Saturday, 5 September 2009

YOUNG ALBERT

Recent acquisitions here at Jones Towers include these two unused postcards from 1920s showing the ‘Canadian Water Chute’ on the right. It was the first fun fair ride to be built at Marine Lake (1908).

In his book ‘Rhyl At The Fun Fair’ Eric Hughes says, "The operator could not pay the suppliers of the chute nor keep up the agreed payments to Rhyl Urban District Council. In its third year the chute was forfeited to the council who got in touch with Samuel Butler’s of Leeds. This was the company that built the device. Samuel Butler’s sent one of their young engineers Albert Barnes to look after the chute and develop the fairground."

Albert made a good fist of it and built the Figure Eight Rollercoaster alongside the chute, scores of other rides and games, and trains for the miniature railway round the lake. He ought to be commemorated officially in some way.
l
l
l