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Newlyn Male Choir has always been known as a "travelling" choir
with its members, even as early as the 1920s, crossing the Tamar for festivals
and competitions.
On Saturday, however, the choir will not be performing - or travelling.
Instead members will be at the helm of their major fund-raiser of the
year - the hugely popular Buccas' Fair on Newlyn Green. This year marks
the 20th anniversary of the Buccas' Fair and the event, which has been
built on year-on-year, promises to be bigger and better than ever. The
choir was established 83 years ago and the Buccas' Fair is an integral
part of its calendar.
Ironically though the first fair was organised as a one-off to raise
much-needed funds to help finance the choir's travel expenses.
Such was the success of this first venture that it established itself
as an annual event and is now regarded as a "must" not only
for Newlyn Buccas - those folk who originate from the Fradgan area - but
for residents of Mousehole and Penzance, too, as well as holidaymakers.
This year's event will be officially opened at 1.15pm by Gillian Dixon,
wife of Keith Dixon, the superintendent at Newlyn Mission, which has long
and close links with the choir.
However, Buccas' Fair gets under way earlier, at 11am, when one and all
will be out in force on Newlyn Green.
Newlyn Male Choir members are inevitably crossing their fingers for good
weather but can perhaps take heart from the fact that it has only rained
twice in the fair's entire history. The first time was two or three years
after it all began and the second time was 2003 when the Caledonian Pipe
Band were among the entertainers. And although some of the stallholders
did not turn up, the event went ahead all the same.
Entertainment is an integral part of Buccas' Fair, as is the famous Tea
Tent which is a legend in its own lifetime.
Providing the musical entertainment will be the award-winning Hammered
Steel Band and there will be a special children's fantasy show at 2.15pm.
The show, which will include audience participation, is entitled The
Fool, The Journey and The Magik Forest and will be presented by Linda
Cleary of Penzance-based Wildfire Productions.
There will be a variety of craft, trade and produce stalls, many manned
by choir members themselves, plus amusements and a bouncy castle.
Choir secretary Bryan Marshall said: "The Buccas' Fair is something
that Newlyn looks forward to each year and something which we actually
start planning a month after the last one has taken place."
article copyright © THE CORNISHMAN
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