It will not be out of place to mentioned [sic] the great and wonderful mighty Showmens’ Steam Engines. […] These lovely pieces of machinery with their steam and other mechanical organs, used to thrill us young lads to bits […] I used to be amazed at the way they set about the task of getting their tackle out of the Main Street of Chester-le-Street up into the market fair ground. [...] They used all sorts of tricks to get the wheels to grip in all that slimy mud. I have seen all kinds of wooden boxes and crates crammed under the wheels, and ashes, sacks and planks of wood, anything to get those great engines, and their loads, up into the market. […] As a very young lad I used to be enthralled with their mechanical organs and blaring music, and at the antics of all the mechanical figures. These are now [1972] almost priceless antiques, but to people of my generation they bring back some nostalgic memories.