Our Guild & May Fair Story - 22nd to 25th May
Because of the town’s unique history, the Guild of Freemen of Berwick-upon-Tweed has the distinction of being a member of both the Court of Deans of Guildry of Scotland and of the Freemen of England and Wales. During 2015, The Freemen of Berwick hosted the Annual General Meetings of each of these organisations.
Berwick May Fair has been a regular feature of the town’s calendar since the right to hold an annual fair was granted in charters given to the Guild by monarchs in the Middle Ages.
For the Berwick 900 Festival, the 2015 May Fair street markets combined with Berwick Rotary Club’s Party on The Parade to provide a range of attractions throughout the Spring Bank Holiday weekend.
The programme also featured Berwick’s first Mayor’s Parade, a colourful procession celebrating themes from Berwick’s history and crafts and trades through the ages. During the day, there were performances in front of the Town Hall by pipe bands and highland dancers from both sides of the Border. The programme featured the Berwick Royal British Legion Pipe Band, Duns Pipe Band, Morpeth Pipe Band and Highland Dancers, and the Nancy Steele Dancers.
