Page 80 - br-june-2020

June 2020 June 2020

WOODBURY HILL FAIR OBITUARIES

time, but then life moved on, I moved
The Fair at Woodbury Hill was
legendary it was over five to Bere Regis, and when Jim died I
went to fetch him to come and join me. The
days and was always held on
staff in the home lined up to wish him well as he
st
the week that the 21 of
left. He had been the life and soul of the place,
September fell. The whole
keeping the residents entertained with his
period in the early days was
songs, poems, dances and general happy
r e f e r r e d t o a s
attitude to life. The staff were in tears, because,
Woodburytyde , the fair was
as they told me, no one had ever left there on
the largest of its kind in the
whole of the south of their own two feet before!!
England. It originated as far Ernie loved it in Bere Regis. He liked the people
back as prior to 1200 and in and the surroundings. He could walk to
Its Heyday was so popular Tolpuddle, Milborne St Andrew, or Wool and
that thousands of people would visit every day. back some days, go on the bus to Poole or
Dorchester on other days. He came to Autumn
There were certain days set aside for a particular purpose.
Leaves which he enjoyed until he could no longer
1 Wholesale Day – For wholesale traders hear the speakers or converse with other people. The
members still ask after him. To his own and other
2 Gentlefolk’s Day – Devoted largely to entertainment and the eating of Oysters, people’s amazement, in 2011 he won the “Performer
to this day there can still be found under the turf of the Hill the shells from the of the Year” competition, with his homespun rhymes
Oysters.
and songs. He was a wonderful character and leaves
3 All folks Day – A day of general dealing and entertainment behind lots of happy memories of the best Uncle
anyone could have.
4 Sheep Fair Day - Specifically for dealing sheep, Cattle, Horses, and any other
livestock Sylvia Bayliss (Nee Bradshaw)
5 Pack-A-Penny Day – when all the unsold goods remaining were offered at a
reduced price.
Traders came from as far afield as

Birmingham, Norwich, Bristol, Exeter
and London as well as all over
Dorset and the neighbouring
counties. In the days leading up to
the fair the roads and lanes all
around Bere Regis were thronged
with people goods horses and
wagons and livestock being driven
to the fair.
Dorchester was said to be
deserted but it had the reverse
effect on Bere Regis it was buzzing

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