IT’S not fair. As a child I would grieve when Nicholls’ Fair left the town.

I lived at Saxon Way and could hear the exciting sounds from my bedroom - and wish I was still there.

No local people complained, maybe some tolerated it, knowing the fair would soon move to another town.

The fair was a draw for all the villages in the district and extra busses would be laid on.

In the past the fair was on the larger site to accommodate all of the attractions. They even had a big wheel.

But sadly Maldon District Council has shunted the fair to lesser sites causing it to be condensed on to the smaller sight near the Prom gates.

Now after 101 years of tradition the council has asked Marshall Nicholls to turn down the sound, with which he complied.

What ever happened to the traditional friendly welcome that Nicholls always received until recently?

In 1957, my dad, the late Dennis Fenn, was Mayor of Maldon.

Mr Nicholls, the proprietor of Nicholls’ Fair, invited Dad and I into his caravan and was most hospitable.

He and Dad talked for what seemed like ages.

How I wish I could remember just one segment of the conversation!

On a daily basis Dad would be in the Prom dog walking and listened to those who made their living there and would try and liaise if they had any problems.

Ask any local about the carnivals of the past and their faces light up as they recall the week’s events in the arena and long marquees, plus the swimming gala in the lake.

Then the grand procession would start linking the town for those unable to attend the Prom.

Sometimes swimmers would still be in the lake at dusk.

Queues would snake back from the kiosks and then, the grand finale, the spectacular, dazzling firework display on the Bath Wall.

And, yes, there were noisy ones too.

Janet Mayes, Wentworth Meadows, Maldon