Barnstaple Fair brings generations together, says MP Ian Roome

Sitting in the Guildhall last week for the opening of Barnstaple Fair, I was reminded just how brilliant our history and traditions are here in North Devon.

Even the members of the Showmen's Guild, who go to fair openings all over the country, say that ours here in Barnstaple, a custom harking back more than a thousand years, is second to none.

The Guild, which represents the fairground families travelling the country, has been coming to Barnstaple for generations. They are very much part of our heritage and will continue to be so.

The civic ceremony is all about bringing the community together, and it felt refreshing to sit beneath the Union Flag in the Guildhall in that spirit; proud and unifying, as it always should be.

Every year, a big white glove is extended from the Guildhall window for the duration of the fair to symbolise peace and friendship, a symbol that is my favourite part of the celebrations.

It is a time-honoured custom, and this year’s ceremony carried the tradition forward brilliantly.

We heard inspiring words from members of the Showmen’s Guild, alongside contributions from local charities, businesses, and of course our Mayor, Cllr Janet Coates.

Antique maps show that Barnstaple has grown immensely since the 1600s, but each and every one of these speeches centred around the importance of community and working together for our town, a message that is maybe even more important now than it was when the fair first began.

At a time when so many families and businesses are facing pressures, and when political tensions are on the rise, it felt especially poignant to hear these calls for unity, a sentiment expressed very powerfully in a speech from The Pickwell Foundation towards the end of the ceremony.

This year the fair is in its new home at Severn Brethren car park, right by Tarka Leisure Centre. This is not the first time the fair has been moved in its long history, but it is a change of setting.

Moving something of this scale is not easy, so credit must go to the organisers and everyone involved for making the first year such a smooth transition.

So thank you to everyone who contributed their time and all who will take part.

Thank you also to the police and emergency services, who attended the service and will be on hand to make sure everyone stays safe.

My grandchildren are as excited as ever to head down, as I’m sure are many others, and this is what it’s all about! It reminds me of the exact same joy I had when I was a boy and the fair was coming to town.

These traditions never lose their magic, and we pass them on to the next generation.

Make the most of it and do what you can to support our local traders and showmen. We should all take pride in keeping alive a tradition that’s been at the heart of Barnstaple for centuries.