Death of last brother of Ayrshire fairground family

Nov 14 2008

THE LAST of the Lawrence brothers who travelled round Ayrshire fairs has died aged 89.

Edwin Lawrence was the youngest of five brothers in the fairground family.

His father John brought cinema to Mauchline early in the 20th century.

And the Lawrences also took their ‘shows’ around Scotland and the north of England.

In Edwin’s youth, the showmen still used steam traction engines to transport and power their roundabouts.

And he was brought up to a soundtrack of fairground organ music.

His military service in the Second World War was with an army motorboat unit charged with setting the sea on fire, should there be a German naval invasion.

He returned to the family business and married Turnberry girl May Cuthbert.

Edwin specialised in penny arcade machines, as well as looking after the bigger roundabouts owned by his parents.

The business was later divided among the brothers, with Edwin travelling with a waltzer, as well as his penny arcade.

He settled in Girvan in 1962, opening Mayfair Amusements in Knockcushan Street.

And he kept up a fairground interest with his Helter Skelter, a popular attraction at Girvan for many summers.

Edwin died in Maybole’s Fairknowe Nursing Home, where he lived for the past 2½ years.

His funeral service was held at Mauchline by Rev Alan Telfer.

Edwin is survived by May and four of his five children: Tom, who emigrated to Vancouver, Canada; Edwin, an Ayrshire Post reporter; Chris, currently working in the USA; and Ramona, a nursery teacher at Maybole’s Gardenrose Primary.

His eldest daughter Hilda sadly died nearly two years ago.