Gale, John

Epithet: Secretary to the Customs

British Library Archives and Manuscripts Catalogue : Person : Description : ark:/81055/vdc_100000000388.0x0001ad

John Gale was a prominent figure in the North East fairground scene, popular with many of the close-knit community of showmen in that area. His fairground enthusiasm is best seen from this unique viewpoint, with John's incredible pictures forming into a family album of lovingly created snapshots celebrating all aspects of the fairground life. John's pictures came with an absolute minimum of information.

Though incredibly valuable in terms of historical and technical detail, the negative collection can be appreciated as a social document. The lack of accompanying information has quickly been overcome as the collection has been put to use in its proper form: to be browsed and examined by the showmen it so lovingly depicts. Those showmen who have helped us catalogue the images have achieved more than adding names, dates and places – the collection rekindles a special way of life and the happiest of memories.

From the guide to the John Gale Collection, c1920s-1980s, (National Fairground Archive, University of Sheffield Library.)