On August 24, 1940, the Showmen’s Guild of Great Britain published an appeal in the World’s Fair: “Other industries have raised funds to give fighter aircraft to the R.A.F. We, the travelling showmen, must do the same. Between £5,000 and £6,000 is necessary to provide a Spitfire or Hurricane fighter and many of our members have expressed the wish that they want to contribute to such a fund and we agree with them”. Within ten days over £1,500 had been collected! The money came from individual members, regional sections and organisations associated with showland such as the World’s Fair. The target figure of £5,000 was realised during the Annual Meeting of Members. That was in early 1941. The money was sent to the Ministry of Aircraft Productions. The Spitfire purchased by the Showmen’s Guild was built by Supermarine Aviation Vickers Ltd. It was part of a lot of 450 Spitfires.
In 1941 the Royal Air Force received a new Spitfire, called The Fun of the Fair. It was donated by the Showmen’s Guild of Great Britain and Ireland.
During the Second World War British Showmen clubbed together to buy a spitfire for the Royal Air Force. They were demonstrating their committment to the war effort just like their sons and daughters who were seeing active service.
Lord Beaverbrook, the Minister of Aircraft Production, thanked the Showmen’s Guild for the Spitfire it donated.