25 Years Of All The Fun Of The Fair

[Bill Edwards]

Dear All

 

I don't know the exact date, but All The Fun Of The Fair first appeared on the internet in 1997, making it 25 years old this year!

 

There have been big changes over the years, starting off as hand coded HTML on personal space, through various servers and software platforms to it's current state - forum based software hosted professionally by the software supplier.

 

It's fair to say we've had our ups and downs. There is no handbook for running a forum and you can't check the answers at the back if you come across an issue. I will be the first to admit that I made mistakes in building up the site. This lead to the introduction of a Team of Administrators, Moderators and Members who make decisions (Thank you to all those who have helped or are currently helping!). We still don't get it right all the time, but the system is about as good as we can get it.  The only thing I can say about the mistakes, is that I've owned them, apologised and ALWAYS had the best interests of the forum at heart.

 

I CANNOT take credit for the forum lasting as long as it has. It's success is SOLEY DOWN TO YOU, THE MEMBERS! It doesn't matter what I do, what I say, what software or platform we use, without your continuing interest and support we'd have gone under years ago, so from me, personally, I sincerely THANK YOU ALL!

 

Here's to the next 25 years!

 

There is a site called "Wayback Machine" that has some archive copies of web sites. Here are a couple of blasts from the past!

 

November 1999

 

March 2003

 

August 2014

 

Thanks again & all the best

 

Bill

 

Queen Elizabeth the Second - May you rest in peace Ma'am - God Save the King!

[Daniel Steele]

Remember being at school and using the internet and being on here 

 

used too have photo of the day was always a highlight back then 

 

always been a great source for myself long may it continue 

[Paul Needham]

well done Bill and team

regardless of the moaners fact is if the whole internet could be run as well as ATFOTF society would be better for it 

[57Smart]

Well done Bill, long may it last

[Daniel James]

I remember the 2003 layout very well, I was 14 at the time and stumbled across this site from a yahoo search and couldn't believe how many rides travelled the country or how many fairs there were.

 

Kids these days have got it easy with FB, Instagram, Snapchat and YouTube but for me the magic was turning up to a pull on not knowing what was going to turn up , chatting to fellow enthusiasts and enjoying the fair. I met alot of friends for life on this forum so for that I'm grateful. 

[Paul McHaddan]

Back in 2006 i joined this forum but i came across it by mistake & now i can't put it down 😂😂

Am on here i don't know how many times a day & night & nearly been in divorce courts as i have been accused a number of times i put "All The Fun Of The Fair" forum 1st before the wife 😂😂 that's her problem not mine 😂😂

 

Just wanna thank Bill & the team thank you all for an excellent forum well worth supporting & of course the members who put a lot into this forum!!!!

 

All the best

 

Paul.

 

 

[harry m]

To echo Bill's comments,

Well Done to Bill for the efforts and work on the site over all those years.

 

To echo Bill's comments,

Well Done to ALL of you, for being members and contributing- financially and content-  to the forum for keeping it going as well, Thank you.

Regards

Harry M

[Chris Powell]

Its possibly the first site i ever came across back in the day when you had a dial up modem and pictures took ages to download and upload.

Well done everyone involved.

[J.Buchwald]

This has always been a fantastic  site for us enthusiasts. Here,s to the next 25years.A big thankyou from me to all that provide  this site👍👍

[Graham Vaughan]

'Long live the King' of fairground websites

[Maurice Jones]

Long may it continue. I have learnt so much since I became a member.

 

Please keep up the great work also thank you to all the people that are

involved in the running of it👍 👍.

 

It is a very special place to visit every day.

[BigtopManiac]

Must admit until i read this post, i didn't realise ATFOTF had been up and running for 25 years, that is a fantastic achievement. I have been a member since 2004 (i had to check my profile to find that out) and thanks to everyone who works to keep this site going. Whilst my interest is primarily Circus i do read the Fun Fair pages too and find them very interesting. 

Here's to the next 25 years. 

Well done Bill and everyone who contributes to the site. 

[Will Purdy]

I remember joining when I was still at high school. Id spend all evening browsing the endless topics and looking at photos. Thank you for the years of memories Bill!

[Dizzy Gosnell]

Just fantastic stuff Bill and the team, just a massive amount of time, hard work, sweat, tears and generated by you all for what has to be the best fairground resource online globally. I check worldwide sites from time to time and there is nothing even close to this for its depth, width, relevance and daily updates. The fact that it's the same age as my son is the icing on the cake.

 

Well done all, and thanks SO much again Bill for your dogged persistence in keeping it going when money, servers and software fought against you.

[Martyn Lancaster]

Great news Bill who would have thought it, I was an early member when I was researching my Promotion lecture!! I was promoted in 97 so I have been here from more or less the start.

 

Still a member to this day and still enjoy the content!! Long may it last!!

[TeacupJohn]

Well done bill and team still a great site