The Padfield Plum Fair
The early days...
The first Padfield Plum Fair was held on 11 September, 1994. It was born from a simple idea brought about by a small group of residents who thought the village needed a community festival. At this early stage it was unsure of what this could be. Upon discovering the history of the Plum Wakes, the festival now had a focus, and it was based directly on local tradition.
Wakes Week is an all but lost tradition. It was once a religious celebration, which later became a secular holiday, particularly in northern England and Scotland. The Plum Wakes was specific to the Longdendale Valley. Before the River Etherow was flooded with the reservoir chain, the valley was home to several mills and populated throughout were plum trees. Every September those mills would close for Wakes Week where the workers would pick plums from those trees, which is where the Plum Wakes come from.
Having learned of this tradition, the festival was aptly named the Plum Fair, a community event run by residents for the residents. There were craft stalls, a tug-o-war, a plum pie competition and the very first Redgate Coal Race since the 1950s. Also, the Glossopdale Community College brass band played at the event. Subsequent years also included rifles, morris dancing and the 'Human Fruit Machine'. The first Padfield Plum Fair was officially opened by Pegg Davis, who had contributed greatly from the onset, on Cooper's Field at the very heart of the village.
The Plum Fair would grow to become a very popular event among the community, enjoyed by all.
The first Padfield Plum Fair was held on 11 September, 1994. It was born from a simple idea brought about by a small group of residents who thought the village needed a community festival. At this early stage it was unsure of what this could be. Upon discovering the history of the Plum Wakes, the festival now had a focus, and it was based directly on local tradition.
Wakes Week is an all but lost tradition. It was once a religious celebration, which later became a secular holiday, particularly in northern England and Scotland. The Plum Wakes was specific to the Longdendale Valley. Before the River Etherow was flooded with the reservoir chain, the valley was home to several mills and populated throughout were plum trees. Every September those mills would close for Wakes Week where the workers would pick plums from those trees, which is where the Plum Wakes come from.
Having learned of this tradition, the festival was aptly named the Plum Fair, a community event run by residents for the residents. There were craft stalls, a tug-o-war, a plum pie competition and the very first Redgate Coal Race since the 1950s. Also, the Glossopdale Community College brass band played at the event. Subsequent years also included rifles, morris dancing and the 'Human Fruit Machine'. The first Padfield Plum Fair was officially opened by Pegg Davis, who had contributed greatly from the onset, on Cooper's Field at the very heart of the village.
The Plum Fair would grow to become a very popular event among the community, enjoyed by all.
The 1995 Plum Fair
The gallery below comprises the Coal Race, the Morris Dancers and the Pet Show, all from 1995. More photos to follow.
All photos are © Janis Birchall. Please do not copy and distribute any of these photos without permission from the owner.
The Millennium Plum Fair
The Plum Tart
In 2000 the Residents' Society decided to advertise the Plum Fair by entering a float in Glossop Carnival. This is what co-ordindator, Janis Birchall, said about the experience:
"We met in the barns behind White House Farm and constructed as much as we could. We wanted people to know that at the Plum Fair they could expect to have fun, in a big way.
The float was a glade with giant toadstools, straw bales, plum trees, flowers etc. But the main attraction was the wonderful array of characters who accompanied the float. They included the Plum Fairy (Ted Woodhouse in a tutu and hiking boots) who waved her wand over the crowds and told them all to make wishes; the Plum Tart (Mike Doy, pictured right); Plum Duff (Stella Woodhouse in a bumble bee suit); Plum Crazy (that was me, also pictured right in red); we dressed the children as fairies and insects.
We were allocated a lorry which came to White House Farm on the morning of the parade and the photos here show us trying to get everything secured on board. I wish we had a photo of the completed float. I think we got 2nd prize."
"We met in the barns behind White House Farm and constructed as much as we could. We wanted people to know that at the Plum Fair they could expect to have fun, in a big way.
The float was a glade with giant toadstools, straw bales, plum trees, flowers etc. But the main attraction was the wonderful array of characters who accompanied the float. They included the Plum Fairy (Ted Woodhouse in a tutu and hiking boots) who waved her wand over the crowds and told them all to make wishes; the Plum Tart (Mike Doy, pictured right); Plum Duff (Stella Woodhouse in a bumble bee suit); Plum Crazy (that was me, also pictured right in red); we dressed the children as fairies and insects.
We were allocated a lorry which came to White House Farm on the morning of the parade and the photos here show us trying to get everything secured on board. I wish we had a photo of the completed float. I think we got 2nd prize."
The float at White House Farm
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Getting things ready for the carnival
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Making sure everything is secure
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The last Plum Fair - We hope not!
The 2013 Plum Fair, having run for 20 years, was the last. The ever-popular event held on the second Sunday of September grew from tiny beginnings to become one of Glossopdale’s premier events attracting hundreds of visitors. However, over the years and as a result of it's own success, the nature of the Plum Fair gradually changed from being a fun day for the village community to a larger commercial venture for people who had no connection with the village and were there only with an interest in making a profit. This is not what the Plum Fair was about and from that point it ceased to be beneficial to the village.
The fair started off as a small village get-together featuring children’s games and competitions. As the years went by the organisers’ ambitions grew. From Sheila’s diner to hog roasts and a licensed bar, craft stalls and fairground rides the Temple Street recreation ground saw some remarkable things. brass bands, morris dancers, local bands, the tug-o-war, the human fruit machine. The list goes on.
But it all required an increasing amount of organisation. Permits from the council; health and safety risk assessments; insurances; food hygiene certificates. Then there was the fundraising to pay for it all – marquees and portaloos come at a hefty price – and many people spent hundreds of hours organising sponsorship and programme adverts, delivering programmes, selling raffle tickets, and so much more. Janis Birchall spoke about this stating that:
“When the Plum Fair first began, I don’t think any of us dreamed it would go on for twenty years! It took about five years of ups and downs to develop and I think it was the ethos that evolved over those initial years that enabled it not only to survive, while other local fairs were disappearing, but to grow stronger year by year. It was a true community event: not-for-profit family fun and essentially home-grown in Padfield.
"There was no intention to make any profit. We just wanted to make a fun day for the villagers - an occasion when they could all get together and enjoy some activities together. Of course it was our aim to cover our costs and we usually did that. Everything was done in house. The food was prepared and served by villagers. The drinks were procured and served by villagers. The entertainments all had a connection to the village. The races, games and sideshows were all village based. Villagers gave up their time and made no financial gain. But we all had a wonderful time.
"The group who organised the fair was a strong close-knit group. Its members respected one another and just had fun putting on the event. When that group dispersed the end of the Plum Fair was in sight. It has struggled on over the last five years, but has grown so big that the original home-grown ethos has evaporated and there is now little pleasure in the organisation of such a huge event. It has become overly inclusive of charity stalls and commercial interests, none of which are based in our village. Even the plums have had to be imported of late!
I really hope that a new Padfield group will emerge in the not too distant future, with new ideas for its community. I am sure the members will enjoy the friendships that develop and perhaps a village event might grow from their enthusiasm, just as it did from us twenty years ago. We need the ideas and energy of a younger generation in the Residents’ Society and I urge Padfield villagers to step up and treat themselves to some community fun.
Otherwise our village will be a poorer place, and you will miss out on some great times!”
The fair started off as a small village get-together featuring children’s games and competitions. As the years went by the organisers’ ambitions grew. From Sheila’s diner to hog roasts and a licensed bar, craft stalls and fairground rides the Temple Street recreation ground saw some remarkable things. brass bands, morris dancers, local bands, the tug-o-war, the human fruit machine. The list goes on.
But it all required an increasing amount of organisation. Permits from the council; health and safety risk assessments; insurances; food hygiene certificates. Then there was the fundraising to pay for it all – marquees and portaloos come at a hefty price – and many people spent hundreds of hours organising sponsorship and programme adverts, delivering programmes, selling raffle tickets, and so much more. Janis Birchall spoke about this stating that:
“When the Plum Fair first began, I don’t think any of us dreamed it would go on for twenty years! It took about five years of ups and downs to develop and I think it was the ethos that evolved over those initial years that enabled it not only to survive, while other local fairs were disappearing, but to grow stronger year by year. It was a true community event: not-for-profit family fun and essentially home-grown in Padfield.
"There was no intention to make any profit. We just wanted to make a fun day for the villagers - an occasion when they could all get together and enjoy some activities together. Of course it was our aim to cover our costs and we usually did that. Everything was done in house. The food was prepared and served by villagers. The drinks were procured and served by villagers. The entertainments all had a connection to the village. The races, games and sideshows were all village based. Villagers gave up their time and made no financial gain. But we all had a wonderful time.
"The group who organised the fair was a strong close-knit group. Its members respected one another and just had fun putting on the event. When that group dispersed the end of the Plum Fair was in sight. It has struggled on over the last five years, but has grown so big that the original home-grown ethos has evaporated and there is now little pleasure in the organisation of such a huge event. It has become overly inclusive of charity stalls and commercial interests, none of which are based in our village. Even the plums have had to be imported of late!
I really hope that a new Padfield group will emerge in the not too distant future, with new ideas for its community. I am sure the members will enjoy the friendships that develop and perhaps a village event might grow from their enthusiasm, just as it did from us twenty years ago. We need the ideas and energy of a younger generation in the Residents’ Society and I urge Padfield villagers to step up and treat themselves to some community fun.
Otherwise our village will be a poorer place, and you will miss out on some great times!”