Shipston Wool Fair a highlight at town's Woolly Weekend

The weekend was woolly, but not so wild at Shipston Wool Fair on bank holiday Monday.
Shipstons Retained firefighters crew  Jason Hall, Will Seys, Darryl Noyce & Chris Townsend with Shipston Rotary volunteer. NNL-160531-102224001Shipstons Retained firefighters crew  Jason Hall, Will Seys, Darryl Noyce & Chris Townsend with Shipston Rotary volunteer. NNL-160531-102224001
Shipstons Retained firefighters crew Jason Hall, Will Seys, Darryl Noyce & Chris Townsend with Shipston Rotary volunteer. NNL-160531-102224001

The event included music on the main stage from Shipston Town Band, Ben Bryan, Shipston High School Jazz Band and the Porter Family.

There were also Meet the Sheep sessions managed by Ed Noble with rare breed sheep on display including Leicester Longwool, Cotswold, Portland and Wensleydale.

Sheep shearers James Scorer and James Tuffen demonstrated to the crowds how to shear sheep while the Stratford-upon-Avon Guild of spinners, weavers and dyers were on hand with Penny Ingles and Jane Lucas demonstrating how to spin with historic weaving machines.

Sheep shearer James Tuffen demonstrated how to shear a range of sheep at the Shipston Wool Fair. Pictured with a Cotswold sheep. NNL-160531-102210001Sheep shearer James Tuffen demonstrated how to shear a range of sheep at the Shipston Wool Fair. Pictured with a Cotswold sheep. NNL-160531-102210001
Sheep shearer James Tuffen demonstrated how to shear a range of sheep at the Shipston Wool Fair. Pictured with a Cotswold sheep. NNL-160531-102210001

An historic hand operated organ entertained visitors outside Katherine House Hospice, demonstrated by Roy and Grace Tanner and there were plenty of wool themed stalls.

The woolly weekend also included Totally Locally Shipston Arts and Crafts Market and Smooth Weave, an evening of French jazz hosted by Rev Andrew Coleby and St Edmund’s Church in Shipston.

Next year’s Wool Fair will be held on May 29.

Pictures taken by Chris Roberts/Wider View Photo PR.