In the market for a party in Swindon (From Swindon Advertiser)
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Swindon town centre market celebrates 30 years of trading
12:20pm Tuesday 15th January 2013 in News
HAPPY BIRTHDAY: Swindon Country Market is celebrating 30th year of trading. Pictured Mayor Mick Bray, Ruth Bray, Brenda Knott, Fred Ferris, Gill Grant and Linda Shand Picture: THOMAS KELSEY
A TOWN centre country market had cause for celebration last week as it marked 30 years of trading.
The Swindon Country Market, based at St Aldhelm’s Church, Edgware Road, welcomes anyone who wishes to join it selling their own products, from jams, cakes and plants to vegetables and various arts and crafts.
To mark the special occasion, a special cake emblazoned with the number 30 was made, while town crier Fred Ferris and Swindon town mayor Mick Bray attended for the morning.
The market is particularly popular amongst the retired people in the town, providing them with an outlet for their talents including knitting and woodwork.
The Country Markets organisation has roots going back to 1919, when the Agricultural Organisation Society (now DEFRA) sponsored the setting up of co-operative markets to sell surplus produce.
There are more than 350 in England, Wales and the Channel Islands.
Gill Grant, the Swindon market manager, said: “People’s ideas change, people go on diets and change their ideas about foods and things like that, but we still carry on the traditions of homemade crafts and home cooked food.
“I’ve been involved since the beginning when we were based at the Wyvern theatre, then we tried somewhere else but we’ve been at St Aldhelm’s Hall for 15 years.”
The market takes place every Friday morning.
