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The photograph above can be dated approximately to 1950, pictured enjoying a seat on a toy racing car are brother and sister Sidney and Joan Crutchley. This fascinating period image was given to me by my aunty Joan.

The scene appears to be a fairground, of which there were many in the Black Country. These often family-owned travelling events were known as 'wakes'. In the distant past a wake was an event held to recall the founding of a church, to commemorate its patron saint or as a parish celebration. The term ‘wake’ was also used in relation to gatherings held following a funeral.

Eventually the term 'wake' came refer to a fair or local celebration. In some regions of the UK, including the Black Country, it was common for factories to close for a week in order for their employees to enjoy a 'wakes week' holiday. Just two miles from Joan and Sidney's Coalpool Lane home is the town of Bloxwich, which each year held the 'Bloxwich Wakes' fair on the land now occupied by the Asda supermarket. This site was once owned by Pat Collins, the renowned local showman and member of parliament.

The image below is a colourised version of the image shown above.