After an extraordinarily dry, warm and sunny April and May we crossed our fingers for the fine weather to continue for May Fair, hoping for a repeat of 2023’s sunshine and not the rain of 2024... but, of course, Mother Nature had something else in mind. Anyone brave enough to venture out across Fairhill early on Bank Holiday Monday would have seen several doughty individuals clinging to a row of gazebos, desperate to avoid them being swept away by violent gusts of wind before sufficient tent pegs could be hammered in to secure them.

At 8.30am the day seemed like a lost cause. Two hours later there were children on the fairground rides and a queue at the tombola stall and the third Fairhill May Fair was underway. Despite the wind and some sharp showers the people of Alston Moor came out to support us yet again ... and it’s very much appreciated by the Fairhill Trustees. We’d also like to thank the Hainton Symphonic Orchestra for providing the music and organising the maypole dancing and Blue Jam Street Beats for providing the rhythm – with help at one point from members of the Alston Moor WI, who also provided the tea and cakes, thank you, ladies. Thanks to all the stall holders and the providers of refreshment vans and fairground rides. And we really couldn’t have done any of it without the gallant band of Fairhill volunteers who went beyond the call of duty, setting up and taking down gazebos in gale force winds and making sure they stayed up in between! Above all, thanks to the children of all ages who came and had fun. That’s what it’s all about.

Amidst all the fun this year there was one sad note, the absence of former Chair of Fairhill Trustees, Linda Farrar, who sadly passed away in November 2024. You may have noticed a new bench has appeared in the Angel Garden to commemorate her tireless work in support of Fairhill and the many improvements and initiatives still going on there. It’s a simple memorial; Linda didn’t like fuss ... but she did love Fairhill ... and the May Fair. It seemed strange not having her there this year to organise the chaos but, all in all, I think she would have approved.