Barsham Faire began when a group of friends decided to get together to start an event that might raise some money to finance other projects, one fantasy inevitably giving birth to another. Each put in £10 cash and formed the East Anglian Arts Trust, now flourishing as EAAT Activities.

They decided that the Faire needed a substantial float and organised an art auction. Local artists donated work to be auctioned and this, plus the sale of tickets, raised £400. So armed with cash and a site which they had negotiated at Roos Hall the friends, who now called themselves a committee, set about organising a two-day event for the August Bank Holiday weekend.

A very similar formula has been employed ever since, although as the Faires have grown the scale and number of helpers has risen accordingly. It's simple and does work as long as the words ‘committee’ and ‘friends’ remain interchangeable.

A nucleus having been formed, each person then takes responsibilty for a particular aspect (one for the stalls, one for music, one for food, etc.). It is wise to have a Chairman and a Secretary as they can deal with matters that don't fit into any particular category, and a Treasurer to count the cost.

For three years Barsham has had a Site Manager who moves onto the site some time before the Faire and stays there until everything is cleared up afterwards. He, or she, is responsible for planning the site, construction, digging, hiring of fencing, stages, etc. (see The Site). It is also up to him to make good use of manpower volunteers. However, as Barsham has reached gargantuan proportions the job is now to be shared by four people.

Meetings are held every month from January until the final meeting the day before the Faire. These meetings are open to all so that anyone with an interest can come along. Consequently helpers are drawn in and jobs distributed beyond the committee. Duplicated minutes of the meetings are sent out to committee members and, in the case of EAAT, to all paid-up members and various helpers. These act as a reminder for jobs and for the date of the next meeting. Barsham meetings are held on the last Thursday of each month at a regular venue. Experience has shown that establishing a regular time and place improves attendance. Two or three months prior to the Faire meetings are held on the Site.

These meetings may be the bare bones of the matter, but it is up to those who attend them to draw in the rest of the community. It is around and about, in pubs and caffs and by home-hearths where imaginations weave wondrous schemes for ‘this year's Faire’.