Image: Grays World Travel float

Fêtes and fairs were very popular in the first century of Woking’s existence. Local businesses decorated cars, Lorries and vans for a procession of floats. One fête even offered the prize of a house.

Queen Victoria’s many dates such as birthdays and jubilees were celebrated. The first ‘Empire Day’ took place on 24 May 1902, the Queen’s birthday, and continued for many years. Our current Queen’s Coronation and Silver Jubilee were celebrated with street parties around the borough.

Football is often at the forefront of celebrations. Woking celebrated the winning of the FA Amateur Cup in 1959 in which we beat Ilford at the Empire Stadium, Wembley. This was followed by victories in the FA Trophy in 1994 and 1995.

Today we look forward to Carter’s Steam Fair gracing the Wheatsheaf each year, bringing decorated rides, caravans and steam engines.

Most items in the display are from The Lightbox Heritage Collection. We also acknowledge help and loans from Jenny Mukerji, Neil Burnett, Richard Langtree, Hazel Gilmore and Rosemary and Richard Christophers.

Learn more in this free heritage display outside Woking's Story, our local history museum.