WITH the sort of timing which has been exceptionally rare this summer, the sun burst through the clouds and lit Tavistock's Goose Fair with a healthy glow yesterday (Wednesday).
From early in the morning the crowds poured into the town, eager to experience the unique atmosphere of the centuries-old fair.
Throughout the town centre, Market Road and Plymouth Road, bargain hunters and browsers perused the stalls. This year, alongside the usual sellers of towels and toys, there were a good selection of craft stalls and even 'proper' food stalls, selling tempting baked pies and fresh bacon.
Even some of the music was varied, as a folk fiddler battled above the beat of disco dance sounds in Bedford Square.
Town clerk Roger Howard said: 'We constantly try to fill the space with a good mixture of stalls. We don't want just fast food and I think this year, the stalls seem a lot better — I hope it's going to be successful and that people will like what's on offer.
'The question is are people actually spending anything this year? It's too early to say yet, but certainly, there are loads of people here this year.'
For anyone looking for Christmas presents, there was certainly lots to choose from.
There were plenty of waxed jackets and coats — but green wellies? So passé — this year, you could get anything from cheetah and zebra print to combat and cargo.
There was a healthy queue of customers for the latest in fashion foundation wear outside the bus station — but just close by, the gentleman selling 'designer' perfume appeared to be talking to himself — and a bemused fair-goer whose spaniel preferred the scent of doughnuts to Dior.
By lunchtime, the fair was packed out, promising a long and tiring day for those who work the rides and the stalls and who pound the streets to make sure it runs, as always, like clockwork.