The RTFHS have been contacted by a team who want to collect people’s memories of attending Gypsy/Traveller fairs, in particular the Midsummer Fair in Cambridge, as part of an oral history project. Here’s what they have to say:
“Have you or your family members experience of trading at or attending different fairs? We would like to hear your stories! At Oblique Arts, an arts organisation based in Cambridge, we are working on an oral history project funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund. This project – called Oral Histories: Roma & Traveller Communities in Cambridge – aims to collect, record and share this aspect of English Gypsy, Traveller and Roma heritage. Focusing on Traveller fairs and markets, we will collect stories about selling at the fairs, travelling to the fairs, buying and making things to sell at the fairs. We are especially interested in the Midsummer Fair in Cambridge which celebrated its 806th anniversary this year. The stories we collect will be shared on the Capturing Cambridge website at the Museum of Cambridge.”
Please contact the Oblique Arts team direct by emailing them at mail@obliquearts.co.uk or by calling them on 07856 929013 or 07950 656799.
Our photo, courtesy of the project, shows a juvenile ride at the Midsummer Fair, Cambridge.
