Warwick District Council and Wilsons Amusements Ltd have jointly taken a decision to postpone this year’s Mop Fair in Warwick due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.
However, to honour the Charter in 2020, Wilsons Amusements Ltd plan to set up 2/3 small children’s rides and a food offering on the 17th October between 12pm and 6pm where the Charter will be read by the Mayor of Warwick. This is subject to WCC Public Health’s approval of the correct paperwork and plans, to ensure that measures are in place to maintain social distancing and good hygiene arrangements, as well as the Covid-19 cases being at an acceptable level (levels shown below).
Started as a hiring fair for local labourers and employers the Warwick Mop fair and runaway Mop have been held on consecutive Fridays and Saturdays in October for more than 700 years. For the event to take place a Mop Charter is signed between the Council and the Mop organisers every ten years, which is read aloud to mark the fair’s opening by the Mayor of Warwick supported by the Town Crier.
To keep this old tradition alive and in line with government guidelines Warwick District Council’s Events Team and Wilsons Amusements Ltd are finalising details for a charter reading to take place in the town centre later this month.