Witney Fair Trade Market - Press Release

Photo: Barry Clack oxfordpictures.com

Alex James, the bass guitarist from Blur, was the celebrity guest at Witney's Fair Trade Market on Saturday March 15th in the Langdale Hall. He spoke about how impressed he was by the huge variety of beautiful goods on sale from all over the world and mentioned how important it is that we support producers in developing countries. He is looking forward to soon soon visiting Ouagadougou in Burkina Faso (West Africa) to see conditions there with Christian Aid.

Alex was presented with Faitrade roses from Sainsbury's for his wife, and Fairtrade beer and cakes from local businesses Wychwood Brewery and Fabulous Bakin' Boys respectively.
He presented prizes to the winners of the art competition and the winning school, Clanfield primary, was given an inflatable Fairtrade banana.

Many hundreds of people visited the market, spending in excess of £4,300 on fair trade items. Also the petition to try to make Witney a Fairtrade town was available to sign and now totals over 2100 signatures.

WAFTAG coordinator, Wendy Maddison said"We are thrilled by the interest in fair trade shown in the town. By having Alex here we hope we have shown that buying Fairtrade is cool as well as being the right thing to do".

To view pictures of the day see here or here or the full set! See also reports in Witney Gazette and Oxford Mail.

For the list of 2008 stallholders, click here.