For Gypsy, Roma and Traveller History Month, Proud Gypsy Traveller asked one of our directors to take his family to Appleby Horse Fair and share some feedback about their experience.
We are very grateful to his wife for writing this honest and personal account of what Appleby means to their Family, what keeps them returning and what they experienced this year.
We are a family of four from the Travelling community: two adults and two children, aged 12 and 13, who live near Southampton on the south coast of England. We breed traditional Gypsy cobs, and that is probably the main reason we attend.
Appleby is 304 miles away and nearly a six-hour car journey for us! So, what makes it worth the drive, and what has changed over the years?
Having such a busy home life, breeding horses and keeping animals, we cannot leave home for long during the busy foaling season. That meant that this year we made a 3am start to arrive at the fair bright and early on Friday morning, before returning home the following evening.
The weather forecast was very mixed, and there had been a lot of rain the day before. However, we had a pretty mud-free visit! Horses were not allowed into the river until late on Friday afternoon, when the river level had dropped to a safe level.
We love watching the horses in the river, and my children are so keen to do it themselves one day. We have several horse fairs not far from us, but none are as big or set within such a beautiful village.
Our day did not get off to the best of starts. While driving into the village, I turned left and pulled out a bit too close to an oncoming car. The driver sounded their horn, and I apologised.
As I went up the hill, I saw a police car a few vehicles behind us put its sirens on. I pulled over to let him pass, but he stopped in front of me!
A very angry police officer, who must have already used up all his patience for the day by 9am, proceeded to shout at me:
“Turn the engine off and spit out your chewing gum!”
He said I had to be breathalysed and take a drugs test. I explained that I was sorry for pulling out too quickly and assured him that all the tests would be fine. All my attempts to joke and be pleasant with this officer were failing.
I think that, had the right—or wrong—person been pulled over by this police officer, he might not have received the polite response that he got from me.
After establishing that I was not on a drink-and-drug-fuelled, 300-mile dangerous drive with my family in the car, he let us go on our way. Not before my mother-in-law and father-in-law passed us in their car, looking horrified and thinking we were going to be locked up!
It is no wonder the police clashed badly with visitors if they addressed everyone with the same aggressive and prickly attitude.
We felt that there was an increased police presence this year. We witnessed many innocent families being taken out of their vehicles, checked and questioned by the police, only to be allowed to continue because they had done nothing wrong. What a downer on people’s day!
The new facial-recognition cameras were installed directly before the bridge, which funnels people in front of the cameras so that nobody has any choice but to be filmed.
Several of the houses along the walk from the Flashing Lane down to the river displayed the Gypsy/Roma flag, with banners and stalls outside their homes. Many residents were sitting peacefully outside their properties, watching the events of the day. They seemed very welcoming and in no way hostile.
Our trip to Appleby is a short break for us and gives us the chance to catch up with people who live further up the country. We sell our horses all over the country, and it is lovely to see the people who have bought them.
It also means that we can see some of the best cobs in the country and consider whether we would like to use any of the stallions there to add to our cobs’ bloodlines.
Our children love meeting up with friends they only see at horse fairs or sales around the country. As they get older, they will be allowed more freedom to go off with their friends and explore the fair on their own.
Although their time at Appleby and the other horse fairs we attend goes down as an “unauthorised absence” from school, I am keen to explain that this is our way of life, and I am happy to accept the school’s decision.
The things they learn on days like these far outweigh what they would learn during a single day at school. Although our children will remain in school until they leave education, we are keen to shape their way of life and instil values and traditions that go beyond school.
My husband has attended Appleby with his parents and grandparents since he was a small boy, so he has seen many changes. He says that there are fewer horses now, more market stalls and, of course, more police!
The metal road barriers installed along the Flashing Lane have made things much safer for onlookers.
My first visit was when I was 22, and since we have been married, we have attended many times. The weather can be very changeable. You may need to pack wellies and a waterproof coat—or vests and sunscreen! We have had good times whatever the weather.
The children are now at an age where they enjoy everything about the fair. They both love horses and seeing them on the Flashing Lane, but even more than that, they enjoy spending our money on the market stalls and buying things for their own horses!
It is a chance to buy things that we cannot get at home: harnesses, carts and plenty of other items. I particularly enjoy having a good root through the junk stalls.
Some of the traditional living wagons are works of art, and the final part of the drive up to Appleby has the most amazing views. It is such a beautiful area.
We chose to stay overnight in an off-grid shepherd’s hut about 30 miles south of Appleby. My husband’s granfer was born in one, although I bet his did not have double king-size bunk beds, solar power and a shower!
We are already looking forward to next year.
