HIGH winds tore through King’s Park, blowing down two stalls and an Army tent, and spelling the end of the scheduled air balloon ascent and parachute display.

The Bournemouth Fiesta and Leisure Exhibition on August 9-11, 1979, had started promisingly with crowds lining the streets in central Bournemouth and Boscombe to see the Junior Band and Drums of the Prince of Wales Division marched rhythmically to King’s Park.

The official opening of the show by comedian Don Maclean was put back an hour because of the 50mph gusts.

There was a lot to see and buy from the many stalls which included homemade crafts, books, double glazing, gnomes, fortune telling and more.

Jousting was one of the highlights, attracting enough spectators to almost pack a stand at the athletic stadium.

Another popular part of the programme was the Wild West Show organised by the League of Friends of the Royal Victoria Hospitals. The cowboy-filled show was opened by It Ain’t Half Hot Mum star Windsor Davies.