Latest news with #WickhamHorseFair
Daily Mail
21-05-2025
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE Wickham Horse Fair travellers slam authorities for ordering pubs and shops to shut and warn: 'If they don't let us run the fair our way, they're gonna get problems'
Travellers at Wickham Horse Fair have blasted the police and local council for ordering pubs and shops in the area to shut for day, warning they will have 'problems' if they aren't allowed to run it their way. The quaint Hampshire village was bought to a standstill yesterday, with roads, pubs and shops closed, as hundreds of travellers descended for the chartered horse trading event which dates back 800 years. But Romanies who have been attending the event, which takes place annually on March 20, have taken offence to the local authorities orders for local businesses to shut up shop for the day. Jessy Goddard, a well-known horse trader who comes to Wickham Horse Fair every year with his family, told MailOnline: 'I've gone to all the meetings with police and the council and I've told them if they don't let us run the fair our way, they're gonna get problems. 'So, they've stood back for the last three years and it's been fine. They can't stop it, there's no way they can stop it because it's a chartered fair.' Gypsies have had a legal right to hold the fair since the 13th century when Roger De Syres obtained a royal charter from King Henry III to have a weekly market in Wickham's town square. Mr Goddard, 66, said: 'The pubs and shops don't wanna open up and I don't understand why. They've got cameras. We aren't going to go and take their tools or anything.' There was a time when they used to be able to go into the pubs for a pint but now have to drink at a beer tent since they were ordered to shut, he explained. The patriarch, whose arm was in a sling for an injury he sustained when he fell off a horse, maintained there have been no issues with bad behaviour since he told the police and council to back off. Mr Goddard said: 'The reason you won't see no trouble is because the last time there was trouble was because this place was full of police. We had the horses in our trucks and we weren't allowed to bring 'em out. 'They even split my hand open as I was trying to open the gate to let them out. I went to the meeting after that and they said it was too dangerous to let them out.' A local superintendent police officer who was patrolling the outskirts of the fair told MailOnline: 'We will be here all through the night returning the town back to how it should look. 'It's a tricky one to police, to get the balance right, because they have no central organiser from the Romany and gypsy community to liaise with. 'Policing it is a very fine line and all we can do is stand back and watch and hope it's doesn't turn out for the worst.' Hampshire Police today confirmed to MailOnline there were no arrests or police related incidents at the fair yesterday. Gypsies have had a legal right to hold the fair since the 13th century when Roger De Syres obtained a royal charter from King Henry III to have a weekly market in Wickham's town square Mr Goddard believes there is a misconception about travellers that they commit more crimes than what he calls 'gorjas' - a term travellers use to refer to non-travellers. 'Gorjas are worse than what travellers are,' he said, adding: 'They thieve more than travellers then they blame us. 'You look in the papers tonight, they'll be saying "Oh, my shed got broken into, my lawn mower got stolen, my kids bikes got stolen because the travellers are here", just to put the blade just so they can get an insurance claim. 'That's what they do and it gives us a bad name.' Giving a message to those who who have misconceptions, he said: 'I would say they wanna sort themselves out and come down and see us.' Nelson Scott, 78, who has been coming to Wickham Horse Fair since he was two years old, called the shop and pub closures 'criminal'. He said: 'We feel persecuted because we feel they don't trust us. They're ignorant. 'We're a dying race and we are still condemned. Years ago, when we were travelling, they had in the shop and pub windows "no gypsies". 'We've got no rights, the law doesn't care about us. It's like claustrophobia, we feel closed in.' Romanies who have been attending the event, which takes place annually on March 20, have taken offence to the local authorities orders for local businesses to shut up shop for the day Mr Scott, who was accompanies by his wife Pauline, believes people's judgements that travellers are criminals are misdirected. He said: 'Let me ask you, how many Romany travellers do you see getting done for rape, murder or killing babies on TV? You don't. 'Now, how many of them ['gorjas'] do you see doing it? That's the ones doing it. But we get the blame for anything anyway because we are not liked because we are gypsies.' The grandfather who was born in a tent and travelled for much of his life said people should 'never believe what these house dwellers say'. 'They'll say "don't trust them around your children, they'll steal you children", but when we were travelling around and came across a lost little boy, who was brown, we took him home to look after him. 'We are all human. But never mind, it's too late to change anyone mind now. I just wish there was more respect for gypsies.' Mr Scott's cousin, Dinky Sherwood was in agreement and said non-travellers look down on them. The 68-year-old, who was born in a traditional Romany wagon, said: 'I'm a gypsy born and bred and I've never pinched anything in my life. I've poached! Shot pigeons and that, but I've never pinched anything. A man and young boy pictured leading their horses around the The Square in Wickham where the fair is held A man parading a horse down the road as people looking to purchase watch on from the side Travellers ride their horses up and down as a way to show off them off and hopefully sell them A young man seen cracking a whip as he rode his horse down the road during the annual event 'But people would assume I would because the gorjas look down on us like we are rubbish, they make fun of us. Another word I can't stand is p****s.' Another traveller, Stanley, thinks the local businesses are missing out on a huge day of trade by abiding by orders to shut. He said: 'The police tell them not to open. In our culture we talk loud and a lot of people be scared of that. The man and lady in the fish shop don't care though and they stay open and talk to us and get loads of business. 'These people that lives here don't want the fair to happen. But they're not realising if they open the shops, and put up with a bit of loud talking, our kind would spend more in one day than their kind does within a year. 'They'd do a nice bit of business. I think a few of them would actually open if they police and council didn't tell them to shut. 'A man at Appleby once told me he wouldn't even have a business without us gypsies.'
Deccan Herald
21-05-2025
- Politics
- Deccan Herald
May 21, 2025: Best photos from around the world
Military vehicles drive their way from the Israeli side of the Israel-Gaza border into Gaza, as seen from Israel, May 20, 2025. REUTERS/Amir Cohen A drone view shows a polluted section of the al-Ashar River running through a residential neighborhood in Basra, Iraq, April 29, 2025. Once a vibrant city crisscrossed by rivers, Basra is now grappling with environmental degradation as many of its waterways, including the al-Ashar River, have turned into stagnant sewage channels due to reduced water flow from the Shatt al-Arab and years of neglect, according to officials. REUTERS/Mohammed Aty A member of the traveller community parades horses for sale at the annual Wickham Horse Fair which has been held in the Hampshire town square since 1269, in Wickham, Britain, May 20, 2025. REUTERS/Hannah McKay Mourners carry the bodies of Palestinians killed in Israeli strikes during the funeral, at Al-Ahli Arab Baptist hospital, in Gaza City, May 20, 2025. REUTERS/Dawoud Abu Alkas
The Sun
20-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Sun
Hundreds of travellers flock to 800-year-old horse fair as street races close down town and rubbish piles up
FLOCKS of travellers have descended on a quiet town for an 800-year-old horse fair - causing roads, shops and pubs to shut. Pictures show the crowds swarming through the usually sleepy streets of Wickham, which only has a population of 2,000. 10 10 10 10 Horses of all breeds and colours have been pictured outside of homes and pubs ready for trading in Hampshire. Caravans and horse boxes are scattered around the town instead of cars, as all the roads were closed for the event. Traveller families are believed to have started to gather for the Wickham Horse Fair since 1269. Scenes at the yearly fair usually sees people flying down the street as they participate in street horse races. Others parade ponies down the road in a bid to find a willing buyer. Roads are packed with stalls and street vendors selling everything and anything. It is customary for the event to take place on May 20 - except when it falls on a Sunday. What is the Wickham Horse Fair? Wickham Horse Fair has been held in The Square in Wickham, Fareham, for almost 800 years. As is tradition, this year's fair is being held on Monday, May 20. It is customary for the event to take place on May 20 - except when it falls on a Sunday. 2022 saw it's official return following Covid lockdown restrictions. However, an unauthorised gathering took place in 2021 – with people selling, racing and admiring ponies as well as enjoying a funfair. It was back in full force for 2023 with spectacular traditional horse racing on display. The horse fair has been taking place since 1269, which is almost 800 years ago - making it one of the oldest horse fairs in the country. The Wickham Horse Fair traces its origins back to when Roger De Syres obtained a royal charter from King Henry III to have a weekly market in 1269. Over the years this morphed into an annual fair. The Wickham Horse Fair traces its origins back to when Roger De Syres obtained a royal charter from King Henry III to have a weekly market in 1269. Over the years this morphed into an annual fair. Some locals love the famous tradition, but others aren't so happy. Already, piles of rubbish have started to form from the fair. Over the last week, other villages have also played host to travellers looking to attend. Last year, locals blasted the historic fair as "shameful" due to the litter left behind. The high street was left caked in manure, bins overflowed with rubbish and cans of booze littered the pavements. Pub benches were covered in trash, unwanted food and empty alcohol bottles. Discarded cardboard boxes could also be seen pilled up while plastic bags were scattered along the picturesque roads. 10 10 10 10 10
The Irish Sun
20-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Irish Sun
Hundreds of travellers flock to 800-year-old horse fair as street races close down town and rubbish piles up
FLOCKS of travellers have descended on a quiet town for an 800-year-old horse fair - causing roads, shops and pubs to shut. Pictures show the crowds swarming through the usually sleepy streets of Advertisement 10 Wickham Horse Fair in Hampshire where the travellers have gathered Credit: w8media 10 Already, piles of litter have started to form Credit: w8media 10 Crowds of people and horses alike swarmed the town Credit: w8media 10 Horses of all breeds and colours have been pictured outside of homes Credit: w8media 10 Travellers have taken over the quaint Hampshire town of Wickham for the fair Credit: w8media Horses of all breeds and colours have been pictured outside of homes and pubs ready for trading in Hampshire. Traveller families are believed to have started to gather for the Wickham Horse Fair since 1269 . Scenes at the yearly fair usually sees people flying down the street as they participate in street horse races. Advertisement Read More News Others parade ponies down the road in a bid to find a willing buyer. Roads are packed with stalls and street vendors selling everything and anything. It is customary for the event to take place on May 20 - except when it falls on a Sunday. What is the Wickham Horse Fair? Wickham Horse Fair has been held in The Square in Wickham, Fareham, for almost 800 years. As is tradition, this year's fair is being held on Monday, May 20. It is customary for the event to take place on May 20 - except when it falls on a Sunday. 2022 saw it's official return following Covid lockdown restrictions. However, an unauthorised gathering took place in 2021 – with people selling, racing and admiring ponies as well as enjoying a funfair. It was back in full force for 2023 with spectacular traditional horse racing on display. The horse fair has been taking place since 1269, which is almost 800 years ago - making it one of the oldest horse fairs in the country. The Wickham Horse Fair traces its origins back to when Roger De Syres obtained a royal charter from King Henry III to have a weekly market in 1269. Over the years this morphed into an annual fair. The Wickham Horse Fair traces its origins back to when Roger De Syres obtained a royal charter from King Henry III to have a weekly market in 1269. Advertisement Most read in The Sun Over the years this morphed into an annual fair. Some locals love the famous tradition, but others aren't so happy. Already, piles of rubbish have started to form from the fair. Over the last week, other villages have also played host to travellers looking to attend. Advertisement Last year, locals blasted the historic fair as "shameful" due to the litter left behind. The high street was left caked in manure, bins overflowed with rubbish and cans of booze littered the pavements. Pub benches were covered in trash, unwanted food and empty alcohol bottles. Discarded cardboard boxes could also be seen pilled up while plastic bags were scattered along the picturesque roads. Advertisement 10 Some of the bins are already overflowing from rubbish Credit: w8media 10 Piles of litter from the fair have been pictured scattered around Credit: w8media 10 Travellers run down the street with one of the horses Credit: w8media 10 Locals have had to close all the roads and shops whilst the horse fair is on Credit: w8media Advertisement 10 The town is closed down for the day along with all shops, pubs and hotels Credit: w8media
Scottish Sun
20-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Scottish Sun
Hundreds of travellers flock to 800-year-old horse fair as street races close down town and rubbish piles up
FLOCKS of travellers have descended on a quiet town for an 800-year-old horse fair - causing roads, shops and pubs to shut. Pictures show the crowds swarming through the usually sleepy streets of Wickham, which only has a population of 2,000. 10 Wickham Horse Fair in Hampshire where the travellers have gathered Credit: w8media 10 Already, piles of litter have started to form Credit: w8media 10 Crowds of people and horses alike swarmed the town Credit: w8media 10 Horses of all breeds and colours have been pictured outside of homes Credit: w8media 10 Travellers have taken over the quaint Hampshire town of Wickham for the fair Credit: w8media Horses of all breeds and colours have been pictured outside of homes and pubs ready for trading in Hampshire. Caravans and horse boxes are scattered around the town instead of cars, as all the roads were closed for the event. Traveller families are believed to have started to gather for the Wickham Horse Fair since 1269. Scenes at the yearly fair usually sees people flying down the street as they participate in street horse races. Others parade ponies down the road in a bid to find a willing buyer. Roads are packed with stalls and street vendors selling everything and anything. It is customary for the event to take place on May 20 - except when it falls on a Sunday. What is the Wickham Horse Fair? Wickham Horse Fair has been held in The Square in Wickham, Fareham, for almost 800 years. As is tradition, this year's fair is being held on Monday, May 20. It is customary for the event to take place on May 20 - except when it falls on a Sunday. 2022 saw it's official return following Covid lockdown restrictions. However, an unauthorised gathering took place in 2021 – with people selling, racing and admiring ponies as well as enjoying a funfair. It was back in full force for 2023 with spectacular traditional horse racing on display. The horse fair has been taking place since 1269, which is almost 800 years ago - making it one of the oldest horse fairs in the country. The Wickham Horse Fair traces its origins back to when Roger De Syres obtained a royal charter from King Henry III to have a weekly market in 1269. Over the years this morphed into an annual fair. The Wickham Horse Fair traces its origins back to when Roger De Syres obtained a royal charter from King Henry III to have a weekly market in 1269. Over the years this morphed into an annual fair. Some locals love the famous tradition, but others aren't so happy. Already, piles of rubbish have started to form from the fair. Over the last week, other villages have also played host to travellers looking to attend. Last year, locals blasted the historic fair as "shameful" due to the litter left behind. The high street was left caked in manure, bins overflowed with rubbish and cans of booze littered the pavements. Pub benches were covered in trash, unwanted food and empty alcohol bottles. Discarded cardboard boxes could also be seen pilled up while plastic bags were scattered along the picturesque roads. 10 Some of the bins are already overflowing from rubbish Credit: w8media 10 Piles of litter from the fair have been pictured scattered around Credit: w8media 10 Travellers run down the street with one of the horses Credit: w8media 10 Locals have had to close all the roads and shops whilst the horse fair is on Credit: w8media
