History and pageantry came together once again for the 813th opening of annual King’s Lynn Fair known as the ‘Mart’. Traditionally opened on St Valentine’s Day, the fair is the first of the year in the showman’s calendar and is attended by civic dignitaries from across the Anglia region.
Six Norfolk Mayors were joined by Mayors from Cambridgeshire and Lincolnshire, the MP for West Norfolk, the High Sheriff of the County, Honorary Aldermen of the Borough, the Bishop of Lynn and other clergy for the traditional reading of the charter granted by King John in 1204 allowing the town to hold the annual fair.
Proud to be a part of King’s Lynn’s continuing history, Mayor’s Cadets Corporal Edward Dew of the town’s 42F Squadron Air Cadets and Able Cadet Hannah Norwood of T S Vancouver Sea Cadets accompanied King’s Lynn & West Norfolk Borough Mayor, Councillor David Whitby as the civic procession made its way from the Town Hall to the Tuesday Market Place. Here from the steps of the dodgems the charter was read out and the fair was blessed before being declared open by the ringing of the ‘Mart bell’.
The formalities then gave way to ‘Mayoral mayhem’ as the red robed dignitaries took to the dodgem cars followed by a wander around the fair. Cadet Corporal Dew said “This has been a fun duty, we got to have a go on some of the rides”.