Not everybody likes Abingdon Fair.

It causes problems for people living in roads nearby, and people having to get through town.

That is apart from our road, West St Helen Street, where for once in the year there is no traffic. East St Helen Street gets all the traffic for a change.

People say that it would be better off in a field out of town. I dare say but on a day like today – after all the rain – a field would be muddy.

There seemed to be a lot of policemen and security men about today. Some years there is trouble. Better safe than sorry.

There were fairly good crowds tonight, despite the rain. I think the pressure to down-size Abingdon Fair is more likely to come from the fair operator. They must need to make money to attract the big rides.

Abingdon Fair does after all happen about the same time as Nottingham Goose Fair.

Anyway,  for people who do suffer from the traffic or lack or parking, just one day more, then it will be gone again quicker than it came. My kids have grown up so for me there is less chance to go on rides, but I still enjoy the bright lights, the atmos fear, and the donuts.

Bishop Elias of South Sudan – the newest country on the planet – was preaching at Abingdon Baptist Church this morning. He was hidden for three days in the jungle at birth because of the civil war; recruited at 12 as a child soldier; educated at a refugee camp in Uganda; arrested by the people’s liberation army and sentenced to a firing squad; now a bishop, he is dedicated to building schools and hospitals in his homeland. He said “All we need is a small push at first and then WE’LL start rolling.”

(And, on a minor note, he had to find his way through Abingdon Fair to get to the Baptist Church for the service at 10am this morning.)

Outside preparations for Abingdon Fair were well under way.

The Helter Skelter was being slotted together section by section.

Horses were taken out from where they are packed like sardines in a van to be hung on the Carousel of Galloping Horses.

Abingdon Fair is one of the longest Street Fairs in the UK and probably the longest along such a narrow town centre / residential street. In places the margins for error are small with buildings so close.

Later on, with most of the hard work done, there was another church service  to welcome and bless the Fair. It ended with a ride on the Carousel.

Abingdon Fun Fair grew out of the hiring fairs set up in Medieaval times to help regulate the labour market.