The Starcross Gallopers

The plan to follow up on our first prize

for Kattanga the War Horse 

with some carousel horses needed some more research to verify that carousel gallopers featured on the carousel which used to visit Starcross.

There was a fair in Starcross on Whit Wednesday, at least from the nineteenth century; according to Vision of Britain.
Whit Wednesday would be the Wednesday after Whitsuntide, which is the 7th Sunday after Easter (Wiki)

Perhaps its location was where the Starcross Cattle Market took place? Here's a Bernard Chapman postcard of the Starcross Cattle Market.

Many thanks Janet Bowdler for publishing an appeal for information in The Starcross Newsletter  and to Marlene Parr for this response. (more details to follow)
The visiting fair was opposite the school. It was run by Alfred Whitelegg. Alfred's brother Tommy ran the Dawlish Fair, which visited every August Bank holiday. This fair continues, run by the Rowlands. http://www.rowlandsfunfair.co.uk/

Tommy Whitelegg's daughter ran amusements in Dawlish, in the old cinema building, which is now Dawlish Library.

Marlene clearly remembers the carousel which came to Starcross. It featured gallopers, which were horses with both sets of legs extended - like the olde paintings of horse-racing. Here' one from wiki.

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f3/Jean_Louis_Th%C3%A9odore_G%C3%A9ricault_001.jpg/1280px-Jean_Louis_Th%C3%A9odore_G%C3%A9ricault_001.jpg

Dimensions for carousel horses are online, by a firm who still make them
 https://fairgroundcarouselhorses.com/

Dingles  Fairground Heritage Centre near Launceston have a carousel gallopers ride. Its history is on this link:
 Edwards' Golden Gallopers

https://fairground-heritage.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/gallopers13.jpg

Retirement and First Prize

Kattanga in his retirement home

Oz Octopus in Holcombe Community Orchard

Kattanga is proud of his First Prize Trophy

Kattanga the War Horse and Oz Octopus have retired to the Holcombe Community Orchard. Many thanks to Neil Howell. The sculptures were voted the best in this year's Teignmouth Recycled Art in the Landscape sculpture trail. The prize money of £100 will be shared with Starcross Pre-school and Starcross Primary School

The beautiful, mechanical trophy, made by Julia Vella is recycled from materials which include a bobbin, a map and a fishing weight

Voted the Best: TRAIL 2018

More about Holcombe Community Orchard
On Sunday, October 24th, it's the Beating of the Bounds around Holcombe, which will be followed by Apple Day in Holcombe Community Orchard. This is a public event, so please go along and reacquaint with Kattanga and Oz.

Skypro Productions video of Kattanga

Many thanks to Skypro Productions for this video of Kattanga the War Horse on the Teignmouth Recycled Art in the Landscape sculpture trail
Thanks also to Teignbridge Resorts for the buoy and the brolly cover which make up Oz Octopus, and to Lara;s dress shop in Teignmouth for the bulk of Kattanga's ;-) coathangers.  Starcross Primary School made the oceans, Oz Octopus's tentacles and Kattanga's splendid tail.  Starcross Preschool  made some oceans too

Kattanga the War Horse is ready2go

Kattanga the War Horse

Kattanga the War Horse waits to be installed on Teignmouth sea front

Thankyou Starcross Primary School for Kattanga's fabulous tail

Kattanga the War Horse is delighted with his fabulous tail made by the children at Starcross Primary School

Kattanga the War Horse has a tail

Kattanga's legs will be filled out with coathangers kindly donated by Lara's - the women's clothing shop opposite the Number 2 Bus drop-off point in the centre of Teignmouth. Then he'll be ready to go onto the sculpture trail in Teignmouth by July 18th - which is the start-date for the installations!
If you are down on Teignmouth seafront when Kattanga the War Horse watches the galloping pollution of the oceans is being installed, we might need a bit of help. Cheers

Oceans, Tentacles and Kattanga's Tail

The children of Starcross Primary School worked very enthusiastically all day today and completed the oceans, lots of  Sid Squid and Oz Octopus's tentacles and Kattanga (the coathanger horse)'s tail.
The sculpture Kattanga the coathanger horse watches the galloping pollution of the 5 oceans will go on the Teignmouth Recycled Art in the Landscape sculpture trail in July

Oceans, Tentacles and Kattanga's Tail

The children think that Kattanga resembles Joey; Michael Morpurgo's War Horse. The stage production of War Horse comes to Plymouth from August 29th to September 15th