The 1996 show once again had main attractions never seen in the area before, Wolds Wagoner Army Motorcycle display team, Prince of Wales Own Regiment of Yorkshire’s parachute display team and Powder Pastimes historic firearms display. 

The other unique attraction was the loan from the York railway Museum of the “Stephen’s Rocket” replica.  The organisers had collected it and brought it to the show by low-loader.  This attraction was tremendous, steaming up and running on a length of track.  Being joined by a fascinating huge steam car and “Blodwyn” the steamroller supplied by Castle cement that sedately chugged around the Showground all day.

 

Although the organisers had planned to obtain the Royal Horse Artillery for the next event in 1998 and the Dancing Diggers in 2000.  Sadly after 1996 the shows were curtailed due to the disposal of the Showground.  The Griffin Trust carried on concentrating on the further development of the Hangar complex.  Volunteers were still being attracted to this unique project and with them brought management, media, and corporate knowledge.

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Six years of efforts by the Trust to obtain additional funding for the renovation of the hangars and ancillary buildings were unsuccessful because the term of the lease was too short so in 1996 and as the last show ended the ownership of the hangar complex was offered to the Griffin Trust, but the sponsorship package was deemed to be insufficient to attract match funding as the hangars had an urgent work notice placed on them from the Local Council which amounted to £250,000. 

Soon after a partnership was formed between The Griffin Trust, Vauxhall Motors, English Partnership, and the Ellesmere Port & Neston Borough Councils to formulate a plan to restore the three hangars which would eventually contain a Vauxhall Heritage Centre, a public event hangar and a museum and training school. The ancillary building was used as a café and visitor centre. The two MT sheds (motor transport) being offered to small associated businesses