Thousands enjoy rides (From Herald Series)

Thousands enjoy rides

8:30am Tuesday 9th September 2008

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Rain returned today, but a brief break in the wet weather meant St Giles Fair in Oxford got off to a flying start yesterday with thousands of revellers enjoying the rides.

Lord Mayor Susanna Pressel joined representatives from the Showmen's Guild to officially open the two-day fair at 10.30am.

The event is one of the country's biggest street fairs and visitors were able to enjoy traditional funfair rides and amusements, including the helter skelter, dodgems, candy floss stalls and waltzers.

There was also a selection of the latest white-knuckle rides, including Evolution, Chaos, Storm Booster and Superbowl.

Jimmy Williams, president of the Showmen's Guild, said he was delighted that the weather had stayed dry for the start of the fair.

He added: "It has been a terrible year for showmen so far because of the bad weather and it's the second year running that we have been affected in this way.

"Lots of fairs had to be cancelled last year because of flooding, and I'm afraid that has happened again this year, with a lot of fairs at parks and riverside festivals called off.

"Since the kids started the school holidays the weather has been terrible - it must have been one of the wettest Augusts on record. Fortunately, major street fairs like the St Giles Fair, which is set up on a hard surface in the city centre, give our members an opportunity to earn their living.

"There's something here for everyone - the older generation want the dodgems while the teenagers can go on the white-knuckle rides."

Lord Mayor Susanna Pressel officially opened the fair by ringing the bells on the Hebborn's waltzer.

She said: "This fair has been going in Oxford since 1625, so it has got a great tradition.

"There's a great contrast between the brash and colourful fairground rides and the ancient and beautiful colleges.

"That is amazing, especially at night and makes the fair unique and unforgettable."

John Arneil, 33, and wife Claire, 37, from Rose Hill, brought their two children, Eleanor, three, and Katherine, nine months, to look at the rides.

Mrs Arneil said: "I used to work at the National Dictionary of Biography in St Giles and I remember hearing the noise of the fair when I was working but I never really got the chance to go, so it's nice to come here with my children."

Shea Tutty, 28, from Abingdon, visited the fair with her mother, Theresa, and 15-month-old son, Kailan.

The former Cherwell School pupil said: "I brought Kailan here last year but he wasn't really old enough to enjoy it properly - now he wants to go on some of the rides. I'm a big fan of the fair."

The fair began as a parish festival to celebrate the feast day of St Giles, the patron saint of beggars and lepers.

In the 18th century, it became a toy fair, and then changed into a children's fair in the 19th century.

Road closures in streets around the fair will remain in place until 8.30am tomorrow.

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