The Barnet Horse Fair 2016

With the month of August filled with long hot summer days and outdoor fun, our Gypsy Roma Traveller (GRT) Support Project was anxiously awaiting the first weekend in September as we do each year, hoping that the weather will be just as kind and provide us a few days of dry weather. Each year on the first weekend of September, Irish, English and Roma Travellers and Gypsies come to our borough’s historical Horse Fair, an event people have been travelling to for over 100 years. Barnet Fair (where the rhyming slang for “hair” originates from) is a traditional horse trading event where the community come to buy and sell horses, as well as providing people with the opportunity to sell their wares and catch up with old friends and family. So with September upon us, the weather thankfully was kind, and the sun shone and brought with it many hundreds of visitors to the event.

For the last 5 years, our GRT Support Project has been there to inform the community about our service provision. As well as sharing information, we always run a “Gypsy’s Have Talent” stage, which is always a sure hit with all visitors as they pause to listen to the amazing voices of family member’s young and old. It was fantastic to see and hear from so many people brave enough to get up and sing. The standards were, as usual, very high, and it was wonderful to listen to such amazing singers. We had renditions of Gloria Gaynor, Leanne Rimes and Patsy Cline, and even had some great tap dancing from a gentleman who was raising funds for Cancer Research.

The market stalls were filled with home-made lace, beautiful silk flowers and an extensive range of horse paraphernalia. And with everyone dressed to impress, it really was a visual spectacular and a wonderful way in which to celebrate and preserve many old and long traditions throughout the communities. Our Gypsy Roma Traveller Support Project are definitely looking forward to next September’s event!