynda to get her prams in order and she makes a lovely job of polishing!   

The lorry was organised and picked up nine of my prams on Friday afternoon, then made it's way down to Wolverhampton to pick up Lynda's prams.

My prams loaded

Lynda's prams makes a full load!

 

Then it's off to West Park, Wolverhampton to unload them all

The Wilson Egremont  with Norman in charge!

My precious Bird Of Paradise is unloaded - with very great care!!

Norman brings it into the Marquee

Michael came all the way from Scotland with Annette and Ashlee, their foster child, to take part in the Steam Fair.   Michael, with the help of Ashlee, wheels the Marmet Queen to the back of the lorry

She's a very large lady is this Queen and they have to be very careful not to drop her!

Here is my 1915 Sol, still in need of TLC but hopefully will be ready for the next show at Onslow in August

Unloading nearly finished, the prams are left behind the barriers for the night until they can be arranged carefully on Saturday morning

SATURDAY - and here they all are - well half of them anyway. 

Here are the other half!  

The visitors are already starting to crowd around the exhibits.

 

By the time other members of our Prammie Group had arrived with their prams we counted 27 full sized prams and several dolls pram which Lynda had supplied.  Lynda also made a wonderful display of childhood toys and books from 40 and 50 years ago.

Of course, when a group of Prammie People get together we have to take the prams and go for a walk, which we did on Saturday and Sunday and caused quite a stir!    We were mobbed!    Everyone either remembers having "a pram like that" or there being a pram like that in their family home.   They certainly bring back memories for everyone over the age of 40!

Anne Bartle with her beautifully preserved 1940s SilverCross Twin

Obviously, I couldn't resist a push!

The girls in all their beauty - the prams look good too!

Left to right, Annette from Scotland, Jackie from Hull, Gerry from Solihull, Lyn and me

I waited about 15 minutes to get this photograph!   The prams were being mobbed by passers-by.

Left to right, Lyn's Osnath Duchess, Jackie's Osnath Westminster, Gerry's Osnath Perth, my Wilson (Antibes) Bird of Paradise and Annette's Royale Newhaven

This happy little lady is Lyn Shea from Australia, she is a member of our pram group, PerfectPrammiePeople and was so pleased when I asked her if she wanted to push my newly restored Wilson Bird of Paradise!   We shared such a lot of laughter with lovely Lyn, it was certainly a day we will always remember.

A  perambulatory group photograph.  As you can see we are having a whale of a time!

Left to right,  me with my Wilson Egremont, Gerry with her Osnath Perth, Fi with my SilverCross Super Harewood, Lyn with her Osnath Duchess, Joanna with my Wilson Mulliner, Julie with my Marmet Queen, Lyn with my Wilson Bird of Paradise and Annette with her Royale Newhaven

Reminiscent of the 1950s when prams were left outside when you popped into the tea shop for a cuppa!

 

This is a beautiful photograph of Roy and Jackie Burnett who bravely dressed up in Victorian costume to have their photograph taken with Jackie's wonderful Victorian pram - notice the stunning barleytwist brass handles!

 

All good things come to an end, and everything has been stored away again, ready to make another appearance one day in the future.  Possibly one or two of the prams will be brought out again for the Onslow Steam Fair at Shrewsbury on August Bank Holiday Sunday and Monday, this time the emphasis will be on the much older prams, with the addition of costume, but there will also be 1950s prams to see too.   It would be wonderful if you could manage to come and see us parade in the arena!

Thanks for visiting my website, hope to see you again soon