Settle fair is saved by football club (From The Westmorland Gazette)

Fair to be held at Settle FC site

9:30am Saturday 27th August 2011 in Settle news

A football club has stepped into the breach to save the 100-year-old Settle Fair.

Settle Town Council called time on the fair being held in the market place this year, much to the shock of organiser Spencer Vernon.

Councillors decided last year that he could no longer use the market place where it had been held for decades.

Mr Vernon, the third generation to run the fair, said the event was facing the axe when Roger Worthington of Settle FC came to the rescue.

“He has said we can use the football ground. Not the pitches, but the area around and we are so grateful to him,” said Mr Vernon.

He was now hoping the people of Settle would continue to support the event with the same enthusiasm as they had in the past.

“It’s not the ideal place – it would have been nice to have kept it in the traditional place – and, of course, next year hangs in the balance, so it needs to be a success.

“I really enjoy coming to Settle. It is a great place and so are the people. We go to places like Liverpool and Manchester, but coming here is like a holiday.”

The fair was due to take place over ten days from Friday, September 9, to Sunday, September 18.

Mr Worthington, of Settle FC, said: “Mr Vernon is a grand bloke and we wanted to help him out. He has parked his vehicles in our grounds in the past and he has been very good.

“When he approached us, he sounded desperate, so we decided to help him out.

“Dare I say it, I’m disappointed by the way the town council has behaved.”

He said Mr Vernon had also agreed to put cash into the club which was fundraising to replace the changing rooms.