Meet Goose Fair's oldest showmen who have been attending for 80 years

For the well-respected brother and sister it's a way of life

With a combined age of nearly 180 brother and sister Stan and Irene Chapman are Goose Fair's oldest showmen. The duo come to Nottingham's famous fair every year with a rifle range.

Stan is 87, while his sister is 91, and the fair is in their blood as their mother Mabel used to run a coconut shy. They're joined at Forest Recreation Ground by a host of relatives who are running other attractions including a fun house.

"Uncle Stan", as his great cousins refer to him, said: "I've been coming all my life more or less. I remember when we used to run around when we were younger. It's nice to see everyone but it's not the same now, there's a lot of hassle involved now. It used to be a lot simpler."

Get the latest news straight to your phone by joining us on WhatsApp

Although his memories are foggy from decades ago, he recalled the time Goose Fair was held in August during World War II for the the stay at home holiday initiative implemented by the government.

When he first started out as a showman the rides were far less terrifying. White knuckle rides didn't exist - instead visitors got their thrills from the gallopers and cakewalk.

Stan, who stays on-site in a caravan, said: "They've made it into a theme park now. It's not Goose Fair as we used to know it. They used to have a lot of different things at one time, shows and things. They've squeezed them all out now.

"I remember Billy Wood's boxing show, that was good. And there was Mr Wheatley's flea circus." Even if he was a younger man, Stan there's no chance you'd get him on exhilarating 80mph rides like Apollo 13 - new to Goose Fair this year.

"I didn't go on the waltzers - I don't like anything that spins round. You'd have got me on the dodgems," he said. Nor is he one for sampling all the fair scran, which has become a world-wide fest of different flavours. As well as the traditional mushy peas and burgers fair-goers can find Afghan-spiced wraps, pizza, salt and pepper chicken and Jamaican jerk dumplings.

But you won't catch Stan with a stick of tornedo potatoes or a Greek gyros. "My sister does all the cooking. I'm very satisfied with her cooking. I don't need anything in between. She feeds me up well," he said.

Irene joins him on the stall when she can - mainly for a natter with familiar faces who return every year. "She comes up - it's not the fact I need her but people come up and talk to her. If the weather's bad I tell her not to come up."

Stan can remember when Goose Fair used to last just three days. He admitted he's not a fan since it was extended to 10 days. "I think they have spoilt it. It's not Goose Fair as it should be. That's my opinion but I mean, I'm only one man. When they extended it to Wednesday it wasn't too bad but I don't like 10 days," he said.

These days the duo visit around six events a year in the East Midlands. Whereas other showmen go on to Christmas fairs, Goose Fair is the last of the season for Stan and Irene after trips to the Bakewell Show and Stirland Wakes in Derbyshire.

Asked if he's ever likely to retire, Stan said: "I am retired but we're doing it now as a past-time. When I was younger I had a few jobs in the winter time - you had to. I worked for a wholesale greengrocer who supplied the shops."

Last year the pair were honoured with an award for the longest-serving tenants and oldest showmen at Goose Fair. Colleen Roper, a member of Future 4 Fairgrounds, said: "They are well respected showmen and it's wonderful to see them being recognised. It's more than a job, it's a way of life for all showmen.

"Stan and Irene Chapman are a testament to that as the oldest tenants on Goose Fair." Goose Fair runs every day until Sunday October 6. See opening times here