Our Story
Thurlow Fayre started in 1985, shortly after the Sports’ Pavilion was built in 1983 to replace a very old cricket hut. There had always been a Thurlow fete but the idea of a Thurlow Fayre was that of Sir John Mowbray, the agent for Thurlow Estate, who saw the potential of a Fayre raising funds for the benefit of the Thurlows and the wider community.
It was decided to incorporate the fete into the Fayre which would take place on the first Sunday of September to coincide with the end of the cricket season and to herald in the start of the football season.
The Fayre has changed significantly over the years from the small fete with local residents setting up their own craft and produce stands to a much bigger event with main ring attractions throughout the day as well as craft, produce and food stalls sited along one side of the main ring and sideshow entertainment – the bouncy castle, animal petting, pony rides and dog agility classes – on the other side of the main ring.
Sponsorship for these events has increased dramatically as local businesses see this as a unique opportunity to raise their profile whilst enabling the Fayre to host exciting and unusual events.
The Fayre has taken place every year since apart from 2008 when the heavens opened. It was biblical. During Covid the Fayre could not take place in 2020 and 2021 but has since come back with great gusto to delight and entertain the young and old, families from the area as well as from further afield.
The profit goes to good causes in the village providing leisure activities such as Thurlow Senior Football Club, Thurlow Tennis Club, Thurlow WI, the Village Hall, the Village Link and also benefiting local charities like St Nicholas Hospice, the Arthur Rank Hospice, West Suffolk Hospital Wish, Shotokan Karate and the 2nd Haverhill Girl Guides to name but a few.
Well over 2500 people enjoy Thurlow Fayre each year with a local committee doing the organisation. There is always room for more volunteers to bring in fresh ideas!
It was decided to incorporate the fete into the Fayre which would take place on the first Sunday of September to coincide with the end of the cricket season and to herald in the start of the football season.
The Fayre has changed significantly over the years from the small fete with local residents setting up their own craft and produce stands to a much bigger event with main ring attractions throughout the day as well as craft, produce and food stalls sited along one side of the main ring and sideshow entertainment – the bouncy castle, animal petting, pony rides and dog agility classes – on the other side of the main ring.
Sponsorship for these events has increased dramatically as local businesses see this as a unique opportunity to raise their profile whilst enabling the Fayre to host exciting and unusual events.
The Fayre has taken place every year since apart from 2008 when the heavens opened. It was biblical. During Covid the Fayre could not take place in 2020 and 2021 but has since come back with great gusto to delight and entertain the young and old, families from the area as well as from further afield.
The profit goes to good causes in the village providing leisure activities such as Thurlow Senior Football Club, Thurlow Tennis Club, Thurlow WI, the Village Hall, the Village Link and also benefiting local charities like St Nicholas Hospice, the Arthur Rank Hospice, West Suffolk Hospital Wish, Shotokan Karate and the 2nd Haverhill Girl Guides to name but a few.
Well over 2500 people enjoy Thurlow Fayre each year with a local committee doing the organisation. There is always room for more volunteers to bring in fresh ideas!
