Organiser cancels this year's Melton Country Fair

Leicestershire Food Links, the organisers of the Melton Country Fair for the last seven years, are unable to help this year having decided to re-focus on food education work in the county for the foreseeable future.

Organiser Sallie Hooper added there had also been difficulties trying to find additional funding and that she has also been unwell this year meaning the country fair has had to be cancelled.

She said: “It has been an incredibly difficult decision but I’ve had to admit defeat this year. I love the event, organising it and seeing people benefit from it. We have lots of charities which raise money through the country fair, including the swimming club who usually raise around £1,000 from the duck race they hold at the event.

“I’ve had coach companies already asking if this year’s event is going ahead, visitors asking about parking and queries from traders which makes it more disappointing.

“I wouldn’t want the Melton Country Fair to leave the calendar. We are going ahead with it next year and can now start planning for it. Hopefully we will be able to get the funding in place for it and next year it will be back to normal.”

Sallie said she is looking for a new sponsor of the country fair adding that, for the whole of the seven years Leicestershire Food Links has run the event, money has been received from Samworth Brothers and Mars who she said have been ‘really supportive’.

Reacting to Sallie’s news on the Melton Country Fair’s Facebook page, Danielle Holmes wrote: “If anything changes and you want to try for it to go ahead and need help to do it, let us know.

“The country fair is fantastic. I’m sure people would help out if that was possible and what you wanted. If not, here’s to next year! x”

And Jemma Wright said: “Although I no longer live in Melton, I regularly travelled from North Wales and my best friend from South Wales for the event! Reminds me of how the Melton Show was when I was younger! Good luck and hope things go smoothly for you and fingers crossed for next year!”

Anyone who would like to get involved in next year’s Melton Country Fair can email Sallie at [email protected] or send a message via the Melton Mowbray Country Fair Facebook page. Alternatively, if you’d like to help, you can email Leicestershire Food Links at [email protected]