Traveller exhibition in Burgess Hill - Sussex

From the Mid Sussex Times

TRAVELLERS got lucky third time round when they staged their ‘A Romany Gypsy Traveller History exhibition and show’ in the sunshine at St John’s Park, Burgess Hill.

It was the first time in three attempts rain had not struck at their gathering.

The show should have been held at the Fairfield Fayre in Burgess Hill earlier this year but a soaked ground forced the cancellation.

Lisa Williams, one of the organisers, told the Middy at the park: “Last year we had nothing but rain for four hours and had to stay indoors so it’s nice for us today.”

Travellers stage the event to give people a truer picture of their life. The controversy of Channel 4 programme Big Fat Gypsy Wedding was referred to in a display of the Travellers’ magazine Travellers’ Times with its blunt headline in reply: “A Big Fat Mistake”.

An exhibition told how the term Gypsies first came because people thought the travellers were from Egypt and the word gradually got corrupted. The first travellers were in fact believed to have journied from India to Persia many centuries ago.

As early as 1530 James V of Scotland paid gypsies to dance before him at Holyrood House, and nearly 50 things Travellers did were listed including acrobats, ballad singers, wrestlers and conjurers.

Travellers who died in wars were remembered in a “Those Who Did Not Come Home” display including Samuel Brazil of the Rifle Brigade, who died in May 1918.

Entertainment on Friday included tap dancing by Riley Smith, 15, who featured in Travellers Got Talent on television. The Sussex Travellers’ Action Group organised the event, staged in and outside the cricket pavilion.