Nostalgia: Hopeful James waits for a pony

Retired Barford dairy farmers Peter and Ruth Wheildon thought they might trigger a few memories with this 1955 photograph of their son James at the fair, which was once held every November.

Unlike the 700-year-old Warwick Mop, staged last month, the horse trading tradition has not survived in the town.

But then nor has the Mop in its original guise which was to hire local workers for the year. Most would be paid a small sum in advance to enjoy the attractions of the hiring fair which started at the end of harvest and moved from Warwick, to Stratford and Banbury.

Even today the so-called ‘Runaway Mop’ returns a week later based on long-past experiences of how some of the new ‘hirelings’ didn’t like the work and escaped back to their own town.

In this picture three-year-old James Wheildon is pictured holding the hand of his mum Ruth, while his grandfather, Sydney Wheildon. considers buying him the Welsh pony being offered for sale.

It’s a tense moment as Sydney, of Gaydon Hill Farm, smokes a cigarette and leans on his stick as he weighs up the pros and cons of the young colt standing before them.

Ruth holds her breath and clutches her son’s hand.

Peter, now aged 89, remembers he was at home looking after James’ baby sister, Julia, who would also be taught to ride if the sale is agreed.

Peter grew up on the Gaydon farm before marrying Ruth and going on to spend 25 years farming in neighbouring Barford where they milked a herd of short-horn dairy cows.

The couple now live in Cornwall but are keen to keep in touch with local events through friends and family.

Ruth said: “Those ponies had only just been rounded up on the Welsh hillside and brought to Warwick for the fair.

“I can’t remember exactly how much my father-in-law paid but I do remember the sale went ahead and when we took the little colt back home he was called Starlight.”