Apple Horse Fair in Cumbria is billed as the single largest gathering of Gypsies, Roma and Travellers in Europe. It happens every year, and has an attendance of approximately 10,000.
This year, it is taking place Thursday 8th June until the 14th.
The Gypsy and Traveller attendees include British Romani, Irish Travellers, Scottish and Welsh Gypsy groups.
Travellers come from all over, including Merseyside.
Leigh-Marie Smith works with GRT charities across the country, but has recently been working with travellers from Liverpool. She said: “I’ve been to Appleby a few times, and it’s quite like a family gathering. But the Scouse travellers and Gypsies – the ones from [the] Merseyside, all camp at the bottom of the hill and it is very like a small community.” Smith herself is a Traveller, her mum and dad took her to Appleby Horse Fair when she was a child.
Billy Welch is the current organiser for the fair and Shera Rom, which in Romanesque means that he is not only the head of his own family, but generally speaks for the wider community.
His son, Johnson, said: “the Liverpool lot come every year, they’re a good bunch of lads. They nomally pull down towards the bottom of the hill. They’re good lads to have a pint with in the pub!”
Mersey Focus 