THOSE offended by the sight of part of the May Fair on the cathedral green may be interested to know that all fairs took place within the precincts of the local church until the late 13th century.

Only then did they move out into the streets, their presence helping shape the layout of most town centres. Open spaces such as High Town are due entirely to the requirements of the weekly markets and annual fairs.

Hereford May Fair will be 900 years old in 2021 and it is tempting to suggest it has a greater claim to a place in the town centre than a chain store whose history by comparison is somewhat slight. The demand by the newly-arrived manager of Marks & Spencer that the fair be moved out the centre, is arrogant in the extreme and typical of some large retailers who seem to think they should have everything their own way 365 days a year.

Perhaps he was expressing a personal point of view, motivated by the prospect of a bonus for hitting his sales target. However, his company's public relations department might have preferred him to have shown more tolerance. For all he knows, his statement may have offended many in Hereford who cherish their heritage, and who may now be giving his store a miss. He might find (before he moves on to his next store) that live and let live is a wiser policy to follow...

Graham Downie, Chairman, The Fairground Association of Great Britain, Crooks Lane, Studley, Warks.