Here’s Hopping for some finer weather

Jun 20 2008 by Dan Warburton, The Journal

THOUSANDS of thrill-seekers will descend upon Newcastle today as the annual Hoppings fair returns to Tyneside.

Newcastle’s Town Moor will be packed with people wanting to sample Europe’s largest open air funfair when it is officially opened at 1.30pm this afternoon by the Lord Mayor David Wood.

From the Razzle Dazzle to the Octopus, the Wall of Death to Dive Bomber, a host of white-knuckle rides are on offer at the week-long festival.

In total, 60 different rides and countless sidestalls will be on the busy fairground.

And for 76-year-old Colin Noble, the Hoppings is a life-long occupation.

The event organiser has travelled with the fair since he was three days old, and now has two sons who also own rides at the festival. Last night the Wallsend-born ride-owner said: “I’m Tyneside born and my mother and father came on to the Moor for the Hoppings.

“I’m 76 now and I was three days old when I first came on the Moor. Now I’ve got two kids and now they are in the same line of business. I look forward to this every year.

“We’re expecting thousands of people during the course of the fair. We have all sorts of things going on. From the old fashioned carousel to candy floss. It’s equal to any amusement park.”

Last year Hoppings workers suffered their worst season in 125 years when showers pelted down and rain-soaked visitors bathed in mud.

Attendances at the famous Town Moor attraction were at their lowest since it began in 1882.

But visitor numbers are expected to soar this year with sunshine forecast and temperatures expected to reach 19C on Monday.

Mr Noble is hoping that more than 100,000 people will attend the event to ease last year’s heartache.

He said: “This year will be special because of the upheaval of last year with the awful weather. We made very little money.

“The ground just turned into a sea of mud.

“But hopefully this year the temperature will be better and the conditions will be fine.”

The Hoppings opens until 11.30pm on weekdays, 11.45pm on Saturdays and 10pm on Sunday.