The Show was to grow to a major event, largely spurred on by the Second World War, the National Fire Service and two bakeries. As Jim Hewer told me, 'My father, Bob Hewer, and Cyril Gray, from Grays The Bakers in Swindon. They said we'll get together and that's where it started. The Fire Service sort of started it off, getting the Carnival going. There was Harry Higgins and some of the chaps that worked for us. They ran the show to collect for "Wings for Victory"'

That was in 1942, when the first Carnival Queen was Mary Stratford, (who later married Jim) 'They used to have the Carnival on Wednesday. I know because I started work on Monday and was Carnival Queen on Wednesday. We used to have to go round and sell tickets for the Show, and the person who sold the most tickets was the Carnival Queen.'

In the following year the Herald and Advertiser of 13 August was able to report 'Despite the stress of the times, the Sports and Show Week's programme of indoor and outdoor attractions at Wanborough was heartily supported.' A whole week of events included Fancy Dress, Six-a-Side football a Married vs. Single football match (won by the Singles 5-3), Maypole and Folk Dancing. Cycling events, Pillow Fighting, Children's sports, a Dog Show (one class was for 'The Prettiest Owner with The Ugliest Dog), a Flower and Vegetable show (with 209 entries in 40 classes) and five Ladies Events including an 'Ankle Competition'. Noreen Fulford explains, 'They used to have these competitions years ago, for the best ankles. There used to be some screens, with a space at the bottom so you could see their ankles, but you couldn't see the people they belonged to.' 

Among the twenty members of the committee that year were Mr. C. A. Gray (Hon. General Secretary), Mr. G. Gibbs (Flower Show Secretary), Mr. H. J. Higgins (Hon. Treasurer), The Rev E. Milner Swift (Chairman), Mr. R. Hewer (Vice-chairman), Mrs M. Horton and Mr. F. Roberts who 'kept the crowds well informed through the field loud-speaker.'

The Shows were held in the Village Hall, with the Recreation Field behind it used for the outdoor events and sports. As well as the show there was The Carnival Procession; Jim Hewer, 'We used to go front the Village Hall, along Berrycroft, up Pack Hill into Upper Wanborough. That's a long way! So then we started from Warneage Green, that was the collecting area, then we went down Kite Hill to the Rec. That was the route at the finish, and that was enough because of the people walking. I used to ride Mrs. Heywood Jones's polo pony. He was a bit of a devil to ride, because they're very quick stepping horses. I used to lead the procession, and when they started up the music he used to sort of dance and stand on his hind legs.'