MEMORIES of one of Barry Island Pleasure Park’s iconic rides have been recalled during year which would have marked its return to the fairground.

The Wall of Death had been scheduled to arrive in the resort this season, but the covid-19 lockdown put pay to the plan.

The first Wall of Death ride appeared at Barry Island in the 1930s and the side-show features a silo- or barrel-shaped wooden cylinder.

The attraction is usually is made wooden planks, inside which motorcyclists, or the drivers of miniature automobiles, travel along the vertical wall and perform stunts.

They are held in place by centrifugal force and friction and the audience looks down - viewing from the top of the drum.

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Barry historian, Tom Clemett said: “The first Wall of Death ride to appear at Barry Island in the 30’s was that of Tornado Smith who rode around the wall in a car with a lion on it.

“In the early 50’s Frank Todd, who was one of the owners of the Wall of Death in Germany, came to Barry and stayed for a number of years with his show.

“Frank Todd was the main Wall of Death rider.

“The other riders were Billy Freeman and Horace, but Frank Todd’s wife Pat - who was one of the Crane family – rode around the wall sitting on the handlebars.

“For a great number of years they rode Indian motorbikes with foot clutches and later on Billy rode Triumph’s and Go Carts on the wall.”

Barry Island resident, John Moore added: “You were always worried about falling as it looked like it would collapse but it never failed."

Café owner, Marco Zeraschi said he first saw the ride when he was 10-years-old.

“I was in awe,” he said. “When you think about it - a motorbike spinning around on a wall at 70mph in a tube?

“Now I understand what it’s about, but when you’re 10-years-old and don’t know the concept of giro-scopes and gravity it’s like one of the Wonders of the World.

“I remember you had a place where you walk in and see two-headed snakes, like a curiosity thing, and you used to have a shooting gallery with live ammo.

“Can you imagine that today?”

Barry Island Pleasure Park owner, Henry Danter, 76, said he was sorry the Wall of Death had not been able to visit.

“We had a lot of news things booked for this year and when covid happened a lot of it got cancelled,” he said. “The Wall of Death we had booked to come here, but they’ve got other commitments now.

“I was going to be the MC for it because I know a little bit about the Wall of Death.

“I think it’s the greatest ride or thrill that’s ever come on a fairground.

“There was one here many years ago.

“Once you see the Wall of Death you will always remember.

“They risked their lives every show to thrill you and believe me the Wall of Death will thrill you.

“I loved the Wall of Death because when I was young that was the main attraction and the cowboy shows and parading shows, the smallest man, the tallest man.

“The stalls were great.

“That was the beginning of my life and I’ve still got that love and passion for fairgrounds.”

The first Wall of Death in the UK was in the Kursaal Amusement Park, Southend in June 1929.

By the mid-1930s, there were 50 shows touring the counties and stunts, with Riders like Arthur Brannon and included riding sidecars with animals on board including a lioness.

Rides re-started after the Second World War and the Todd Family Wall of Death was featured at the Festival of Britain in 1951, with Frank Senior, George, Jack, Bob and Frank Junior riding.