Bristol is known for its diversity, its music scene, the vibrant youth culture and is thought of  as one of the best cities in the UK to live. But within the glow and attractiveness that others see, in reality, Bristol is a deeply divided city. Within several parts of Bristol, you are told as Black youngsters you are not welcome if you are not from those parts. 

Clifton in Bristol is one of the oldest and more affluent districts. It is widely known that Clifton made a lot of its money through the tobacco trade and slavery and is the home of the world-famous Brunel Suspension Bridge,  Bristol University, and the Bristol Zoo. It is also home of the Clifton Downs - a space that is known to most Bristolian young people as the location for visiting touring funfairs. 

It was the last week of March 1993 and the buzz of anticipation was in the air - there were mumblings that the Bob Wilson’s fairground was in town. News that lorries had been seen setting up on the Downs was too much for the thousands of young people looking for the excitement and thrill of going up to the fair to see the glimmering brilliance of the ‘Waltzer’, the size and stature of the ‘Big Wheel’, the luminosity, the clashing sounds of the ‘Dodgems’. There was the excitement of potentially winning a teddy bear for a loved one or a goldfish in a bag. It would also be a time to meet and gather with lost long friends and acquaintances to relish in all the vibrant experience of the fairground.

Marlon Thomas was at the time an 18-year-old man, a son, a friend, and college student who loved playing sports. He would often be seen down at The Mill youth centre playing basketball or practicing by himself perfecting his skills. Marlon, who would always have a cheeky grin on his face and a willingness to help others, woke up that day much like any other day filled with excitement but not knowing that this would be a date that would ultimately change his life forever. 

Some of the workers who worked for the Birmingham-based Bob Wilson’s Fair which included Bob Wilson’s son himself - armed themselves with baseball bats, hammers, spanners, iron bars, wrenches, pieces of wood and other weapons and intentionally searched the grounds, looking for young black teenagers to attack.

On Wednesday 31st March 1993, Marlon attended the fair with his girlfriend.  Whilst enjoying the excitement of the lights and vibe that the fairground brought with it, he was brutally attacked along with other black teenagers enjoying the fairground on that night.

The effects were catastrophic. Marlon was left with head and chest injuries and stopped breathing. Vernon Walker, who is known in the Bristol area as an elder and mentor in the black community was a bystander who immediately started to administer CPR until paramedics took over and saved his life. Devastatingly, Marlon’s head injuries were severe.

Marlon was revived at the scene but was left in a coma, when Marlon woke, he had suffered life-changing injuries where he was unable to move or speak and suffered severe brain damage. It took years for him to be discharged from hospital, in what is effectively known as a ‘waking coma’.

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Marlon's family, friends and allies set up the Justice For Marlon Thomas campaign in response to this horrific attack. In addition to fighting for justice for their son, brother and cousin, they also supported the young people who were also attacked at the fair and their families. They took their case to MP's, gathered over 10,000 signatures and forced the Downs Committee to ban Wilson's funfair from ever returning to The Downs again. Whilst this was a success, Marlon's family did battle against the system in many ways during this time.

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“The main reason that Marlon was  hospitalized for that long, was because suitable accommodation was not found sooner.” - Marlon's Brother, Rudey.

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As we will see shortly, the system had also failed Marlon when it came to the sentencing of the perpetrators of this horrendous attack.