Oyez, oyez, oyez

Ever since a young child, those three words uttered at great volume to the accompaniment of a handbell were a familiar sound at that great event - the opening of the fair. I am referring to Tenby Fair here as I grew up there. At that time, the opening of St. Margaret's Fair 'for three days, and three days only' was really something. It took place along the town walls and there weren't any big rides - tame by today's standards, we had swinging boats, roundabouts, fortune tellers, stalls. There were a lot of traders and we would love to listen to the china sellers auctioning off their amazing 'bargains', banging and throwing about their plates to prove how tough they were! The fair moved around after that - to the site where the multi story car park now stands which in turn caused its removal to the Butts Field and finally to The Salterns.

The Michaelmas Fair

In Pembroke, the opening of the Michaelmas Fair is a main event in Pembroke's calendar, a tradition which harks back to its medieval charters and it is still held in the Main Street. The right to hold markets and fairs was once vital to the economic wellbeing of a town. Then, as now, large gatherings of people attracted entertainments and in more recent times we are all familiar with the names Haggar, Studt, and Danter. These occasions also became an opportunity for matching workers and employers, a sort of labour exchange. In these 'Hiring Fairs' farm workers, labourers, servants and craftsmen would assemble to hopefully strike an agreement with a prospective employer for a year's work. The deal was struck for one year at Michaelmas, from October to October.

The Town Crier

The fair is opened with a ceremonial proclamation by the Town Crier, which is also part of the tradition. A town crier was an official of the council employed to make public announcements in the streets, ringing a bell to gain attention - most people couldn't read in those far off times so this was the only way to inform people. The eye-catching red and gold costume with tricorne hat dates back to the 18th century.

Last Thursday, the Mayor, town council, dignitaries, visiting mayors and representatives of the Showman's Guild (Abie Danter being the present chairman) all marched in procession to the East End of town where the Town Crier rang the bell, shouting out 'Oyez, oyez, oyez' (which means 'hear ye,' a call for silence and attention), before reading the 'Cry of the Fair', a somewhat antiquated declaration laying down the law and ending with 'this Fair holds three days'.

One break with tradition happened this year. Our Town Crier Rose Blackburn was unable, due to ill health, to open the fair. Rose does a marvellous job in the role and is often out and about at events accompanied by her greyhound Grace, ringing her bell and bellowing announcements. Fortunately, we have a deputy Town Crier with an equally large pair of lungs in the form of Pauline Waters who deputises admirably although she did confess to feeling rather nervous at performing the honours at such an auspicious occasion. She did it really well none the less and forgot her nerves altogether on trying out the new Tower Ride where none but the brave dared venture!

Some (more) tales of Pembroke Fair

From those far off days of childhood, I cannot remember Pembroke Fair at all. So I have to rely on others to recount their memories. I have previously recounted Pembroke Fair stories here - but keep them coming! Mel Phillips, author of 'Why aye Boy'. can take over now. Born and bred in Pembroke, she has many a yarn about the old days of the town!

"Why is it that the funniest stories and old tales nearly always seem to originate from the East End of Pembroke? Here are a few of them. They were kindly supplied by my two friends Pam and Pauline who were born and brought up in the East End.

The Magic Man

I think everyone in Pembroke town knew or knew of Brian Elliot, the Magic Man. He was an incredibly funny chap with a huge loud voice and a fund of wonderfully crazy stories that he regaled to his audience with a perfectly straight face

First up was his story about the Python Lady. She was a regular 'turn' at the fair and used to sit near Hamilton house opposite Pembroke Market. She was dressed in the skimpiest of costumes and wore a python draped around her shoulders like some sort of gigantic Pashmina. There wasn't much movement in either of them. There the poor woman sat hour upon hour and in all weathers. She was billed as the 'Exotic Princess Rose from the East', but in reality she hailed from Kilgetty and was called Vicky.

Brian courted her for years. However, the romance came to an abrupt end when she lost her teeth. This in itself did not duly worry Brian, but he did recoil in horror when she acquired a new set of dentures from the crematorium. I can't vouch for the authenticity of the next part of the tale but nevertheless it is extremely funny. Her daytime job involved working at the crematorium, in what capacity I do not know. Apparently, she called upon the services of a local dentist to fashion her new set of gnashers from the sundry sets of teeth that were left behind in the furnace of the crem. He swore this was true. He didn't fancy kissing her after that.

Cockney Green

The second old tale has been verified. There lived in the East End an old man called Cockney Green. When the fair came to town he gained permission from the fair people to sell teasers and coloured balls on bits of elastic. The Teasers were empty leaden toothpaste like tubes. They were filled with water and sold for a penny. My mother would don a plastic mac to go to the fair because the boys used these teasers as water pistols to soak the girls. Old Cockney used to fill his tubes from the urine that he harvested from his outside toilet! Ugh!

The balls that he made were composed of compressed sawdust and threaded onto elastic. The sawdust was then bound around with crepe paper to make them look pretty. The boys used these dangerous hard balls to fire at passers by.

Monkey Business

It was not unusual to see live wild animals as a fairground attraction. A regular visitor was a monkey presumably belonging to an organ grinder. The fair men used to drink at the Ex-Serviceman's Club, a once thriving male domain. The tenant was Pam's dad. Their family lived in the flat upstairs. This particular Sunday, Pam's mum was in the process of dishing up Sunday dinner when the monkey, who had been with his owner drinking in the bar, was attracted to the smell emanating from upstairs and climbed the banisters that lead to the flat. Once there, he proceeded to run amok on the dining table, scattering spuds and cabbage in his wake!

Taylor's Boxing Booth

Ron Taylor's Boxing Booth attracted a lot of local lads. If a local managed to go three rounds with Taylor's professional boxer they were presented with 10 bob (50p in present money). A lot of cash then. One well-known local, an extremely strong man, egged on by the predominantly male crowd waded in. He was told he was not allowed to fight in his tacky boots. He duly removed them only to reveal filthy feet as black as swans' and a pair of socks with no toes or heels. Just a strip in the middle! He achieved his goal and managed the three rounds. He was presented with his 10 bob and became the local hero of the night.

Contact

If you have any stories, photographs or feedback for this column, please contact me, Linda Asman, on 01646 622428, email [email protected]">[email protected] and visit our website http://www.pembrokeandmonkonhistory.org.uk">www.pembrokeandmonkonhistory.org.uk

Next society event

Tonight (Friday, October 18), at 7.30 pm, we will be having an evening of Pembroke's Ghostly Tales by candlelight in Monkton Church Hall. Enjoy a drink of hot chocolate and if you have a story to tell please share it with us. Free entry, all welcome.