SHAMMICK (COMBE MARTIN ) STRAWBERRY FAIR.

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Last Weekend While Sue and I were at the Caravan(North Devon) We visited the,I believe annual Combe Martin Strawberry fair.This fair apparently dates back quite a few years(I'm not sure how long) and I was told originates back to the days when old cargo boats traveled frequently around the N Devon coastline apparently a common route (in the summer months) was with coal and other wares from the Welsh ports to Combe, then returning with fresh Devon produce Fruit Veg and especially in their season lovely fresh shammick Strawberries ("Shammick" I'm told is an ancient name for Combe Martin)The fair takes place in a small side street adjacent to the beautiful little harbour and is blocked off to traffic.It consists of lots of little stalls selling local (very cheap) punnets of Strawberries + plants and local arts and crafts with Tombola and raffles and charity stalls all done by local people with a real community feel, all this was supported by a display from the Exmoor Morris dancers ,While we walked around we had hoped perhaps we might bump into Martin Stickland (of Combe martin.blogspot.com ) and sure enough we did, it was only a brief chat as he had family/friends with him but very welcome anyway. While there we bought two huge punnets of Strawberries for us and two for our friends,while sitting on a wall watching the world go by we devoured one of these, delicious they were too, my wife Sue just could'nt resist buying a strawberry and Marshmallow Kebab on a stick these were coated with liquid chocolate from a special little fountain(pictured). We also met and chatted with the town crier,he was a well travelled and interesting man.