The late afternoon sun brightened the route of the fair along Ock Street and High Street to the Market Place.

Crowds streamed in both directions

and the sun went down, and darkness came, and the children’s rides slowed.

The bright lights of the bigger fair rides and their pulsing music then vied for people’s attention.

Personally, I prefer to watch and take pictures, which is almost as thrilling as going on the rides.

Low scores are better in some places in the fair where scoring under 40 with four darts can win a prize. Under 12 wins a big prize.

Cuddly octopus prizes seemed to be a favourite on several stalls. On this one you need to score over 30 for a big octopus but every player gets an octopus.

Bob Marley reggae music pulsed from a shop at the top of West St Helen Street, its yellow, green, and black balloons celebrating Jamaica. A new caterer, advertising and serving Afro-Caribbean cuisine, will open there and are there for the fair.

And for those who had not overindulged in chorizos, candy floss, freshly cooked doughnuts, or overly bumpy or upside-down rides, there were also curries, fish and chips, German sausages, and foods from all around the world at the Abingdon Michaelmas Fair.

Members of Abingdon Baptist Church were out taking refreshments round as the Abingdon Michaelmas Fair was being set up in the morning. Their tea tray service has become quite a tradition.

In the evening, the Fair Service at 7 pm was well-attended. The Mayor of Abingdon-on-Thames, Councillor Gwyneth Lewis, thanked everyone who made the fair possible, especially the cleaners who work between Tuesday night and Wednesday morning to make it look as if the fair had never been there. She handed over to Deacon Selina Nisbett, who said, among other things, “As we watch the courageous people who are held upside down on rides, may we remember the inverting message of Jesus’s gospel that the first will be last and the last will be first.”

The Abbey Brass accompanied the singing of the hymns, and then people had a free ride on the carousel horses. Willie Wilson of Bob Wilson’s Funfairs was there behind the scenes to ensure the Fair Service ran smoothly, and made sure the band had light to read their music.

Parking suspension signs have appeared along the route of the Abingdon Michaelmas Fair. This year, parking suspensions have also been extended to East St Helen Street and West St Helen Street, where residents have always been allowed to park during the fair in previous years since they are not on the fair route.

Vehicles parked in suspended areas may be removed, and owners charged a recovery fee. According to a letter to residents from Abingdon-on-Thames Town Council, residents can park in West St Helen Street Car Park from 8am to 10am and 4pm to 6pm, but not from 10am to 4pm without paying.

The fair will take place on 9 and 10 October 2023. The parking suspensions will be in place from 08.00 on Sunday, 8 October, until 9am on Wednesday, 11 October.

The fair took place on Abingdon Market Place, under the County Hall Museum, and in the Guildhall. The Abingdon Town Crier and the Abingdon Town Fryer announced what was happening.

The fair offered advice and guidance on a variety of green issues from One Planet Abingdon

and Abingdon Carbon Cutters.

Oxfordshire County Council offered grants for insulating homes (See https://www.oxfordshire.gov.uk/retrofit.)

The event showcased a variety of green businesses. There were those promoting new forms of energy such as electric bikes and batteries; electric cars and charging points; solar panels; LED lighting for street lamps and the home.

There were architects and design experts who could help design energy efficiency into the home, and new materials that could be used in the home.

There were also various eco-friendly consumables including pet products; vegan food; re-usable sandwich bags; and wash refills.

A group of sewing machinists worked in the museum basement mending clothes. There were bike checks in the museum undercroft.

There were also talks. One used thermal imaging in different homes to demonstrate examples of good and bad insulation. Insulation needs fitting properly.

Michelle, from One World Abingdon, who helped organise the event, said it gave local green businesses a chance to share what they are doing with the public. (Included in those businesses were Missing Bean on Stert Street, who source their coffee directly from far-flung farms, roast it themselves, and at this event, supported the stallholders with discounted coffees.)