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.
 

It is tradition for Abingdon people to walk the mile long street Fair, during the Sunday set up.

As usual, the Farr family stationed their Toffee Apples and Candy Floss stall near the top of West St Helen Street.

Mr Farr, aged 94, has only recently stopped working, but he still likes to come along to Abingdon Michaelmas Fair with his family. He first came to Abingdon with the Fair 94 years ago, when he slept as a baby, where his Father ran a throwing stall on the Market Place. He has been here with the Fair every year since – apart from the war years.