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Three generations of the De-Vey family in Devon: George Snr, George, Ben & Simon
© De-Vey family
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The business of fun |
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Professor Anderton & Captain Rowland
Present-day inheritor of the Anderton and Rowland firm, Simon De-Vey, is in every way a modern businessman. He owns machinery which cost hundreds of thousands of pounds and has to project manage and budget his excursions. What makes him different is that his business is providing entertainment throughout the West Country, and is a family tradition his ancestors began over 150 years ago. As many of his fellow fairground showmen, Simon can trace his family’s traditional business back five generations. Although his roots may be traced further north, the family business is so well established in Devon, with their base at Cullompton, that Anderton and Rowland are a household name across the county. But where did this family tradition begin?
Simon’s great-grandfather, George De-Vey, was the son of a railway worker in the north-east of England until he left home and joined the circus. Young George worked as an elephant boy on Bostock and Wombwell’s world-famous travelling zoo. It was his introduction to the world of travelling shows and fun fairs, one to which he would devote the rest of his life. In 1902 he secretly married 
Albert Haslam as the Victorian conjuror "Professor Anderton"
© De-Vey family |
his boss’s daughter in Bristol Registry Office. His bride, Martha Haslam, was also a northerner, born in Sheffield, she was the daughter of the charismatic Albert Haslam. It was not a match favoured by her family as George was only a servant, and Martha was the show proprietor’s daughter.
Albert Haslam, founder of the firm, began his working life as an engine driver in the Sheffield steel industry in the 1870s until he saw another opening in life. Following his mentor, John Henry Anderson, the great Wizard of the North, he began a conjuring act. Initially he took to the road with a little canvas booth in which he performed to the Victorian public on the fairgrounds. Albert took the stage name Professor Anderton, the great King of Wizards. By the time he reached 40, he found himself widowed with a family of six to bring up. Despite this he managed to keep his family together in their small horse-drawn caravan.
Words: Stephen Smith
Your comments
1 Lauren Walker from Devon - 4 February 2004
"the person on the 2n'd left, what is his name? is it george snr i remember seeing him, does he have the nickname little rowland?"
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