The St Giles Fair received its traditional blessing in a tea time service on Sunday afternoon.

Rev Esther Brazil of St Mary Magdalen Church read the blessing of the fair, praying that the centuries-old festival was a ‘source of recreation and innocent pleasure to old and young’.

Oxford City Rector, Rev Anthony Buckley, said: “I think it’s a great opportunity for the people of Oxford to gather together to enjoy themselves, to support the showmen – it’s great to have them back.

“It’s just marvellous as we head into a new season, autumn, that perhaps a little bit of normality is coming back.”

Several dozen well-wishers joined the service on Sunday afternoon together with the Oxford Corps Salvation Army Band.

Cllr Mark Lygo, Lord Mayor of Oxford, said of the fair: “I think we really needed this. I think most of us have struggled during the last couple of years during this pandemic.

“For me, personally, I’m Oxford born and bred, I’ve come most years and I remember coming with my parents. It’s a great opportunity for friends and family to come together.”

The showmen also welcomed the fair’s return. Setting up her stall opposite St John’s College, Louise Harris told the Oxford Mail: “It’s brilliant, it’s absolutely brilliant. It’s where we should be. I’ve only been coming here for about 33 years, since before I got married. My husband’s family has been coming since the end of the 1800s.”

The St Giles Fair opens tomorrow - find out more about it here or you can see a selection of photographs from the Oxford Mail archive.

Oxford Mail: Rev Anthony Buckley, right, at the St Giles Fair blessing

Rev Anthony Buckley, right, at the St Giles Fair blessing

Oxford Mail: The Salvation Army band at the St Giles Fair blessing

The Salvation Army band at the St Giles Fair blessing

Oxford Mail: Cllr Mark Lygo, Lord Mayor, and City Rector Rev Anthony Buckley at the St Giles Fair blessing

Cllr Mark Lygo, Lord Mayor, and City Rector Rev Anthony Buckley at the St Giles Fair blessing

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