Kingston-upon-Hull, or Hull as it is commonly known, is situated on the North Bank of the River Humber, in Yorkshire England. Each year, as Autumn takes hold, leaves drift earthward and rain and wind increase, what is still often called the largest travelling fair in Europe arrives in the city of Hull. It is noisy, brash and many would say expensive. It has a long history and remains a popular event for locals and visitors to the city. HULL FAIR A LITTLE HULL FAIR HISTORY "This carnival of merriment is the largest travelling fair in Europe and one of the oldest - the fair celebrated its seven hundredth anniversary in 1993. The first charter granting permission for a fair to be held, from 9 to 23 March, was granted in 1278. The anniversary celebrated by Hull City Council dates from1293, when Edward I allocated six weeks in May and June for the festivities. By the 16th Century the festivities had become a 16-day fair, with 20 September as the start of the annual feast after an additional Charter was granted by Charles II." These days As Autumn approaches many locals in the city of Hull look forward to October and the annual fair. If truth be known these days as many locals probably dread this annual event as anticipate it; however it is a tradition that as a child was enthralling. In the 1950's When I was young Hull Fair opened on the first Saturday of October and ran until around 11pm the following Saturday. The fair was always closed on a Sunday and local children would mosey around the fairground during the Sunday afternoon, hoping to collect small coins dropped, lost or forgotten by fair-goers. The fair was the largest travelling fair in England and an amalgamation of many fairs which toured during the summer months meeting up in Hull each October. The fair was, and still is, situated on 'waste ground' on Walton Street, in Kingston-Upon-Hull. Even back then there was talk of relocating this fair but a move has never materialised to this day. These days the Walton street fairground is used throughout the year for weekly markets and car boot sales. A section of it is used for local buses, as part of the Park and Ride transport scheme in the city. The bonus is, these days, much of the fairground has been levelled and is tarmac. When we were kids it was mainly cinder paths and the often wet and windy October weather left a muddy, messy area underfoot. Back in the fifties, and sixties, the fair incorporated stalls such as The Fat Lady, small zoos and other peculiarities. A local eccentric called Roland could be seen outside some of the stalls trying to entice visitors inside. With his walking stick and strange attire he was quite a scary character to children. The fair was large and had many rides but it is massive now. The actual street is long, with a park at one end near the fairly new Hull City football ground, and it links two of the main roads of the city. This street during Hull Fair week, has stalls selling candy floss, chips, hotdogs, novelty dolls, roast chestnuts and more. These line both sides of the street and the smells and sounds are always as much a part of a visit to the fair as the actual attractions. There was a time when Spring Bank West, during Fair week, had twinkling lights along it leading to the fair. This helped build a feeling of excitement as you approached the brighter lights of Hull Fair. The fairy lights sadly disappeared years ago. Hull Fair today These days the fair is brash and noisy, but it always was to those who did not wear rose-coloured glasses. The rides are expensive and overly loud music hurts my ears. Still, I assume that older people felt just the same when teenagers, such as myself, hung around the rides whilst the music of The Beatles and The Stones belted out across the fair-ground. There was a time I would never have missed the fair. I had to visit it at least once each year but as a child I had to visit much more often and usually did, living within a half-hour walk. These days, although I do not live too far from the fair-ground, I do not often visit. All I can see now is expensive, tacky goods and hear noisy, sometimes foul-mouthed, people. When I took a friend’s child a few years ago it was shocking to hear younger people swearing appallingly as they toured the fair in the early evening. This means that, even if you visit early evening children may have to suffer abusive language. This behaviour can give the fair an almost threatening feel, which is a shame. A larger police presence has improved some concerns. Overall Despite some problems the fair remains great fun for youngsters and really anyone who loves Fairs. As a travelling fair the rides are assembled for the week and then taken down, but generally there are no accidents. Hull Fair now runs a day longer, as it opens on a Friday. The Lord or Lady Mayor of Hull traditionally opens the fair around lunchtime Friday. The local bus companies operate extended bus services for the duration of the fair and the council provides additional parking spaces. These are in demand as visitors come to the fair from near and far. Traffic is usually gridlock at some point. From late September travellers arrive in Hull and park up their caravans at West Park, which is near to Walton Street. Once the fair is up and running the air is full of smells such as fries and hot dogs. If the wind is blowing in the right direction the noise, smells and chatter of what seems to be a million voices all speaking at once wafts on the air around streets. In our rear garden it can sound as if a million people are there all chattering, screaming and laughing at once. Local residents sometimes say, “I can smell Hull Fair is on the way” and that “it's Hull Fair weather.” Perhaps smelling Hull Fair is about associating it with the start of Autumn. Hull Fair weather means that it is usually wet and windy but when you are young the fair is fun even in appalling weather. For me these days it is no fun at all in such dire weather conditions. With climate change the weather has been milder Fair week recently. Thinking of the fair as the time approaches though, brings back memories of my Dad, who died in 1969. He always loved the fair and all the rides. As children he took us on the Big Wheel, the Waltzers and many other stomach churners. Hull Fair 2025 Note: Dates: Fri, 10 Oct 2025 – Sat, 18 Oct 2025 Location: Kingston upon Hull Location Venue name: Walton Street Car Park Postcode:HU3 6JB Hull Fair began accepting contactless payments in 2021 when it reopened post Covid-19 restrictions. More information at Visit Hull
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 At time of writing Bohemian Rhapsody is an Oscar nominated film. We will know soon how that pans out but it is fair to say that this Queen biopic has faced mixed reviews and somewhat of a backlash. However it has been a huge box office success and when we finally caught up with it at a Vue cinema matinee performance we enjoyed the cinematic experience. If you are still considering whether or not to watch Bohemian Rhapsody consider a few things:
Bohemian Rhapsody needs to be taken with a pinch of salt. According to reports online there are a few inaccuracies including when Freddie was diagnosed with AIDs particularly in relation to Live Aid. This Movie As the movie starts it is 1985 with Live Aid about to kick off; it then moves back in time to 1970 when Freddie is a student working as an airport baggage handler. Brian May and Roger Taylor are also students but they are part of a band. When their lead singer quits they give Freddie a go and the rest as they say is history. Along the way Freddie struggles with his sexuality, marrying the love of his life Mary Austin. Mary Austin remained a huge part of Freddie's life through the good and the not so good years. Although she moved on, had children, and married she and Freddy remained close. Their relationship however took a different twist after they both recognized he was not straight. The band Queen became successful but in true rock band style they were difficult at times. There are more inaccuracies surrounding an offer for Freddie to record as a solo artist. If you know little of the band Queen these may not matter to you but try not to take Bohemian Rhapsody as fact. It does follow Queen's success, but only up to a point. There are some great moments during the film and of course there is the music of Queen. I was curious as to who was the voice of Freddy during the movie. Rami Malek who plays Freddy put in a masterly performance of Freddie's moves and stage persona plus his speaking voice but what about the singing? When the movie was released in October 2018 NME posted a report revealing Rami Malek is lip syncing but not to Freddie Mercury's voice. The singing voice is a mixed bag with Youtube Queen sensation Marc Matel's voice being predominant. If you fancy buying the soundtrack of the movie that is Queen performances. YouTube footage of Marc Matel performing Bohemian Rhapsody is show at the end of this review and it is very good. It starts and ends perfectly but loses its was a little during the song. We should never forget Freddie had a very special voice. His character when being taunted by the press about his teeth actually says his extra teeth make for a perfect sound box of a mouth. The press also hound Freddie about his sexuality and we should never forget it was a time of the new so-called gay disease AIDS. He faced some brutal criticism and verbal attacks. The film goes full circle ending in 1985 with Live Aid. The band are back together after a break and according to the script Freddie knows he has AIDs and tells his band mates. The final 20 minutes of Bohemian Rhapsody the movie is the 1985 Live Aid performance. The movie characters play in front of scenes from Live Aid at Wembley. My hubby thought you could really tell it was filmed that way, I was not convinced. For me it was seamless. By this point in the movie Rami Malek is Freddie Mercury. He now has a friend, that is Jim Hutton who becomes Freddie's husband in all but name, staying with him until he dies. Sadly Jim Hutton who also had AID's died on January 1, 2010, but his cause of death was lung cancer. Recommended I would say this is a five-star movie. Forget any preconceptions, ideas about Queen and just who they are, and simply sit back and enjoy the experience. The movie is in the 12A category at Vue for some strong language, sex scenes and drug references but those are all minimal. A movie should take you on a journey and Bohemian Rhapsody will take you on the ride of your life if you let it Main Cast and Characters Rami Malek ... Freddie Mercury Lucy Boynton ... Mary Austin Gwilym Lee ... Brian May Ben Hardy ... Roger Taylor Joseph Mazzello ... John Deacon (as Joe Mazzello) Aidan Gillen ... John Reid Allen Leech ... Paul Prenter Tom Hollander ... Jim Beach Mike Myers ... Ray Foster Aaron McCusker ... Jim Hutton Produced by Jim Beach ... producer Robert De Niro ... producer Dexter Fletcher ... executive producer Justin Haythe ... executive producer Richard Hewitt ... co-producer Graham King ... producer (produced by) (p.g.a.) Brian May ... executive music producer Arnon Milchan ... executive producer Denis O'Sullivan ... executive producer Jane Rosenthal ... executive producer Donald Sabourin ... line producer: additional photography Roger Taylor ... executive music producer There are lots of Bohemian Rhapsody reports and stories here at the NME online The UK has many outdoor and indoor markets. Most large towns and cities have more than one. Some markets are open daily whilst others are open for business on selected days of the week and during certain times of the year.
Many small towns have their own traditional markets; in fact many of these small country towns are called market towns. Come with me then while I share a sample of just a few of these markets available in the UK. This should give you an idea of what is out there when you visit the United Kingdom, but more specifically England. The capital city of England, namely London, seems a good place to start our journey This fine city has many boroughs, or areas, most of which have their own attractions or specialities. Many will have one form of market or another. Check out Camden Market and The Portobello Road, for a traditional market in great surroundings. The Portobello Road is a bustling street market with plenty of shops. It is often full of tourists and shoppers. Camden market has Camden Lock with its waterfront restaurants. It is a more trendy modern market. When we visited Camden Market, some years ago, a young Roland Gift, the man who went onto fame as lead singer with The Fine Young Cannibals, had a stall at Camden Market. London Markets will offer you basic goods such as fruit and vegetables, fresh meat, cheap household products, fresh fish, fake goods, clothes and so much more. You can often find unusual items which may make perfect souvenirs of your vacation. Be wary of items such as watches which may not offer longevity. If the market has casual retailers you will find the seller hard to track down and therefor be unlikely to secure a refund, or exchange, if the goods do not live up to expectations. Most major cities in the UK have at least one market Some markets are enclosed in what are called market halls. This could be a great place to visit for the building if nothing else. There are still some markets held in buildings which were built many years ago and may incorporate traditional Victorian tiles and architecture. Other markets are assembled and dismantled each time they are opened and closed. Cottingham which is a small village near where I live has a small market each Thursday held on what is called Cottingham Green. It is not green though and is a concreted area. It has a nearby bus terminus, pub, plenty of shops and the Civic Hall. It may only be a small market but it is popular and in the run up to Christmas is where Cottingham's Christmas lights are most prominent. With changing times many traditional market places are no more However Farmer's markets seem to be catching on. My city has a farmer's market, in quite a nice setting, usually once a week. These market stalls offer local produce but the goods on sale may be a little pricier than supermarket fare; they offer excellent quality and very fresh produce though. In summer, autumn and spring the stalls also sell a good selection of bedding and house plants. Market Towns, such as nearby Beverley, have managed to maintain their traditional markets. Beverley has a large market in its main square each Saturday and a smaller market held in the Wednesday market place on a Saturday and a Wednesday. When there is a race meeting in Beverly the market becomes even busier. There are many such markets and market towns around the UK. If you are visiting the UK consider checking out the markets available Whether you are touring or staying in one location, there is bound to be at least one market being held in the region. Research online the local tourist offices for full details. They should be able to show or send you details of what is available and when. Remember outdoor markets may vary their running times in bad weather or out of season. That said there are extra markets held at times such as Christmas. My city holds a Victorian market in the run up to Christmas and more than once during the year holds a French or Dutch market. The fine city of Lincoln holds a large but busy Christmas market annually. These are just a few of those available. English markets usually have some stalls selling snack food such as chips (fries), fish and chips, hot chestnuts in winter and autumn and jacket potatoes. Markets usually have the appetising smells of these foods and their accompanying fish and chips which whet your appetite. As with all such packed places make sure that your valuables are safe and out of the reach of would be pickpockets. Also if something for sale seems to good too be true, it probably is. Check out the - Festival of Christmas Beverley Yorkshire Market Day Mahon and Ciutadella Menorca  Written 2015
My hometown, or rather city, Kingston-upon-Hull on the north bank of the River Humber, in the county of Yorkshire, hit the news in November 2013 and for once it was for the right reasons, as the city was named UK City of Culture for 2017. Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, Maria Miller, announced that Hull, as it is also called, had beaten Leicester, Swansea Bay and Dundee to win the four yearly title. She said: This is brilliant news for Hull and everyone involved in the bid there. "This year's UK City of Culture, Derry-Londonderry, demonstrates the huge benefits that the title brings. These include encouraging economic growth, inspiring social change and bringing communities together. "It can produce a wonderful mix of inward investment, and civic pride, and I hope Hull's plans will make the most of all that being UK City of Culture can bring." Will the title make a difference to the city? Blitzed heavily by Nazi bombers during WWII Hull lost many of its architectural beauties. It also lost some of its squalid, tiny houses but sadly many of those remained for years. Hull traditionally has high levels of unemployment. The fishing industry was the city's major employer until the Cod Wars between the UK and Iceland during the 1970's. The fishing industry of Hull collapsed. In 2009 the affected fishermen received some compensation from the government but their communities were already lost. It was too little and too late. Following the global economic downturn of 2008 the caravan industry, which had become a major employer in the city, stumbled. Unemployment rose again. Dogged at one time by poor housing and drug-related crime Hull now has something to celebrate The title City of Culture should lead to an upturn in the economics of the city, with predictions of a £60million boost for the city. What does Hull have to shout about? For a relatively small city Hull offers visitors a wide-range of museums, a world-renowned art gallery, two theatres, a premier league football team, two rugby teams, modern shopping centres and more. Sadly like most UK cities and towns it also has many empty shops and run-down parts of town but today we will concentrate on the positives. Free Museums, yes these are free to visit Wilberforce House, birthplace of the slavery abolitionist of the same name, combines one of the few 17th Century buildings in Hull with informative displays about the slave trade and its abolition in England. Situated along the old High Street this area of the "old town" gives visitors a glimpse of a bygone era. Streetlife, Hull's transport museum, the defunct trawler Arctic Corsair and the archaeological museum complete the so-called Museum Quarter of Hull. Town Docks, Maritime Museum, across town in Victoria Square but only a few minutes walk away, features displays relating to Hull's seafaring past. The building was once the Dock Offices of a vibrant seafaring community. Queen's Gardens behind the Maritime Museum was once a busy dock. These days it is a green area of flowers, grass and ponds. Concerts during the summer months use the Mick Ronson Memorial stage. Mick was a member of David Bowie's "Spiders from Mars" band along with fellow Hullite Trevor Bolder. Sadly both are deceased. The Ferens Art Gallery is across the square and houses works of art by Frans Hals, Antonio Canaletto, Stanley Spencer, David Hockney, Helen Chadwick and Gillian Wearin, maritime works of art, modern and old masterpieces. If you are planning a visit check the gallery's program of events. The Deep The Deep is located where the River Hull meets the River Humber at Sammy's Point and although it charges an entrance fee is still worth a visit. This huge Submarium, shaped from the outside like part of a ship's hull suits Hull's history down to the ground. Theatres The New Theatre offers a more traditional programme while Hull Truck Theatre provides more contemporary entertainment. Hull's City Hall is also a venue for comedy and music events. The KC Stadium home to Hull City FC, or the Tigers, hosts musical events from time to time. Previous shows have included The Who, Sir Elton John and Neil Diamond. Need I go on? The above is just a hint of the attractions available. So was Hull a good choice for City of Culture 2017? Of course I am biased but, yes I think it was and recognition for this tough city and its people was long overdue. It may be a diamond in the rough but it will rise to the City of Culture challenge. Note: Famous citizens of Hull include - Tom Courtney-actor, The Housemartins-pop group, Mick Ronson and Trevor Bolder-guitarists in David Bowie's Spiders from Mars, John Alderton-actor, the late Norman Collier-comedian, Maureen Lipman-actress, Phillip Larkin-poet, Andrew Marvell-writer, William Wilberforce-slavery abolitionist and politician, Joe Longthorne-singer, John Prescott-politician and one-time deputy prime minister of the UK, Alan Plater-playwright, Amy Johnson-early aviator, Roland Gift-musician and actor, Andrew Motion, Keith Devlin, Nick Barmby-footballer, Barrie Rutter-actor, Sheila Mercier-actress, Francis Durbridge, Ian Carmichael-actor, Herbert Baker, Brian Rix-comedy actor, David Whitfield singer, Thomas Ferens-philanthropist, Thomas Reckitt-philanthropist and business man and Maria Gilhooley (aka Waterson). A final obscure fact is that Arthur Lucan, also known as Old Mother Riley is buried in Hull! (C) Eileen Kersey |
