Death at the May Fair.

George Gould, aged 26, was an able seaman in the Royal Navy serving on board HMS
Swiftsure. He came from Edinburgh, but was spending his leave at Boston with
second-class Petty Officer W. N. Faunt, of the same ship. On The night of
Friday, May 5, 1905 they entered the "twin yachts"at Boston May Fair and sadly
George lost his balance and was violently thrown down. It was seen that he was
seriously injured, and Dr South was summoned, and an examination showed that the
poor mans spine was fractured. He was removed next day to the hospital, where he
died.

HMS Swiftsure, the ship that George Gould was on leave from.

Evidence of identification was given by William Faunt, Joiner, of 14 Muster Roll
Lane, Boston, with whom the deceased stayed. The coroner adjourned the inquest
for a week for the attendance of other witnesses.
After being sworn, the Jury proceeded to the hospital, where they viewed the
body in the mortuary. On their return the coroner briefly narrated the
circumstances of the unfortunate man's death. William Faunt, Joiner, identified
the body just viewed as that of the deceased George Gould, whom he saw alive on
May 5th.

The May Fair circa. 1905.

The funeral took place at Boston cemetery. The coffin was covered with the Union
Jack and conveyed on a gun carriage and large crowds assembled to see the
procession. The coffin was carried from the cemetery gates to the church, and
then to the grave, by four coastguards. Also present were two seaman belonging
to HMS  Pembroke, and a party of 15 coastguards and Naval Reserve men under the
command of Lieutenant R. Taylor.
When the coffin had been lowered into the grave, three volleys were fired over
it by the Coastguards and Naval Reserves.

Tiger Escapes

One of the attractions at Boston May Fair in 1890 was Bostock’s Menagerie, a travelling fairground show consisting of wild animals. Part of the performance consisted of an “Equestrian feat by a Lion and Tiger” where these animals rode around the enclosure on the back of an elephant that had a wooden saddle fitted to his back. A connecting board was placed from the animal caravan to the saddle and the tiger would walk out and crouch upon the elephant’s back after which they were supposed to do two circuits of the enclosure then the tiger would go back to his cage and the lion would take his place.

Bostock's Menagerie.

One evening the menagerie was almost full of spectators who, as they were instructed, gathered in the centre of the enclosure to witness the feat, but when the elephant had been once round the ring, the tiger, in passing its cage sprung off the back of the elephant in the direction of the door. The lion tamer (a black man named Maccomo) was not prepared for this, and although he made a dash for the tiger the elephant being in the way prevented the escaped animal being caught. The menagerie was in uproar with people rushing for the exit steps and women and children shrieking with terror. The tiger was as frightened as the spectators and it darted here and there amongst the crowd trying to hide itself. Several children were knocked down but not hurt. After playing a hide and seek game with Maccomo and the keepers for some minutes the tiger was eventually got in the open and driven into the cage again where it was hit and told to behave better. It was then again placed on the elephant’s back and rode round the ring once more.

The Fair

The smell of candy floss and toffee apples, the caterpillar and speedway, the steam yachts, Rhona the Rat Girl and the boxing booth……….
Boston Mayfair has a very long history (to at least 1125) and traces it’s origins back to the great trading fair of medieval times although this was very different from the modern funfair that we know.

In the Middle Ages fairs were like markets and were held only once a year with merchants coming from all over Europe to buy and sell at the Boston fair.

However, by the 1890’s, the mix of fair rides and stalls that we know was certainly occupying both the Market Place and Wide Bargate and it is now one of the few remaining street fairs in the country.

The event, which has a Royal Charter, occurs in the first week of May (usually the 3^rd) and is surrounded by tradition and ceremony.

The Mayor declares the fair open at noon (see below) from the Assembly Rooms balcony overlooking the Market Place and the ceremony is attended by VIP guests including representatives of the Showmen’s Guild.

After the Fair has been declared open the mayor and guests tour with representatives from the Showmen’s Guild and are allowed to ride free on any of the attractions.

Families of showmen have been coming to Boston for generations, occupying the same pitches with their rides and stalls, which are jealously guarded. The Fair stays in the town for seven or eight days.

Below (1) Sideshows outside the Peacock and Royal Hotel in the 1940's.

Below (2) The Helter Skelter near the Post Office in Bargate in the 1920's.