Last month, the Gazette reported that the future of the annual Rothbury Street Fair was in doubt after long-time organisers, Coquetdale Round Table, announced that it no longer had the resources to stage the event.The group said that managing the fair had become ‘daunting’ for Round Table volunteers, due to dwindling member numbers and an over-reliance on retired members. The Tablers felt that it was time to hand over the organisation of the event – which takes place on Spring Bank Holiday Monday – to another party, prompting a search to find a new committee to save the fair from folding altogether.And now, a new team has come forward to save the event. Debbie Noble and Shelley Darby have stepped up to the plate and are helping to put together a fresh committee.And the pair have big ambitions for the future, with the aim of building on the success of previous street fairs.Debbie, who is a partner at the village’s Turks Head pub, said: “We wanted the street fair to carry on and we felt that it would be a real shame if the event no longer existed and Rothbury lost another one of its traditions. “So we decided to take it over and we a forming a committee at the moment. The Round Table has said that it will give us a hand this year and will help us set up and we will work closely with them.”Looking ahead to this year’s event – which takes place on Monday, May 29 – as well as future street fairs, Debbie added: “We want to continue and build on the success of previous years. “We want to make it different and we want to focus on rural, local, handmade and hand-produced crafts, produce and food stalls.“We want it to be an attractive event for all of the family and provide something for everybody and we want the money that comes in to go back into community groups.“We also want the local businesses to play an active role in it. The street fair attracts thousands of people each year and it is a great way of showcasing Rothbury.”To join the committee or to register an interest in having a stall at the event, send a message via the Rothbury Street Fair Facebook page.
