Friday 31st October 2014

Chesterfield is proud of its market and yesterday, stallholders stepped back in time, donning 'Forties Finery' as the town launched its annual Chesterfield Markets Festival.



Thousands packed into town and entered into the spirit of things, with residents, visitors and re enactors selling forties themed goods - and goodies - and entertaining guests.

The Festival, organised by Chesterfield Borough Council, in conjunction with Chesterfield Market Traders, will evolve over the next three days and will feature a children's market, and cupcake decorating sessions in the Market Hall today (Friday) and Chesterfield Food and Drink Fair (also in the Market Hall) on Saturday.

Caroline Steel, (left), a regular face on Thursday's Flea Market and a member of the Market Traders Consortium told The Chesterfield Post that she was delighted with the turnout (and the weather!) saying, "The atmosphere is absolutely fantastic.

"There are a lot of people and customers dressed up and it makes town so wonderful. We have shire horses and cars and it's nice to see town buzzing!

"It's our 4th year of doing it and it's working well. We have Chesterfield College involved this year with their artwork and the amount of customers dressed up is superb! There's a real buzzing atmosphere and it's one we need to bring to town more often!

"We need to bring more people into town and this is our market festival - the idea Beverley and I came up with, to do a 40's market on a Thursday - has grown and grown from a little acorn into something quite big. There are people from all over and town it's really busy. It's what we need. A little more of this goes a long way to bringing people into town! I have my curlers in and I look like my mother!"



The annual Bargain Hunt was also held, with this year's guest auctioneers, James Lewis and Eric Knowles joining teams headed by the Mayor and Mayoress (above), to purchase goods from the market traders and then auction them off for profit in New Square. Each team was given £100 and bought a variety of items, including a boot (The Mayor) and a fake bloodied leg and wig (The Mayoress).

In a lively auction, (above), all the goods were auctioned off and both sides made a healthy profit which will go into the Mayor's Appeal - raising money for his chosen charities.



Afterwards, both experts also spoke with The Chesterfield Post and professed themselves delighted with how the day had gone with Eric saying, "For me it's been an education! I've never been. I am going to make sure I'm here on Thursdays as I thought there were some very interesting buys out there!

"When I come back the next time, I want the Mayor with me as he could haggle better than anyone else I've worked with on the telly! He'd make Anita Manning look like Mary Poppins! Everyone went away with a bargain!

"They say it gets friendlier the further you get from London and when it comes to the friendly factor, Chesterfield is right up there!"

James, who lives nearby, told us, "I'm a regular and I know there are things to be had here on a Thursday. We both made a profit - about £500 I think, so it just shows - if we do that in that in the same place as we found it then there are bargains to be had!

"I found it easier buying than last year but harder selling - but everything went and everybody had a go. Chesterfield is not a wealthy town and the great thing is that people spent what they had - everyone did their bit!

"Markets are dying all over the country and to come here and see it bustling with every single stand taken is something you don't see anywhere else in the country - it's fantastic!"

Asked what they are up to at the moment, Eric confirmed he has a new book on Art Deco out (though I don't think he mentioned it much during the auction!!) and said he will be on our screens with 'Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is' and the Antiques Roadshow, whilst James will continue with his TV career on 'Flog It' and a new series which begins on Sunday and reflects on 'Treasures Of The Sikh Nation'.He is also heavily involved with The Bamford Auctions which take place every day.

Holly Fisher, promotion and events officer, said she was proud of how the town had responded to the day, "It's absolutely fantastic, there's been a brilliant turnout for the market and we've not been able to move for the Bargain Hunt. It's been brilliant weather and hopefully it will carry on for the events for the next few days.

"The Market Festival is now tradition - it's enjoyed by everyone, on both sides and we will keep doing it as it's so enjoyed. It brings everyone in to the town and it's worth it. It's a fantastic market and something to be celebrated."

Members of the public had been asked to provide knitted or crocheted squares to decorate the Market place benches and lampposts and Holly said it had been a huge success, "The 'yarn bombing' has taken off, it's been fantastic. Lots of donations have kept coming, they are really nice though I don't know if the benches are any warmer! Lamposts are looking cuddlier too, so we'll keep that one going!"

The day has been a huge collaboration between the council, traders and the community - a fact which Holly acknowledged, "It's harder to say who's not wanted to join in with this! It's a lot of hard work but we're surrounded by a good team who want to help us. It's rewarding to see it today."

Highlights of the Chesterfield Market Festival include:

• Children's market and cupcake decorating in the Market Hall
  on Friday 31st October.
  
  
• Chesterfield food and drink fair in the Market Hall with a spooky cake competition on Saturday 1st November.

For a full guide, visit the Chesterfield Market Festival website at www.chesterfieldfestival.co.uk

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