Sometimes the weather has the final say — and for Lucy Lowe, organiser of Bideford Fair, a forecast of strong winds has forced a difficult last-minute decision to postpone the event despite months of planning and preparation.
The fair has been postponed after weather forecasts changed significantly during the week, with conditions initially appearing to improve before deteriorating sharply in the final 24 hours.
By Thursday evening, weather models were consistently predicting wind gusts of up to 45mph throughout Saturday, prompting concerns about safety at the outdoor event.
Lucy said: “While rain is something most outdoor events can work around, strong winds present a very different challenge. Gazebos, signage, displays and equipment can quickly become safety hazards in these conditions, putting traders, volunteers and visitors at risk.”
Following a meeting on Thursday evening, organisers decided to postpone the event.
Lucy said: “It is not a decision we have taken lightly.”
She highlighted the extensive work that had gone into preparing for the fair, including months of planning, risk assessments, bookings, marketing, logistics and coordination.
Traders had prepared stock, volunteers had committed their time and many visitors had already made plans to attend.
Lucy said postponing an event involved far more than selecting another date, with traders, suppliers, local media outlets and visitors all needing to be informed at short notice.
She added: “We know many people will be disappointed. We are disappointed too.”
The statement said the event was intended to bring people together, support local businesses and create opportunities for the community to connect, making the disruption caused by the weather particularly frustrating.
However, Lucy stressed that safety had to remain the priority.
She said: “While nobody can control the weather, we can control the decisions we make in response to it. We firmly believe that postponing the event is the right decision and the responsible one.”
The fair is now expected to take place on Saturday, August 8, with organisers reporting positive responses from traders keen to attend on the revised date.
Lucy thanked supporters for their patience and understanding during what she described as a challenging few days.
She added: “The messages of encouragement we have received have reminded us exactly why these events are so important.”
Looking ahead to the rescheduled event, she said organisers were looking forward to welcoming visitors, traders and the wider community in August.
She concluded: “Sometimes the weather wins. This time, we’ll simply come back stronger in August.”
