Ruby’s Vintage & Retro Fair was back at the Guildhall yesterday.

There was a lady doing retro hair styling. There was also lots of retro clothes for the ladies, fewer for the men – most that had stood the test of time.

Old schoolroom posters were on sale. The attraction of retro fairs is that we can see and buy objects that remind us of younger days, whether that be the 50s, 60s, 70s, or 80s.

The retro fair will be back twice more in 2014.

The Narrows opened during the second day of the Fair and looked to be doing a roaring trade.

However some things never change in Abingdon. There was Bell Ringing Practice on Tuesday evening at St Nics. At times they were edging it against the pumping volume of the Fairground.

Down West St Helen Street there was Pudding Night at Rosie’s Tea Room. On the menu was: poached pear with chocolate sauce, treacle tart with clotted cream, Eve’s pudding with custard – they were not tempted by candy floss or toffee apples just up the road.

And after a poor start to the season, and what seems to have been a radical change of players to cut costs, Abingdon United got their first league win, a half mile from the fair.

Thanks to Rob for sending some pictures of the Fair which has had two good days this year, and has drawn big crowds.

There were no live gold fish prizes to be won this year, but plenty of cuddly toys.

Easily the most popular creature in 2013 were Minions.

Last night we kicked off the Fair with the Annual Fair Service. Rev’d Richard Bittleston, from Trinity, gave the message, which was “Enjoy the Fair!”

Lots of people have taken that sentiment to heart whether they heard him or not.

The Mayor said at the start of the service “It is probably Abingdon’s biggest event.”

The logistics is organised by Fair people who do this sort of thing all year round, although not always in quite such a tight space.

Some of the rides have just come from Nottingham Goose Fair which only ended yesterday, so their spaces need to be kept ready.

Abingdon Town Council are the main local organisers. We get a letter every year telling us of road changes and that the fire service could take longer to reach us in case of emergency so to check the smoke alarms.

The Fair all looked very successful as I walked the Abingdon Fair Mile along Ock Street and back again.