A Review of Reach "Fair Day", taken from the Cambridge Express, 13th May 1904

After a pleasant but somewhat cold ride the members of the Corporation arrived at the "Great House" of Reach, where the fair was proclaimed, the cavalcade then drove to the edge of Swaffham Fen where the fair was once more proclaimed. After driving back to the Great House and divesting themselves of their robes, the various members of the Corporation inspected the Fair and for the most part took a "constitutional" along "Devil's Dyke" to the railway cutting and - back in order to acquire an appetite for lunch. The Fair was very small one - a poorer fair than ever for horses, whilst there was a considerably smaller number of stalls and booths. The horses which were sold we believe fetched fair market prices. It is customary to ridicule the idea of continuing the proclamation of an almost obsolete institution like Reach Fair but it must be remembered that the Corporation in years gone by has derived considerable financial benefit from the tolls received at this fair and that even now, when the possible cost of getting to and from the ancient village of Reach is greater than the amount received by way of tolls received, the fair has still its uses, for by enabling members of the Council of widely different opinions to meet together in a friendly way, it no doubt does very much towards promoting the harmonious working of the public business in the Council at other times. It may be added that the party returned by way of "Bottisham Swan" and the usual halt was made both on the-outward and homeward journey to distribute largesse.