Barsham Faire 1974

The ‘free bus’ double decker job to & from Barsham /Beccles/Bungay on its last journey kindly took me all the way home (unscheduled) to the incredulity of my parents who couldn’t understand what a double decker bus was doing outside their house past midnight! I was 16 and the driver didn’t think I should walk home from Beccles on the dark on my own! Anastasia

We heard about Barsham Faire from friends, and as we were into camping anyway and were unemployed with plenty of spare time, decided to give it a try. That was the last year we went as punters; we decided we wanted to be part of it, if only a small part.

After a lot of deliberation and discussions with the children over the winter, we decided on a kids stall, but with a difference; our kids would run it for other kids, and so, in tune with the 'Lords of Misrule' ethos and our anarchist principles, was born Pelt Ye Sheriff, to instill a proper respect for law and order in the kiddies.

A large sheet of plywood was painted with a comic Sheriff complete with surprised, open mouth through which a hole was cut. Bean bags were sewn as harmless objects for little ones to throw, and rules were invented, which were later broken at will. A job lot of 'stocking filler' small toys was purchased as prizes, and made medieval costumes for all of us on the trusty sewing machine, and we were ready for Barsham.

Pelt Ye Sheriff was a hit, and constantly busy with little ones throwing bean bags at the startled Sherif. Many didn't get anywhere near his open mouth [some missed him entirely] with their three bags for 10p, but got a prize anyway as we didn't want any going away with a sense of failure; the prize was for throwing them at the Sherif, not hitting him! Our children made some pocket money which they spent themselves at other stalls around the fayre, and we enjoyed the opportunity of sending the kids out to work, whilst camping among lovely, creative people in a beautiful part of the country; being part of it all. At one point a visitor asked to buy one of our tea towels hanging on the improvised washing line among the trees – we almost sold it just for the craic.

That Barsham began our involvement with the Faires; Barsham was followed by Rougham and many others in the years that followed. We site crewed beforehand, and afterwards litter picked, staying until the site was clean and ready to be returned to its normal use. It was our holiday and an enjoyable and uplifting experience which stayed with us for the following year. Later, we founded an environmental charity and every summer took a free video show in a marquee round the country to a variety of outdoor events, but none had the magic that was Barsham. Peter Simmons