After a record breaking week of scorching weather, forecasters said that New Romney would suffer from torrential downpours between 9am and 3pm luckily The Romney Marsh’s very own micro climate proved them wrong.
Despite being a little overcast and a constant drizzle of rain thousands of people came to the historic Cinque ports Town to calibrate the New Romney Country Fayre, which was also a calibration of 25 magical years of community spirit.
Crowds lined the high street to await the start of the parade, which is organised like a military operation, as soon as the 102 bus clears the avenue, road closed signs are placed across the road and the entourage left the Marsh Academy car park and headed up to the town center.
With the traditional Local Fire Fighters leading the parade, followed by other emergency services including the Littlestone RNLI Lifeboat and volunteers from the local coastguard, with several marching bands bringing a musical fanfare to proceedings and of course the country fayre would not be complete without the Bloco-Fogo Samba band, with the rhythmic drumming getting the whole town in a festival mood.
After the procession made its way round to the twin arenas the Fayre was officially opened, over the years different local personalities have declared the fayre officially open, but on this occasion the honours went to Shirley Carey wife of the Late former Town Mayor Ted Carey, who opened the very first event 25 years ago.
Another break from tradition was a presentation of certificates to organisations and people who had supported the fayre without a break over the past quarter of a century.
As ever the arena performers contained something for the whole family and included the return of many Fayre Favorites, including the new Romney Sea Cadet Band, Woodchurch Morris men. The Dog and Duck show, Emma Lou’s Dance Troupe and the Extreme falconry.
Other favorites returning to the event also included the Sothern Golden Retriever Society Display Team, The Streetkids Dance School and the Romney Marsh Morris.
Nearly all the arena events were paid for by local sponsors and donations. Both event fields were fully booked out with local organisations and clubs doing their own local promotion along with all the usual ‘Fun of the Fayre’.
Not all the events were on
the twin fields in the town centre, miniature train rides were being given to excited children of all ages (3- 93) at the Romney Marsh model engineering society’s Rolf lane headquarters. Along with other events at the St Nicolas Church and other high street shops.
The Looker would like to thank the hard working committee who pull out all the stops year on year to make this event one of the best free events in the county.
