Phil enjoys all the fun of the fair
DAVID TANNER finds out how one businessman has fulfilled the ambition of a lifetime
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| • THE generator on one of Phil’s restored lorries powers the dodgem cars at Dingles Fairground Heritage Centre, near Lifton, in West Devon. |
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| • STRANGE FACES — decorations on a ride at Dingles. |
WHEN he was a lad, Phil Vanstone used to cycle past the Exeter headquarters of the famous Whitelegg’s fair every day.
The vibrancy of the fairground paraphernalia fascinated him so much that, at the age of 16, he went to work for the firm, travelling around the West Country.
One of his jobs was to put in the light bulbs adorning the rides. The fairground life so excited him that Phil vowed to have a fair of his own one day.
Forty years later, this boss of a successful Bideford groundwork company has fulfilled that ambition, albeit on a smaller scale.
Over the past few years, he has built up a collection of old fairground lorries, which he is busy restoring and has acquired a number of juvenile rides.
At weekends during the summer months, he takes his mini Chairoplanes, Octopus and Toy Set rides to rallies and village fetes throughout the region, donating the ride fees to local good causes.
Phil spends an increasing amount of his spare time at the Dingles Fairground Heritage Centre at Lifton, off the A30 in West Devon. Here, he keeps two of his restored lorries — a 1965 Scammell called Illustrious and a slightly younger ERF which belonged to Whiteleggs.
Phil acknowledges the help he has received from many people, including 80-year-old Bill Dymond, chairman of Holsworthy Vintage Rally — it’s on June 24 this year — who often accompanies him on his travels.
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