HISTORY SHARE: YE OLDE BRITISH FÊTES

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My father played the bagpipes, and as a member of the Oxford Caledonian Pipe Band, often performed during fêtes. Like our Sassenach mother, my brothers and I were not overly enthusiastic about bagpipes, but I did love fêtes and accompanied him to various ones in Berkshire & Oxfordshire, where he’d slip me half a crown for the fish pond, coconut shy, swing boats, pony rides (one reared on me, but luckily it wasn’t my first time on an equine), and various other attractions. Back then, (the 1960s) half a crown went quite a long way, and I considered having to listen to the band tuning up in the parking lot a small price to pay for an afternoon’s enjoyment.

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Tags: Berkshire, British traditions, coconut shys, cream teas, fêtes, fish ponds, half crowns, Oxford Caledonian Pipe Band, Oxfordshire, pony rides, summer activities, swing boats, tombolas