Crime & Safety
‘Tearful’ traders leave early from Jeremy Clarkson festival
The former Top Gear host, who lives in Oxfordshire where his hit series Clarkson’s Farm is filmed, was leading a new countryside festival this weekend.
Held over the bank holiday weekend at Stoneleigh Park in Warwickshire, The Great British Farm-Fest spanned three days.
The event had been promoted as a celebration of farmers’ skills and produce, mixing “the traditional joy of a large country fair with the excitement and energy of a modern music festival”.
READ MORE: Fans rally behind Jeremy Clarkson ahead of King Charles decision
Adult tickets were priced at £35 for a half-day and £60 for full-day entry, with organisers saying 12 arenas had been set up for talks and displays.
These featured Mr Clarkson and fellow Clarkson’s Farm star Kaleb Cooper, alongside live music from acts such as Blur’s Alex James and Sophie Ellis-Bextor.
Reports suggested around 20,000 people attended on Saturday, with an estimated 55,000 visitors expected over the whole weekend and more than 400 traders signed up to the event.
However, several stallholders said trading had been so poor that they decided to pack up early, sharing their frustrations in emotional social media posts, with some “struggling to hold back tears” as reported by Gloucestershire Live.
Korrine Pallas, who runs pet product firm Phoenix Equestrian and Pet Supplies, told followers that Friday had been “the worst day’s trading we have ever had”.
READ MORE: Supermarket giant strikes new exclusive deal with Jeremy Clarkson
In a TikTok video she said: “It has been darn right awful at Farm-Fest.
“When I say it’s not worth getting out of bed for, it’s an understatement.
“It has been horrific, and I know everyone else is feeling the same and is in the same boat as us.”
In a later update, close to tears, she added: “It has been catastrophic for us, and when you are already a small family business in hard times it is heart-wrenching.”
She said they were “a few grand down” and claimed it would cost £400 to attend on Sunday “and I haven’t even come near that in the last couple of days”.
READ MORE: Giant broccoli tells Jeremy Clarkson ‘bite me’ while storming festival
Another trader, Emma Hadley, co-founder of pet brand Pops and Coco, also criticised the event in a TikTok clip, saying: “There have been a lot of traders who have gone home – lots of traders left last night, particularly dog traders.
“I would say 90 per cent of traders across the whole showground, whatever they are selling, have either made a loss and they haven’t made their costs back, or they are only just making some money now.”
Viral baked potato salesman Spudman, AKA Ben Newman, also took to social media to speak about trading at the festival but said: “Farm-Fest absolutely smashed it out of the park.”
In a statement to the Daily Mail, a spokesman for The Great British Farm-Fest said: “We have been working closely with traders at The Great British Farm-Fest to provide support during our inaugural weekend.
“We are surprised that a handful of exhibitors, out of the 400 who attended, left the show within a few hours of the first day without experiencing an event that has attracted over 50,000 visitors.”
This newspaper has approached the festival organisers for further comment.
Officers set up a cordon outside the lavatories close to the Banbury Cross at around 8.20am on Saturday (May 23).
Detectives are treating the death as “unexplained” right now, and the woman has yet to be identified.
Thames Valley Police is asking anybody who knows anything to get in touch with them.
READ MORE: Met Office issues warning as ‘historic’ heatwave hits the UK
A Thames Valley Police spokeswoman on Saturday said: “At around 8.20am this morning (23/5), we were made aware of an unexpected death in Banbury.
“Officers attended the public toilets on West Bar Street, close to the Banbury Cross, and sadly found the body of a woman.
“We are still in the initial stages of this investigation, and the woman has not yet been identified.
“If anyone has any information regarding this unexplained death, please make contact with us on 101 quoting reference 43260255904.”
A 16-metre neo-Gothic monument, the Banbury Cross inspired the nursery rhyme “Ride a cock-horse to Banbury Cross”.
The current cross was built in 1859 to celebrate the wedding of Queen Victoria’s eldest daughter.
Darren will walk 10 miles blindfolded across Oxfordshire alongside his husband Andreas, who is blind, as part of MyVision Oxfordshire’s Walk Oxford event to raise funds for the sight loss charity.
Darren said: “I want to get even a small glimpse into my husband’s daily reality.
“He’s blind, and although I’m with him every day, I know there’s a world of difference between watching him navigate life and actually experiencing it myself.
“By walking 10 miles under a blindfold, I’m putting myself in his shoes – and the shoes of so many others – to understand the focus and trust it really takes to get around.”
Andreas, who works for MyVision Oxfordshire, said the walk is about showing that sight loss does not have to be a limitation in life.
He said: “I know firsthand how isolating it can feel, and how much of a difference it makes when someone is there to help you find your footing.
“10 miles feels like a small thing to do for a charity that means so much to me, and for every person out there facing sight loss who just needs to know they don’t have to face it alone.”
All funds raised will support MyVision Oxfordshire’s services, including assistive technology training and ‘Green Walks’ nature outings for people with sight loss.
Members of the public are encouraged to join or donate to the Walk Oxford challenge.
In January, it was announced that the cook, who lives in Moreton-in-Marsh just over the Oxfordshire border, would bow out of the Channel 4 show after nine series and judging more than 400 challenges.
The 86-year-old has been a judge on the popular baking show alongside Paul Hollywood since 2017, when the series moved from the BBC to Channel 4, replacing Henley resident Dame Mary Berry.
READ MORE: Mary Berry finds ‘peace’ after ‘joy’ at retirement home
It was then announced on Monday, January 26, that Oxford University graduate Nigella Lawson will replace her as the judge on the Bake Off.
Now, Dame Prue has shared details about a costly career setback, while in conversation with Heat Magazine.
“People think I’ve had nothing but success because I’m very quick to tell them about the wins, but I don’t tell them about the failures,” she said.
READ MORE: Met Office issue warning as ‘historic’ heatwave hits the UK
“I once got a contract to do all the catering in Kensington Gardens and Hyde Park. I had this idea that people would love to have some smoked salmon and a glass of Chardonnay.
“At the time, the public were into the slimy burgers from a van and horrible coffee in plastic cups – they didn’t want decent food.
“I lost a lot of money. I have had failures, but I’m glad to see I’ve had more successes.”
-
Crime & Safety4 weeks agoYoung farmers club hosts fun farm competitions in Bicester
-
Crime & Safety4 weeks agoMajor UK firm collapses in administration with nearly 700 jobs at risk
-
Oxford united FC4 weeks agoOxford United chairman statement to fans after relegation
-
Crime & Safety4 weeks agoChinese takeaway forced into 'bitter' closure after 'hatred and resentment'
-
UK News4 weeks agoWoman murdered sister and took her Rolex watch
-
Crime & Safety2 weeks agoMan arrested in connection with rape in Oxfordshire town
-
Crime & Safety2 weeks agoBanbury woman jailed after lying to police about kidnapped children
-
Crime & Safety4 weeks agoOxfordshire father ‘bitten’ by man who approached his daughter