BARGE TO REACH FAIR

May 1953

Custom Re-Lived

Reach Fair was proclaimed open in the presence of the Mayor and Corporation of Cambridge, a 752 years old tradition started by King John. Schoolchildren revived the age old custom of arriving in a barge on the Reach Lode. Rigged with sails, the boat had been navigated from Upware with a complement of Upware and Wicken school children. It is many years since anyone set sail for Reach Fair, but some of the children said they had heard their parents talk of having made the same journey.This time it was more than a mode of travel and was in the interests of modern education. Wicken schoolmaster, Mr. Godfrey Wicksteed, told a reporter: "It helps teach them geography, history and even literature. We shall have more outings on our barge." The boat was moored in the Hythe, where, it formed part of the background for the reading of the proclamation by the Town clerk (Mr. Alan H. I. Swift), who was announced by the City Crier (Mr. H. W. Ingle). It was the second time he had done this .on Monday. for custom has it again that there must be two readings, the first on the village green near the Fair itself.

Best weather for years

The best weather for years ("We were glad to get near a fire last year," said one councillor). The fair was crowded as soon as it opened and the alderman, councillors and their wives and other visitors from the City were the first to have a go on the roundabouts and at the stalls.

At lunch in the School, they were welcomed by the Mayor (Ald. H. 0. Langdon) who referred particularly to the presence of the Mayor designate and his wife (Coun. and Mrs. S. T. Bull). Then from the newcomers to the ceremony ' who are known as "colts" and "fillies" there were selected four people to make speeches. The only "filly" present, Coun. Mrs. Thomson, said what excitement there must have been at the fair in the Middle Ages when merchants came up the, river from all parts of the world, Reach then being a port, It is my hope," said Mrs. Thomson that whatever changes may come in the personnel of the Corporation. that they will always come and proclaim Reach Fair.

All the traditions of England seem to be fading away, because we live in such haste today. But in Cambridge we are proud of our traditions and we are going uphold them. The Mayor's Chaplain (the Rev. S. Smith) said the occasion gave him the opportunity (which he would have not otherwise) of expressing in public his warm thanks to the Mayor for having invited him to take his present office, a privilege he had greatly enjoyed.

The late Chairman of the County Council (Ald. E. 0. G. Frost) was also among those paying his first visit to the Fair and in his speech, he said that as Chairman of the County Council it, he had served with three Mayors with the very greatest pleasure and the very greatest friendliness. He thought he had been extraordinarily lucky in having served during the terms of office of Ald. James, Ald. A. C. Taylor and Ald. Langdon. The last speaker was Mr. W. Wingate (County Architect) who commented that as a Government Officer .it was very nice for him to be able to address the City Council.

Those who travelled from Cambridge to the ceremony in addition to those already mentioned were: Ald. Mrs. Briggs, Ald. and Mrs. Briggs, Ald and Mrs Raynes, Ald. and Mrs. A. C. Taylor, Ald. Nobbs, Coun. and Mrs. Amey, Coun and Mrs. Bailey, Coun Cole, Coun. and Mrs, Cox, Coun. and Mrs. St. Croix, Couin. and Mrs. Davies, Coun. and Mrs. Finbow, Coun. and Mrs. Hensher, Coun. and Mrs. Pauley, Coun. and Mrs. Race, Coun. and Mrs. C.E. Ridgeon, Coun. and Mrs. Stockbridge, Coun. and Mrs. White . Mrs.H.G.G. Frost. Mrs. Wingate, Mr. H.H. Higgins of the Cambridge Daily News and Mrs. Higgins, Mrs Swift, Mr. T.V. Burrows (City Surveyor) and Mrs Burrows, Mr. A.G. Emburey (City Treasurer) and Mrs. Emburey, Mr. R. Alsop, Mrs. Boyseth, Rev. G. W. Loughborough (Vicar of Lode) and Mrs. Loughbourgh, Rev. and Mrs. M F. Williams, Mr. nd Mrs C.W.L Woollard, and Mrs. Bendall (headmistress of the school).