Visitors flock to Downton Cuckoo Fair

3:53pm Tuesday 6th May 2008

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THE promise of a parade, bargains, music, dancing, children's entertainment and all the fun of the fair brought crowds to Downton on Saturday for the village's 30th Cuckoo Fair.

Organisers estimated that 20,000 visitors thronged The Borough during the day, pouring money into the coffers of the many charities represented by the hundreds of stalls lining the village greens.

Cuckoo Fair chairman Tony Pike described it as "one of the best".

"From midday on, it was tremendous.

"There is something for everybody and a lot of people have said how well it has gone this year.

"We've got a lot of good people doing it. It's thanks to the committee and the way they work, and all the other organisations - that's what makes it so successful."

The fair was opened officially at 10am by the Cuckoo Fair princess, 11-year-old Fordingbridge Junior School pupil, Kellie Patrick, who was crowned on the balcony of the White Horse by outgoing princess Sammy Smith.

At other points in the village, there were demonstrations by lace-makers, blacksmiths, and hurdle-makers, a choice of live music from country and western, jazz and folk to brass and steel bands, morris dancing and clog dancing, puppet shows and juggling workshops.