For many years most Showmen were in the SGOGB to get into the Guild you more or less had to come from a showland family.

About 20-25 years ago John Carter started up as a independent showman and formed SIRPS this was for all older style equipment eg: Gallopers, Cakewalk etc. but it was only open to members with dated equipment mostly pre-war. Within a few years some members were not happy and left to start a new association called ACES with members from SIRPS. At the beginning anyone could join including people running hot dog vans and a few with fairground equipment.

It was when I joined ACES I met with Janet Catton and after three years myself and Janet decided to start a new association called The Association of Independent Showmen (AIS) this was in November 1998.

I agreed with Janet Catton to be Chairman to get started and have remained in that position of and on to date 2006. Jim Basset was voted in for three years from 2001 to 2004.

I was made Honorary President in February 2001.