The Waltzer turned out to be past its best, and the Stanworth's had inherited a pride in having good quality equipment - as evidenced by their fair today. Therefore they ordered a brand new Waltzer from Maxwell's, and this made its debut in July 1975. By the end of 1975 they had also been able to acquire the Lang Wheels Dodgem set presented by Arthur Owen - a set previously presented by Billy Bagnall on his Pat Collins' run. They now had a Dodgem and machines to present on the old Collins' run, and a Dodgem (The Supercar set from Belfast) to present on their own run that was developing around the Potteries.

Amidst all this progress came a sad setback. Stuart Stanworh was killed in a tragic motor accident on 1 1 th September 1975 - the day after opening at Newcastle under Lyme He was a rising star in the Stanworth family and he is still missed twenty one years later. Stuart was regarded as a good businessman, and as someone with whom it was enjoyable to work.

Nothing further was added to the growing Stanworth empire until 1979 when a Pollard Ski-jump Coaster was acquired. This was followed by an exciting trip to America in 1980. Keith, his wife Katie, and Henry, set off with the intention of buying a Rock-o­ plane but eventually came back with an Eli Bridge Scrambler Twist. The trip to America was quite an adventure, involving a great deal of travel, and the journey of the Twist from New Jersey to England is a story in its own right - including some generous help from an American showman - perhaps suggesting that the "solidarity" of showmen is sometimes international !

sold to Heal's of Brighton, and Keith and Katie bought an Arcade in Stoke, then the cafe next door to the Arcade....

A new Stevens Sizzler Twist came along in 1989, and when the Miami became the popular ride of the 1990s, Keith and Katie bought a new one in 1992:

Below: "Joker" (Joe Melia) - the Dunnings' long serving employee, stands with Stuart Stanworth by Norman Davies' Dodgem while at Chesterton in 1959.

Henry Dunning and his coconut saloon

Arthur Chadwick's Ark, which maintained some of Norman Davies' grounds in the Potteries during the War, while Norman was based in Wolverhampton.

Right to left: Arthur Chadwick and his wife Susie, his daughter Emily, and son-in-law Harold Wright, who was Emily's husband

The Stanworth Family.

Keith,  Katie,  Katie louise, Millie, Sophie, Toni, Henry.  and Children                    Gemma, Penelope, Stuart, 

The Stanworths at Central Forest Park, Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent, September 1996, on the platform of the Sizzler Twist.

themed as "The Yankie Flier". Keith's daughter , Penelope Jane, now minds this machine. All this time, the Stanworths kept their stalls, sidestuff and juveniles going - keeping themselves very busy, with the help with the help of their teenage daughters who have always been very keen to play an active part in the business.

Of the positions inherited from the old Pat Collins' run, Henry continues to present the Waltzer at Lichfield Bower and Burton Statutes Fairs. Meanwhile new grounds have been developed in and around the Potteries - creating a new "Stanworths' run".

Keith and Henry have dissolved their partnership and have created separate businesses so that they can present fairs together on some occasions and go their separate ways on others. Keith, for example, bought, in his own right, the ex Billy Watkins fairs on the Pitchcroft at Worcester, and appears there three times a year. Henry sometimes presents his equipment as a tenant ofi Robert Wilkinson in the Birmingham area.

Today, in 1996, Keith and Katie Stanworth, travel the Sizzler Twist, the Miami, three juveniles and a hot dog stand. They are assisted by their daughters Gemma, Katie-Louise, Penelope. Michelle had also been part of the "family team", but in November 1995 she married Darren Matthews and now travels with him. Of course everybody still gets together at certain fairs.

Henry Stanworth travels the Maxwell Waltzer, the Scrambler Twist, a crooked Cottage and four juveniles. Henry and his wife Toni are assisted by their children Stuart and Sophie.  

On one occasion while the Stanworths were open Shifnal, they met the Jennings Brothers who we travelling through the town and had suffered puncture. This led to a friendship between the two families who, as you will see, had much in common. This has led to situation where the Stanworths sometimes open as tenants of the Jennings, and vi versa.

The Stanworths give the impression of being a hard- working family who have built on tradition established by their parents and grandparents, a who have proved adaptable in their quest for good equipment, and the never-ending search for new grounds. Their fairs look good and their transport now in a cream and grey livery, looks most impressive. In the midst of this modern fairgroud you will meet Millie - still keen to be out and about and meeting the customers - and with memories stretching back to horse-drawn days and the travels of her own family, and the Davies family - not forgetting her wartime career with the Mechanised Transport Corps..

Emily Dunning maintained detailed records of the family's travels, recording their takings night I night when they were open, and sometimes adding comments and notes on the business. As mention above, some of the 1920s records show extensive travels with Pat Collins as well as with William, and then Norman, Davies. ( 1947 reproduced below.)

Above looking into Hanley's Central Forest Park on the 8th September 1996, where Stanworths' Fair neatly slips into the Potteries landscape. Among the trees, behind the companies transport it is  possible to see the Waltzer, Sizzler Twist, Miami and the tilt of Holden's Dodgem. The Crooked  Cottage, juveniles and stalls are rather obscured.

Above: The ERF eightwheeler attending the Waltzer is seen in Reedswood Park, Walsall on l0th April 1990. (Stanworths stood in fior Anthony Harris who was presenting Pat Collins' Easter Fair at Coventry at the time.) The Maxwell Waltzer is still in its manufacturer's paintwork, touched up now and again by Charlie Merrin, but still looks as good as new.  

Dusk in Central Forest Park, Hanley, on the 8th September 1996  as the lights come on across the Waltzer and Sizzler Twist.

1947 is given here as an example of the way the year went:

Halesowen (4 April), Dawley ( 10 April), Broseley (25 April), Bridgnorth (2 May), Wellington ( 15 May), Milford Common (24 May), Eccleshall (30 May), Rugeley Horse Fair (6 June), Madeley (( 1 3 June), Shifnal (27 June), Tunstall Wakes (1 1 July), Chesterton Wakes ( 1 8 July), Halmer End (25 July), Audley Wakes ( 1 August), Biddulph Wakes (15 August), Mere (not a "usual" ground), Cheadle (26 August), Newcastle (with Sammy Deeks, 12 September), Uttoxeter (with Collins), Halesowen (September), Stratford, Warwick ( 1 1 October), Bridgnorth (31 October), Sedgley (November), Deepfields (November), Dudley (November).