大象传媒

A portrait of the life, popular art and remarkable engineering of Carters Steam Fair. In 1976 John Carter began a love affair that changed his life - with a beautiful but decrepit roundabout built in1895. He became fascinated by old machinery and fairground art. People began giving him gear and rides, or selling them to him when they retired, knowing he would keep them working.

John Carter's obsession encompassed his family and in 1977 Carters Steam Fair began travelling for 7 months of the year, after spending winter in the yard fettling, burnishing and painting. There are gallopers (no, not carousels) of extraordinary glamour and beauty, dizzying steam yachts and the amazing Chair-o-Planes, all tended by family and workers living in exquisite 1940s art deco showmen's wagons, with cut-glass clerestories.

Everywhere they go the set-up is different, because they regard all this as art and architecture - that moves. Even their lorries are ancient and beautiful.

After John Carter's death in 2000 his widow, sons and several friends carried on, until their final tour this year. The fair steamed up for the last time on 30th October. To mark the sad end of this era Radio 4 is repeating Going on the Gallopers, the programme first broadcast in 2011 in which the Carters and their workmates describe their labour of love, art and mechanics. Recorded in their winter yard and on a summer pitch while they work, it captures the wild, bright, musical, oily beauty, and thoughtful philosophy of the life of the steam fair.

Producer: Julian May

First broadcast on 大象传媒 Radio 4 in May 2011.