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Lee, Harry, 1913 - 1997

 Person

Dates

  • Existence: 1913 - 1997

Biography

Harry was born in Bradford in 1913 to Sam Lee and Susan Boyes. His father had operated a Savage Steam Yacht in the fairground, although he had settled by the time Harry grew up.

After losing his job in the mills following the Wall Street Crash, Harry returned to his showland roots and he travelled Savage Yachts with his aunt and uncle around East Anglia for most of the inter-war years.

During the war he served in the Durham Light Infantry, but a road accident saved him from serving in North Africa. When he returned to Bradford he found the original Waddington Yachts his father had travelled packed away on Bowling Fairground. He set to rebuild the ride, becoming a pioneer in the field of steam preservation and in 1947 he married Pricilla Waddington and took over the ride.

His contribution to the field not only saved the set of Yachts, but by rescuing parts as they became available, it allowed John Carter to return the ex-Joe Ling set to steam.

Harry was a founder member of the Fair Organ Preservation Society and of the Fairground Society. He was also a member of the Fairground Association of Great Britain from its early days.

Harry died in 1997

Found in 5 Collections and/or Records:

Harry Lee Collection

 Fonds
Reference code: NFA0076
Scope and Contents

Photographs, posters and other documents relating to Waddington family Steam Yacht.

Dates: c1900 - 1989
Found in: National Fairground and Circus Archive

Photographic Album, 1899 - 1955

 Item
Reference code: 178C57.13695
Scope and Contents Photographic album containing black and white photographs of fairgrounds, fairground rides, fairground organs, boxing booths, steam engines and transport, Showpeople, circus and fairground shows including Murphy, Harniest, Deakin, Waddington, Anderton and Rowland, Silcock, Harry Lee, Shaw, Proctor, Reany, M.A. Collins and Tom Norman at Hull Fair, Northampton Fair, Stockport, Daisy Nook, Heaton Park, Oldham and other locations and showmen with notes. Photographs taken and collected by Rowland...
Dates: 1899 - 1955
Found in: National Fairground and Circus Archive / Rowland Scott Collection / Photographs and Postcards

Photographic Album, 1941 - 1955

 Item
Reference code: 178C57.13696
Scope and Contents Photographic album containing black and white photographs of fairgrounds, fairground rides, steam engines and transport, circus and fairground shows including Crow, Harry Lee, Smart, Bertram Mills, Farrar, Butlin, Codona, Silcock, Shaw, Marshall, Pat Collins, M.A. Collins, Harry Lee and Wallis at Oldham Fair, Lincoln Fair, Bootle, Huddersfield, Southport, Hull Fair, Knottingley Fair, Stanley Park and other locations and showmen with notes. Photographs taken and collected by Rowland Scott,...
Dates: 1941 - 1955
Found in: National Fairground and Circus Archive / Rowland Scott Collection / Photographs and Postcards

Photographs and Postcards, c1899 - 1969

 Series
Reference code: 178C57
Scope and Contents

Photographs, postcards and negatives of fairgrounds taken by Rowland Scott and other fairground enthusiasts.

Dates: c1899 - 1969
Found in: National Fairground and Circus Archive / Rowland Scott Collection

Rowland Scott Collection

 Fonds
Reference code: NFA0037
Scope and Contents

Photographs related to all aspects of British travelling fairgrounds including; rides, transport, living wagons, showpeople, fairground shows, circuses and organs by Rowland Scott and other authors, a selection of manuscripts by Rowland Scott and a small amount of correspondence.

Dates: c1899 - 1989
Found in: National Fairground and Circus Archive

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