May bank holiday cycle ride to Reach village fair 2019

A cycling charity is encouraging people to join them on a ride from the city centre to a village fair on bank holiday Monday.

CamCycle will be leaving the Guildhall at 10am on May 6 to make the 29-mile round trip to Britain’s oldest fair at Reach village.

They will be guiding other cyclists on the trip. Cycle leader Roxanne De Beaux says: “We do this every years and it is always a lovely day. Although it is a long ride we take it very slowly –sometimes we are even overtaken by joggers!”

They plan to arrive at the fair in time to see the traditional penny throwing ceremony by the mayor and spend three hours at the event.

In 1201 King John granted a charter for the holding of a fair in Reach and it has taken place ever since, year by year, through the good times and the not so good times.

It was originally to be held on Rogation Monday but has since been changed to the early May Bank Holiday so Reach Fair 2019 will be held on Monday, May 6 - starting at midday and finishing at 5.00pm.

There will be maypole dancing from local schools, craft stalls, food and drink and a funfair.

According to original custom, it is opened by the mayor of Cambridge accompanied by the Aldermen in full regalia and penny coins are thrown to visitors in the crowd.