I’m so tired of working every day
The fair has come. I’ll throw all my troubles away

I’ve bought a token and I’m going to ride
Go for a spin on the Meteorite.

Meet me by hysteria don’t be late
I need to spend some money and it just won’t wait.

Take me on sky flyer, hold me tight
I want to fly some high rides tonight.

There’s crazy people running all over town
Big game hunter’s are marching up and down

I won’t be crazy, I’ll be bright
I will ride on the Meteorite.

Thanks to Steve and Pete for sending pictures.

The fair arrived today and the showmen were blessed with good weather for the task of setting up!

Workers meticulously set up the rides whether they are large and come in many pieces.

or are smaller children’s rides.

By early afternoon most of the bigger rides were nearing completion, including the Sky Ride at the bottom of Ock street. The owner said the ride is two years old and cost £400k. He went on to say as soon as he’s finished setting up here he was going to drive to Nottingham where his late Grand fathers, 1880 Golden gallopers have been thrilling the crowds. Tonight he will dismantle the gallopers, drive them to the next destination, then drive back to Abingdon tomorrow to operate his Sky Ride.

This article was found in the Oxford University and City Herald in 1830.

That was in the days before the railway brought over a thousand people from Oxford to the pleasure fair. That was probably also before the pleasure fair had entertainments like boxing, photography, roundabouts, switchbacks, shooting saloons, and ‘fish and chip’ vans.

There were MGs on the Market Place today as part of the Abingdon Antiques and Vintage Fair that took place mostly along Bath Street.

Art and Stuff was joined by other stalls selling antiques and nostalgia and some selling craft things and food.

When I walked through, a musician at the Square was singing a Jimi Hendrix song – reminiscent of the Summer of Love 50 years ago.

Bath Street was closed to traffic for the duration, and the sun shone on the fair, which had about fifteen stalls.