As usual Abingdon Fair has been well publicised with posters in shops, and dayglo boards on numerous lamp posts all over Abingdon.
The road diversions were in place at about 9am and very soon after that stall holders were measuring out their pitches for stalls and setting up rides.
Brian, pictured above, remembers going to the Fair as a 4 year old, which is about 60 years ago.
He said there used to be huge crowds for the Fair Service at the Galloping Horses on Ock Street. In this picture taken in 1964, and shown in the North Berks Herald, there were an estimated 500 people. Rev. Graham West led the half hour service.
50 years later, the Galloping Horses and the Fairground Service are in the Market Place. I’d estimate there were 120 people. Pastor Ed Evans, from the Abingdon Community Church led the half hour service.
For Brian, my daughter is 4 and is incredibly excited by the fair, just watching it being set up was exciting enough for her. Really looking forward to going tomorrow when it is all open and the lights ablaze. I hope she still gets to go in 60 years time.
Well done Ed. A good service and a happy start to the Fair.
Did notice a certain Alistair Fear having a free ride on the
Galloping Horses after the servcie , (Photos can be provided if necessary 🙂
Talking with my 93 year old auntie she recalls the church service just after the war on “Harry Studds” gallopers, During the war the fair ceased apart from one small stall that the showman’s guild arranged, apparently if the fair failed to attend any year it would have broken its Charter with the town.
My uncle moved Queen Victoria from the market place to her present location because she was getting damaged by the fair, even though she was boarded up each year, this was at the end of the 30’s.
A bit of trivia, uncle Frank fell for one of the show girls one year and lived with her in her caravan in the Air Balloon car park for quite some time.