Our History

Our History

We have been doing it a long time...

Our History

Moving with the Times...

Our History

Proud of our Heritage...

The name Bensons is synonymous with high-quality funfairs. As one of the most long-standing names in the showmen’s industry going back generations, Bensons Fun Fairs has been running funfairs for long before most other showmen.

Famous for fabulous, brightly painted lorries and leading professionalism, Bensons Fun Fairs manages to stay on track, even in the most extreme of weather conditions, working tirelessly to put an event together and to ensure every site visited is left in at least as good a condition, if not better, than which it was found.

Constantly re-investing in new rides and equipment, Bensons Fun Fairs has a reputation for putting customer and visitor safety first. All events are comprehensively insured (Ten million pounds public liability insurance). All rides are fully inspected by ADIPS and operated by experienced, trained staff. Registered and qualified first aiders are always on-site.

Having been brought up with a strong sense of standards and ethics, instilled by his family’s history of operating Bensons Fun Fairs, Mark Benson began Benson’s M&L Pleasure Fairs with his wife Lillian, operating to the same exacting high standards and continuing the Bensons heritage in the name of Benson’s M&L Pleasure Fairs.

If you fancy reading more
about us, go and get the September edition of the Old Glory magazinenwhere we feature

Tommy Benson’s Ark at Hersham 1957

Setting it up and getting ready for customers to ride.

 

New Millennium

this is a newspaper clipping from the 2000 millennium when Bensons was one of the very few privileged Showmen to be asked and given permission by the Queen to open some of our rides in The Mall for the millennium celebrations. Only the most prestige, long-standing Showmen with outstanding rides could attend and we are so honoured to have been part of this historical event.  

 

 

Benson’s Lorry

An old Benson’s Lorry in all its glory!

Benson’s cyclone twist

The cyclone twist before we upgraded!

Brockwell Park

We have opened in Brockwell Park for generations – this is us in 1964!

Benson’s coconut saloon in 1935 at Mitcham built up on the roadside.

Benson’s Ark

Benson’s Ark proving to be very popular all those years ago! Bensons are very proud of their history and known as one of the longest standing showmen in the business.

Benson’s funfair in the floods at Godalming in 1968

Still going strong to this day, with lots of new and improved attractions and exciting rides to bring joy to the local communities in which we work.

Mark’s dad and his brother Billy back in 1959 at their home in Dorking where Tommy still lives today

Mark’s Grandad Tommy Benson & George

This photo was taken in the 1960s. George worked alongside Tommy for many years and was seen as a member of the family. We’re proud to be still flying the Benson flag to this day!

#DonEadesCollection

With the funfair about to open on the heath, we decided to look in our archives for some fairs from the town’s past. #DonEadesCollection

This image from the 1963 Taro Fair shows Tommy Benson on the left. The Benson family has a long association with Petersfield’s Taro Fair. The ride he is standing on, called a skid ride, was his father’s, and he was actually working in this photograph. The Benson family still run funfairs, as they have done for generations.

We are grateful to Marisa Wall, who identified her Uncle Tommy in this photo when it was first published in The Petersfield Post. Please let us know if you have any further information you can share on this image!

Benson family history

Some great photos of the history of the Benson family.

If you'd like to learn more about our Fun Fairs...