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Labour of Love
- The Orton and Spooner Story

In 2022, Elaine Pritchard wrote 'A Labour of Love, the Orton and Spooner Story'.

It tells the stories of Victorian entrepreneurs George Orton  (1844-1924) and Charles Spooner (1871-1939) and is published by Goldcrest Books. 

Orton & Spooner put Burton-on-Trent on the map for their innovative work on wagons for show families, showfronts for travelling fairs and cinemas.

All profits from the book, including Amazon Royalties and speakers' fee from the many groups Elaine speaks to on Zoom and in person, go to Burton and District Mind, the mental health charity. 

The book can still be bought from Amazon. 

The front and back cover of Labour of Love, the Orton and Spooner Story, a book by Elaine Pritchard

Thanks to our supporters

Thanks to the National Fairground and Circus Archive who allowed the images from their Orton and Spooner collection to be used in the book. Andrew Warwick-Thompson and his family, descendants of Charles Spooner, and Paula and Cath Howell, descendants of fairground scenic artists Albert and Sid Howell, were a constant source of support and generous in loaning their family photographs. Thanks to fairground experts John Barker and Craig Cooper and everyone who has bought and supported the book to date.

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Regular updates on the latest running total raised for Mind, and other news, can be found on the Orton and Spooner Facebook Page.

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