The Great European Carnival

Santa & Mrs Santa backstage at the Great European Carnival Santa Claus : Graham Love Mrs Santa : Elena Samodanova

The Great European Carnival

Michael Holmes, 52, Showman "I was born to this. I don't know any other life and I can't think of any other life. My wife [Kim Simons] can trace her family back to the times of Queen Victoria, in the 1800s, when they travelled around with a menagerie. Just after the second world war, my father opened a set of gallopers, a carousel, just like the one we have here in Hong Kong. It's the quintessential fairground ride, with the same design as the first one, built back in the 1800s. It's scary - so much has changed and so much hasn't. The carnival life is an adventure and it's an adventure for everyone who walks through those gates." Photographed at the Great European Carnival in Hong Kong, December 2014

The Great European Carnival

Henry Chipperfield, 28, showman, "We've all got a connection to each other and to history. It's a little community that sticks together. It's not about the money, it's a lifestyle. You might be stuck in the mud for three days, in the middle of the field with no one visiting, you might see nights like we've had here with tens of thousands. We just love what we do. The Chipperfields started with shows, things like the menageries, freak shows - things that were popular way back then. We have a ticket at home that shows we were at a fair held when the Thames froze over in 1684, with a performing bear. The helter-skelter we have here was built in 1947. It was the first proper [thrill] ride, the first one all ages could sit on and it's the most popular one here. There's just something about traditions that people love no matter where you go."

The Great European Carnival

Ciaran Love, Entertainer photographed at the Great European Carnival in Hong Kong

The Great European Carnival

Frederick Stokes and Wesley Gill Operating a super ride called Mach 5 at the Great European Carnival Hong Kong

The Great European Carnival

Mrs Stanley Reeves Jr and her children in their box at the Great european Carnival in Hong Kong December 2014

The Great European Carnival

Ciaran Love, Entertainer photographed at the Great European Carnival in Hong Kong

The Great European Carnival

Santetes and a Snowman getting ready to go skating at the Great European Carnival Hong Kong

The Great European Carnival

Alfie Scarrott, 54, showman, operations manager "I'm a fifth-generation showman. My family have been at it for 150 years or more and we've done everything. My ancestors started off selling crockery and moved into running a smash-the-plate game. Thinking on your feet, that's called. The oldest fair in the United Kingdom dates back to 1214. You didn't really have much entertainment then and it was something people looked forward to returning all year long. For the families involved, our blood is part of all those fairs and all that history. There's no bigger thrill than winning a prize. Look at the face of a young girl when she wins a prize and you'd think she'd won the lottery. That's the best thing about being a showman. Through the muck and the rain, through every problem you can imagine, the look on that face is our reward."

The Great European Carnival

Chanel Chipperfield, show woman Henry & Channel Chipperfield, "We've all got a connection to each other and to history. It's a little community that sticks together. It's not about the money, it's a lifestyle. You might be stuck in the mud for three days, in the middle of the field with no one visiting, you might see nights like we've had here with tens of thousands. We just love what we do. The Chipperfields started with shows, things like the menageries, freak shows - things that were popular way back then. We have a ticket at home that shows we were at a fair held when the Thames froze over in 1684, with a performing bear. The helter-skelter we have here was built in 1947. It was the first proper [thrill] ride, the first one all ages could sit on and it's the most popular one here. There's just something about traditions that people love no matter where you go."

The Great European Carnival

Alfie Scarrott, 54, showman, operations manager "I'm a fifth-generation showman. My family have been at it for 150 years or more and we've done everything. My ancestors started off selling crockery and moved into running a smash-the-plate game. Thinking on your feet, that's called. The oldest fair in the United Kingdom dates back to 1214. You didn't really have much entertainment then and it was something people looked forward to returning all year long. For the families involved, our blood is part of all those fairs and all that history. There's no bigger thrill than winning a prize. Look at the face of a young girl when she wins a prize and you'd think she'd won the lottery. That's the best thing about being a showman. Through the muck and the rain, through every problem you can imagine, the look on that face is our reward."

The Great European Carnival

Canto Pop star Alex To before his performance at the Great European Carnival. Alex To Tak-wai, 52, entertainer and Canto-pop star "It was a great experience to put on a performance at the carnival [on January 24]. The joyful atmosphere moved me; the carnival has drawn big crowds and the backdrop of the Hong Kong skyline has been enchanting - the best background a performer could hope for."

The Great European Carnival

Wesley Gill, Showman

The Great European Carnival

Michael Holmes, 52, Showman "I was born to this. I don't know any other life and I can't think of any other life. My wife [Kim Simons] can trace her family back to the times of Queen Victoria, in the 1800s, when they travelled around with a menagerie. Just after the second world war, my father opened a set of gallopers, a carousel, just like the one we have here in Hong Kong. It's the quintessential fairground ride, with the same design as the first one, built back in the 1800s. It's scary - so much has changed and so much hasn't. The carnival life is an adventure and it's an adventure for everyone who walks through those gates." Photographed at the Great European Carnival in Hong Kong, December 2014

The Great European Carnival

Michael Holmes, 52, Showman "I was born to this. I don't know any other life and I can't think of any other life. My wife [Kim Simons] can trace her family back to the times of Queen Victoria, in the 1800s, when they travelled around with a menagerie. Just after the second world war, my father opened a set of gallopers, a carousel, just like the one we have here in Hong Kong. It's the quintessential fairground ride, with the same design as the first one, built back in the 1800s. It's scary - so much has changed and so much hasn't. The carnival life is an adventure and it's an adventure for everyone who walks through those gates." Photographed at the Great European Carnival in Hong Kong, December 2014

The Great European Carnival

Michael Holmes, 52, Showman "I was born to this. I don't know any other life and I can't think of any other life. My wife [Kim Simons] can trace her family back to the times of Queen Victoria, in the 1800s, when they travelled around with a menagerie. Just after the second world war, my father opened a set of gallopers, a carousel, just like the one we have here in Hong Kong. It's the quintessential fairground ride, with the same design as the first one, built back in the 1800s. It's scary - so much has changed and so much hasn't. The carnival life is an adventure and it's an adventure for everyone who walks through those gates." Photographed at the Great European Carnival in Hong Kong, December 2014

The Great European Carnival

Henry & Chanel Chipperfield, "We've all got a connection to each other and to history. It's a little community that sticks together. It's not about the money, it's a lifestyle. You might be stuck in the mud for three days, in the middle of the field with no one visiting, you might see nights like we've had here with tens of thousands. We just love what we do. The Chipperfields started with shows, things like the menageries, freak shows - things that were popular way back then. We have a ticket at home that shows we were at a fair held when the Thames froze over in 1684, with a performing bear. The helter-skelter we have here was built in 1947. It was the first proper [thrill] ride, the first one all ages could sit on and it's the most popular one here. There's just something about traditions that people love no matter where you go."

The Great European Carnival

Henry & Chanel Chipperfield, "We've all got a connection to each other and to history. It's a little community that sticks together. It's not about the money, it's a lifestyle. You might be stuck in the mud for three days, in the middle of the field with no one visiting, you might see nights like we've had here with tens of thousands. We just love what we do. The Chipperfields started with shows, things like the menageries, freak shows - things that were popular way back then. We have a ticket at home that shows we were at a fair held when the Thames froze over in 1684, with a performing bear. The helter-skelter we have here was built in 1947. It was the first proper [thrill] ride, the first one all ages could sit on and it's the most popular one here. There's just something about traditions that people love no matter where you go."

The Great European Carnival

Joseph Manning Jr, Showman "I'm the fifth son of a first son named Joseph, and my son is the sixth son of a first son named Joseph, and all the way back through history, all of us have worked in the business of making people happy. I've been involved in this business from an early age. It's a family business, it's always different, different locations, special locations like we have here. There's equipment here that was first designed back in the 1800s, the early 1900s and it's living history, and to see people enjoying that here is a joy for all of us. We operate some of the biggest fairs in Europe - including the annual one held in London's Hyde Park. My father is still in the game. It's the only life we know and the only life we want to know."

The Great European Carnival

Stanley Reeves Jr , Showman

The Great European Carnival

Stanley Reeves Jr and his family. Showman