BISHOPS Castle was buzzing last Saturday with crowds turning out in force for the annual Michaelmas Fair despite almost constant drizzle.

Town Crier Jeff Aldridge and his wife Yvonne led the parades of vintage vehicles and steam engines through the streets as planned and the evening lantern procession was also able to go ahead.

“By that time it had even stopped raining and it was an a nice evening really with a fantastic parade led up the street by the Chinese dragon and back down with an amazing new Chinese lion," said Keith Whiddon, fair chairman.

“There were no casualties as such. The Castle Hotel were going to do fireworks but they were never officially part of the Fair and when they saw the weather coming in they understandably decided to cancel them,

“Attendance was down a little obviously but these days we get a lot of our visitors coming from places like Devon and Stockton on Tees and they have booked their accommodation months in advance and are not bothered by the weather. The feedback messages we have had are all positive,” 

Attractions included the Grand Indian Circus, with Chinese Lion and Dragon Dancers, the Fair’s own Little Lucy Baby Elephant lifesize puppet, bands, dance groups, and street theatre.

The major exhibition was by the South-West Shropshire Historical and Archaeological Society to commemorate the centenary of the First World War Armistice of November 11, 1918, with a variety of historical sketches, photographs, memorabilia and details of local memorials, together with letters and biographies of local servicemen and women, on show at the Cadet Hall on Sunday as well as on the Saturday.

Exhibition co-ordinator, David Preshous said: “I hope that the exhibits will offer insights into many aspects of the war. As well as accounts of actions fought in France, Russia, Italy, Turkey, Greece and the Middle East there will be displays on the events leading to the war, women’s roles, the nursing services, the church at war, the leaders, and the Armistice and its aftermath. There will be an emphasis on local soldiers both those who were killed and those who survived.”

PIC 1: Town Crier Jeff Aldridge and his wife Yvonne lead the Bishops Castle Michaelmas Fair street parade on Saturday. (PB531-2018-10).

PIC 2: The Liverpool Hung Gar Kung Fu School Chinese Lion and Dragon Dancers add to the colour of the Michaelmass Fair parade. (PB531-2018-27).

PIC 3: The traditional Chinese Dragon from the Liverpool martial art school was one of the highlights of the Michaelmas Fair street parade. (PB531-2018-20)

PIC 4: Mollie-Ann Grant led the Spirit of Bishops Castle music on the Town Hall stage at the Michaelmas Fair day. (PB531-2018-47).

PIC 5: Bishops Castle’s own Singing Florist Jane Pugh was among the entertainers on their streets on Michaelmas Fair day. (PB531-2018-8)

PIC 6: Tractors were part of the vintage vehicles street parade at the Michaelmas Fair. (PB531-2018-30)

PIC 7: Little Lucy, the life size baby elephant puppet made by local artist Bamber Hawes is led through the streets in the Michaelmas Fair parade. (PB531-2018-37)

PIC 8: Vintage Vehicles in convoy for the Michaelmas Fair parade. ((PB531-2018-32).

PIC 9: No worries in the rain for one of the vintage tractor drivers in the Michaelmas Fair street parade. (PB531-2018-31).

PIC 10: Pictured with steam power engines at the Michaelmas Fair are standing from left Aled Morris with Claire and Alistair Evans, and front, Alex and Sam Evans,, all from Bishops Castle. (PB5312018-2).

PIC 11: Full steam ahead, the traction engines make their way from the crowded Bishops Castle streets. (PB531-2018-39)

PIC 12: Smiling faces aboard the Galloping Cockerels traction engine at the Michaelmas Fair. (PB531-2018-42)

PIC 13: More smiling faces despite the rain aboard the King George V Foden steam engine at the Michaelmas Fair. (PB531-2018-44)

PIC 14: Christine Dixion and Rosie Ramsey, on the All Stitched Up and Knitting By Nana, one of the many street market stalls at the Michaelmas Fair. (PB531-2018-6)