It would have been around 1955 when I was 'taken' to my first BoB Day. I say taken as a friend said lets go so, aged 12, we jumped on our bikes and without telling our parents cycled off to Hooton Park, it was over 10 miles away.
Once there we joined some hundred or so people expecting an open day. The was an R Aux A F San there but not show. Not to disappoint the crowd they called up on I guess RAF common for any stray aircraft. We experienced a wondful impromptu display with I think a Hunter or Swift but definitely a Shackleton.
There was no fun fair, beer tent, market tat etc, just aircraft. I think that was another reason that I joined up.
Just one or two BoB shows today will do practically nothing for recruitment; mind you what do the RAF need of recruits?