Origins: Appleby Fair

Subject: Origins: Appleby Fair
From: Tradsinger
Date: 27 Oct 04 - 04:00 AM

As some of you will know, Appleby Fair is one of the great gypsy horse fairs of England. There is a song called "Appleby Fair" and I know that a recording of it exists on one of the Musical Traditions CDs. I got a version of it some years ago from a great traveller singer from Durham called Matt Howard, which was different from the one on MT. Matt told me that it had been composed in the 50s. Does anyone have any more information on the song and its origins?

Incidentally, I went to Stow Fair recently, another great gypsy horse fair, but there was little singing as all the pubs close for the week. It seems to me a great shame that there is prejudice of this type against travellers when the rest of the UK population is being encouraged to take up round-the-clock binge drinking! (steps off soapbox.) What's the pub situation for Appleby Fair?

Gwilym

http://www.cmarge.demon.co.uk/gwilym/index.htm

Subject: RE: Origins: Appleby Fair
From: Mr Red
Date: 27 Oct 04 - 05:56 AM

well after Dec you can't sing it in any pub without a PEL

GET BACK ON THAT SOAPBOX.

Subject: RE: Origins: Appleby Fair
From: GUEST,cookieless manitas
Date: 27 Oct 04 - 06:12 AM

I've just bought a Cd called 'Romany Yog' by Tom Walsh and Gordon Boswell (who runs a Romany museum in Licolnshire) and one other. I haven't listened to it yet but it has a song Tom wrote about Appleby fair because, as he says, he was surprised that there wasn't already one.

You could try googling Tom or Gordon or the CD name to see if there's anymore information.

Subject: RE: Origins: Appleby Fair
From: GUEST,cookieless manitas
Date: 27 Oct 04 - 06:16 AM

PS there was a program about the police last year that featured Appleby Fair (and the brass band competition at name escapes me). The pubs were open but the police had more trouble with youngsters 'flashing' the horses than with drunkenness.

Subject: RE: Origins: Appleby Fair
From: GUEST
Date: 27 Oct 04 - 06:25 AM

"The pubs were open but the police had more trouble with youngsters 'flashing' the horses than with drunkenness."

And the minor incident of an armed response unit being called in due to a feud between two travelling families involving firearms, this having spilled over from a previous meet a couple of weeks earlier.
Jolly good fun if you like that sort of thing.

Subject: RE: Origins: Appleby Fair
From: muppett
Date: 27 Oct 04 - 06:58 AM

Barrie Law has written several books about the Romany life including Appleby fair and has a website on it which is www.romanygypsy.com

You might find something there.

Subject: RE: Origins: Appleby Fair
From: GUEST,cookieless manitas
Date: 27 Oct 04 - 08:28 AM

Are armed feuds peculiar to travellers and romanies? I think not. We get a fair bit of it where I live so I wouldn't worry about it at Appleby.

I'll ask my friend who often goes to Appleby as well as Stow and Bampton about the pubs. She says there is usually a lot of music and singing but I never thought to ask whether it was in the pubs or on the campsites.

Subject: RE: Origins: Appleby Fair
From: kab
Date: 27 Oct 04 - 08:55 AM

As a matter of interest,I believe that Tom Walsh is a member of the Appleby Horsefair Organising commitee and I had a fascinating discussion with him on Saturday on the subject of the fair.
He warmly recommends a visit To Gordon Boswell's museum and pointed out to me that the Boswells were one of the origional Roma families involved in the development of Blackpools "Golden Mile." The seafront fortune tellers there even nowadays are mostly of Boswell stock.
I have never come accross this album and would love to buy one.Are they generally available please?

Subject: RE: Origins: Appleby Fair
From: Dave Bryant
Date: 27 Oct 04 - 09:43 AM

There is also an annual Horse Fair at Horsmonden in Kent. That can get quite lively at times.

Subject: RE: Origins: Appleby Fair
From: GUEST,cookieless manitas
Date: 28 Oct 04 - 04:24 AM

www.boswell-romany-museum.com

Tom's song is called The New Fair Song

Subject: RE: Origins: Appleby Fair
From: GUEST,Les in Chorlton
Date: 29 Oct 04 - 10:24 AM

What is the history and origin of Appleby Horse Fair?

Subject: RE: Origins: Appleby Fair
From: GUEST,greg stephens
Date: 29 Oct 04 - 11:08 AM

That CD is well worth getting. Especially as it's got some music I wrote on it!

Subject: RE: Origins: Appleby Fair
From: GUEST,mary
Date: 02 Nov 04 - 08:57 AM

Subject: RE: Origins: Appleby Fair
From: MartinRyan
Date: 02 Nov 04 - 12:07 PM

This may be of interest.

Regards

Subject: RE: Origins: Appleby Fair
From: GUEST,kaz
Date: 02 Dec 04 - 05:12 AM

Appleby fair is great!
especially when you have travelled all the way there!