Yesterday’s Transition Chipping Norton 2012 Autumn Fair opened to gentle autumnal sunshine, which stayed all day, making for a relaxed event for traders and visitors alike.

The Town Hall was packed with specialist stalls, ranging from wine and cheese to ceramics and animal illustrations. Outside, the Town Square featured singers, chickens, hand-woven cushions, and a tent displayed the outsize entries received for the Giant Pumpkin competition.

All sorts of raffles and competitions were held, though sad to say the TEE Blackberry Compote lost out in the preserves section to a chutney. Well done chutney we say, but maybe… next year, jams and pickles could be in separate categories, as we’re not so sure that the two very different taste sensations make comfortable bedfellows in a food category.

A word about the Transition organization, which for Chipping Norton at least, has the tagline, “building a thriving, resilient community.”Ahem, this doesn’t say much, so when we find out some more detail, we’ll be adding it here.

No matter: the weather was beautiful, the traders were busy, and the visitors loved it. Enjoy the pix below, and look forward to 2013’s event.