I FEEL I must respond to the letter from Grant and Gail Reed, recent newcomers to the town, (Letters, October 20) and their disparaging comments regarding Goose Fair. The event, they suggest, ?did not appear to have any relevance to the origins of the fair?. As the fair has evolved from a 16th century Michaelmas trading fair it is hardly surprising that is has changed somewhat from the days of strolling players , the exhibiting of freaks, cudgel fighting, bare knuckle boxing and bull baiting, all very popular at that time . The pleasure fair has developed from the advent of steam and the innovation of moving pictures to thrills popular for over 50 years in the form of dodgem cars and big wheel, along with other traditions dating from the 19th century, such as shooting galleries and throwing games. Many of the traditions of the fair do remain with the sale of geese and the other livestock auctions. In fact, in 2004 over 100 geese were sold, a tradition that had almost completely died out by the 1920s. This along with a lively stall market in the pannier and a chance to buy garden bulbs among a plethora of other commodities, ranging from cut-price china to hand-crafted ornamental metal work in the street market gives the event its unique atmosphere. While the Reeds may ?find it hard to believe the car park was closed for a whole week just to house a funfair?, consider the entertainment this provides for the youth of the town and the benevolent action of the showmen in entertaining people with special needs on Thursday afternoon and free rides to schoolchildren on Tuesday evening, as well as paying a hefty commercial rent that compensates for the loss of parking revenue. The event gives a nice boost to the town?s B&B, café, takeaway and pub economy when the main tourist season is over. Goose Fair is one of the traditions of Tavistock that reminds us of the town?s close links to the land in the not so distant past, and enhances the rich and diverse range of amenities that make Tavistock such a pleasant place to visit, live or work. Guy Belshaw Linden Grove Taunton