Victorian fairground ride painstakingly restored at museum near city

A Victorian fairground ride is back in action after a painstaking 15-year project to bring it back to its former glory.

Malcolm Potts, a heating engineer from Cambridge, bought the derelict Gallopers in 2009.

He has worked with fellow volunteers at Strumpshaw Steam Museum in Norfolk to restore the ride and it will make its public debut on June 23 2024.

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Painted horses on the restored Gallopers Picture: Chris Bond (Image: Chris Bond)

This coincides with The Norwich Classic Vehicle Club Family Day this Sunday from 10am to 4.30pm.

Ahead of this, Mr Potts welcomed his family and friends on board last weekend. 

Mr Potts said: "It is fantastic to see it all back together again and working so well.

"What makes it all worthwhile is when you see the children coming off the ride with big smiles on their faces."

Family and friends were the first passengers on the Gallopers last weekend Picture: Chris Bond (Image: Chris Bond)

The ride was originally commissioned in 1895 and it has featured in several films, including The Watcher In the Woods, The Fifteen Streets and Enid Blyton’s Famous Five.

The brightly coloured Gallopers have space for 30 passengers, seated on painted horses.

The restoration has not been plain sailing and there was damage to the woodwork after a fire broke out in 2015 near some trucks where parts were stored.

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All the brass poles were also stolen from the storage in Cambridge. 

But help was at hand as a showman from Southampton offered Mr Potts a new centrepiece.

Great Yarmouth Pleasure Beach also gave him parts that were taken off a similar ride in the 1980s.

Kiki Angelrath (right) from Strumpshaw Steam Museum on the restored Gallopers Picture: Chris Bond (Image: Chris Bond)

Kiki Angelrath, whose late father Wesley Key founded Strumpshaw Steam Museum, is delighted to have the Gallopers on loan.

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She said: "After all the time they have spent on the ride and all the setbacks they have had, it is absolutely wonderful to see it completed."

Entry tickets to the classic car show on June 23, supporting the charity Norfolk Blood Bikes, cost £10 for adults and it is free for under 16s.

For exhibitors, entry costs £3 with a motorbike or £5 with a classic car.