The High Street fell silent, all bar one solitary car, and by one-thirty today (Friday) the whole street was the domain of the pedestrian. For a while, anyway.
Shortly after, about quarter to two the large trucks growled their way down Kingsbury Street and Herd Street, bringing all the heavyweight rides to be set up for Saturday’s Big Mop Fair.
Last Saturday’s was the ‘Little Mop’, but difficult to discern the difference between ‘big’ and small’, which was opened by the Mayor, Councillor Guy Loosmore, and Billy Whitelegg, former National President of the Showmans’ Guild and David Wallis, the current President. The Mayor was supported by the Mayoress, Fiona and the rest of the Town Council, who along with Marlborough’s MP, Claire Perry then toured the whole fair trying out some of the rides and excelling themselves on some of the sideshows.
Claire Perry demonstrated why she was (at that time) a junior minister at the MOD by winning a ‘Despicable Me Minion’ on the shooting gallery, whilst the Mayor managed to knock over a pile of cans with a few carefully aimed throws and came away with a near life-size ‘Tigger’, which then accompanied David Sherratt, the Ceremonial Officer for the rest of the tour.
By Sunday back to normal and the cars reclaim their dominant role in the High Street – until next October…..
Below are a selection of pics from last Saturday’s opening and ceremonial walkabout. Click to enlarge: