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.

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.

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 BBC 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 £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

Dartmoor during the war >>