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Come
And Join Us
Tuesday 9th September 2003
The evolution of The Fair continues today, this year
with the introduction of free parking in the fields adjoining the
show field.
The village green, now under the auspices of the Parish Council,
is let to fairground type entertainments and stalls.
The Widecombe Fair Committee now has its own fields on which they
stage the rural Widecombe Fair, opposite the Widecombe Primary School.
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| A
bit of grooming before the judges arrive |
Various
entertainment goes on here all day on the field, beginning at about
9.30am with the pony and sheep judging.
Other things like sheep dog or heavy horse demonstrations, sheep
shearing demonstrations, falconry, rural crafts, thatching, walling,
rope making and the like.
This varies from year to year.
Uncle Tom Cobley
A good selection of stalls mostly with a craft
and rural association, vintage machinery exhibits, refreshments
and of couse the beer tent all add to the flavour of this special
day.
One thing that never varies however is "The Uncle Tom Cobley Novelty
Race". This is a unique cross-country event.
All competitors are transported by Landrover to a point on the skyline
above the village - a different place each year, decided upon by
the driver on the day - and they have to make their own way to the
show field.
They must not use the public highway. Their journey takes them through
open moor, bogs, river, 'fuzz-bushes and vearns', hedges and ditches.
Various trophies and cups await the successful competitors.
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| Say
cheese.... |
This
years fair has an added attraction of a heritage exhibition about
the history of the Widecombe Whitefaced Dartmoor Sheep.
As the evening approaches bale tossing and tug of war competitions
will take place, and folk music and dancing will see the fair through
to the midnight hour.
Thousands of visitors come to the fair each year from all over the
world, all because of this well known country folk song, handed
down through the generations, the words and music were written down
by Rev Sabine Baring Gould in the late 1880s.
This year 大象传媒 Radio Devon will also be in evidence promoting their
Chestnut
Appeal, raising money for a specialist unit at Derriford Hospital,
Plymouth. This unit will assist in the treatment of Prostrate Cancer
in men.
Busy Doing Nothing?
The day after, Wednesday, will find the hard working
committee clearing the site, packing away the hurdles and ropes,
and arranging a meeting in two weeks time to start planning for
next year!
Holiday makers have been known to ask - "What do you do with yourselves
in the winter out here?"
"Us lives in a community where work never stops. Us be always planning
for something including next years fair!"
To learn a little bit more about Widecombe and its people, why not
buy a copy of the new book written and produced about Widecombe
by those who live there.
Tis called - "All Along, Down Along, Widecombe Way" written by Widecombe
and District Local History Group and it only costs 拢3.50 plus 50p
P&P. ISBN 1 898964 56 4
Better still, come to Widecombe Fair and buy one!
See you next time,
yer old mate,
Tony
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Dartmoor
during the war >> |
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Us lives in a community where work never stops. 
Widecombe
Fair! 
