Joyce's Column: December

I can hardly believe it is the Festive Season once more, and it seems to come around quicker each year, and it goes without saying it gets more expensive year in year out, that said I do love this Season. All the twinkling lights everywhere, Christmas trees, Christmas carols and songs, but most of all to see the excited faces of children waiting for Christmas to come, mind you their parents don’t look quite as excited when the children tell them what they want for Christmas. Anyway, I would like to wish my readers one and all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year for 2025 and see you in January at ACOS again which is only just around the corner.

I think I will name this next piece ‘Memorabilia’ and these are some items I came across at home recently and the photos show some companies that are no longer around in the industry, but nice to remember them.

A keyring from Keighley based Airedale Automatics which was owned by Lewis Woods, a rather small statured man, but he knew how to do business, knew what he wanted and exhibited at the shows for many years.

The next 3 photos are of pens, and as I am sure you all know I am always on the look out for pens, so if you have any that you want to give away, well you are welcome to throw them my way, not literally of course!!

Yorkshire based Sound Sense Electronics which was owned by the spares and repairs supremo Doug Hession with his late wife Doreen, they were a first- class spares and repairs company, and Doug is now enjoying his retirement.

Midland based Maygay Machines owned by the Howell family, a huge name for design of games and supply of them, and a good reputation for being an honest company.

Wareham based CMS UK owned by John Miles designed and manufactured control model systems for amusement parks, seaside areas, local parks etc. John is now living in Dubai and working in a different field altogether.

Talking of Memorabilia, well this is not an item but a person none other then ‘Our Barry’ = Barry Kirkby ex Tic-Tac-Toe and NSM. I was talking with Barry recently and he told me that he promises to visit the Irish show in March, mind you he has said this before and it has never materialised. Barry it would be lovely to see you there, and I am sure many of your old friends and acquaintances would be delighted to see you and enjoy a pint or two of the black stuff with you and of course some great Irish craic that goes without saying. Now don’t break your promise Barry, just take the bull by the horns and do as you say.

The 3 Musketeers ride again – Sound Leisure’s Alan Black, ex Sound Sense’s Doug Hession and myself enjoying ourselves after we returned to Sound Leisure’s factory after lunch in the great Italian restaurant we go to when I venture across to the White Rose County from the Red Rose County. The 3 of us sit and talk about the real fun days in the industry and discuss the industry as it is today and just how many characters used to be in it. Mind you with us 3 Musketeers there are still 3 characters in us all right. The photo shows the 3 of us with the addition of Michael Black who is in training to join the Musketeers, as a Junior of course!!

I also went to see another great industry character Innovative Technology’s David Bellis again another visit I always enjoy. David of course was the founder of Coin Controls before Innovative Technology, and even though Coin Controls factory was just around the corner so to speak from World Fair where I was working, I didn’t meet David there I met him at AMOA in Chicago and we immediately struck up a friendship and one I am proud to say we still have today. 

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17 December 2024

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