EARLY in the morning, Jenny Hibbert MPAGB set out for an overnight drive from her home in Wales to Appleby in Cumbria to visit the annual Horse Fair.

This event which has taken place every year since 1685 is the largest Gypsy horse market in the country.

Thousands of people attend: both from the Gypsy community and from the general public who want to watch and take photographs.

Jenny’s talk started with the arrival of the Gypsies in brightly decorated caravans.

On arrival in Appleby they must climb the steep “Gallows” hill to the ground where the fair will take place.

Since the object of the fair is to sell horses, they must be washed in the local river (at the bottom of the hill) this has the effect of all the shops in Appleby selling out of Fairy liquid.

This is one of the few occasions when the children of the Gypsy community can play freely.

They are familiar with the horses and ride them through the river, sometimes going completely under water.

The older young men who wish to show off to the girls will try racing which involves a two wheeled wagon driven at high speed with little or no consideration for the safety of the driver, the horse or the onlookers.

She appears to have captured the confidence of the Gypsy community who, at least, tolerated her presence as she took candid photographs of the attendees and their activities.