A STORY in the Times (Goose Fair under fire from traders, October 28) suggested a Mr Barry Wright would like an 800-year-old tradition for this town withdrawn.

My son has worked with the showmen Anderton and Rowlands, since leaving school on his 16th birthday and he has never been in any trouble with the police and his appearance is immaculate when he?s working the rides, but like any other outdoor worker he can get quite dirty doing other jobs.

Fair people make use of the town?s shops, pubs and supermarkets. If Mr Wright does not like sticky fingered children who can at least become unruly and bored while out shopping with their parents then perhaps he should put signs in his shop windows as this sort of thing can happen any time of the year, not just when the fair is here. As for attracting the wrong sort of people, the wrong kind of people can also be here all year long.

Nobody is saying that the traders do not lose some of their profits for that one day, but the showmen have to make a living for themselves and their families and they do employ others to work with them. If they were suddenly to become unemployed there might be something to moan about, but as they are working they do not rely on other people?s taxes.

Mrs Tracey Grylls

Draper Terrace, Chapel Street, Tavistock