Due to the Covid-19 Pandemic, this historic fair will not be taking place this year 2020. In order to maintain and protect the Charter, which was granted to Pinner fair prior to 1336, a token traditional children’s ride shall be symbolically built up in the High Street to represent the fair for 2020. A vintage ex WWII FWD Su-Coe Lorry will also be attending on the day.
Pinner May Fair is one of hundreds of historic events that local communities hold across Britain, many dating back to the granting of Royal Charters for Markets and Fayres in the Middle Ages by King John and King Henry VII to name a couple; often as favour to a local community in return for support to the King, including sometimes an army or funds for the King’s adventures.
The fairground equipment will not be open to the public and social distancing regulations will be recognized and adhered to.
Representatives from the local authority, will be in attendance along with Guild delegates, Joey Noyce, Billy Pettigrove & John Smith, John Flack, London Section Chairman, plus others from the London & Home Counties Section of the Showmen’s Guild of Great Britain, which presents the fair each year in conjunction with Harrow Council.
Whilst the fairground equipment will not be open to the public, the London & Home Counties Section of the Showmen’s Guild of Great Britain, in conjunction with the London Borough of Harrow, is hoping to have some collection buckets in the Streets of Pinner, with all donations going to the local hospitals in the area.
The Showmen’s Guild of Great Britain has been upholding a network of events for the past 130 years, not only in the London Borough of Harrow, but nationwide. These events provide the basis of a calendar of events that Showmen currently attend.
Sadly, none of this is happening this year and the multi-million industry that the funfairs represent with their local involvement has disappeared for the Showmen of Great Britain.
The Showmen are appealing to Government for support for their industry and the network of fairs; in part the attendance of a symbolic piece of fairground equipment at the Pinner May fair site is to highlight this loss and to urge local communities with their leaders to support the Showmen returning and to lobby Government to assist the restoration of a usually proud self-financing industry and heritage for the nation.
