St Lawrence Fair sculpture unveiled in Hurstpierpoint

When Sylvia Thornhill saw her sculpture unveiled on Hurstpierpoint village green, she had to fight back tears of joy and pride.
Sylvia Thornhill (centre) made the 'Children of the Fair' - a sculpture of seven children to commemorate the 700th St Lawrence fair this year. Joined at the unveiling by Ellie Finch and Poppy HawardSylvia Thornhill (centre) made the 'Children of the Fair' - a sculpture of seven children to commemorate the 700th St Lawrence fair this year. Joined at the unveiling by Ellie Finch and Poppy Haward
Sylvia Thornhill (centre) made the 'Children of the Fair' - a sculpture of seven children to commemorate the 700th St Lawrence fair this year. Joined at the unveiling by Ellie Finch and Poppy Haward

“I didn’t cry but I was welling up,” said Sylvia, 75. “It was a wonderful experience and I will remember it forever.”

‘Children of the Fair’, Sylvia’s bronze resin ring of seven children, represents the seven centuries of St Lawrence Fair and the fun it has brought to generations of youngsters since 1313, when Edward II granted John de Warenne a charter to hold a fair in his manor of Hurst on St Lawrence Day.

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The unveiling on Saturday was exactly a week before this year’s main fair day - the 700th.

Sylvia Thornhill (centre) made the 'Children of the Fair' - a sculpture of seven children to commemorate the 700th St Lawrence fair this year. Joined at the unveiling by Ellie Finch and Poppy HawardSylvia Thornhill (centre) made the 'Children of the Fair' - a sculpture of seven children to commemorate the 700th St Lawrence fair this year. Joined at the unveiling by Ellie Finch and Poppy Haward
Sylvia Thornhill (centre) made the 'Children of the Fair' - a sculpture of seven children to commemorate the 700th St Lawrence fair this year. Joined at the unveiling by Ellie Finch and Poppy Haward

Sylvia, a former teacher at St Lawrence C of E Primary School, who retired 16 years ago, was overwhelmed by the number of former pupils who turned out to watch the unveiling.

“I don’t think I have ever been hugged so much,” she said. “My brother, Maurice, was so looking forward to coming to the ceremony but he died four weeks ago on my birthday.

“I know he was up there, watching on Saturday.”

Sylvia is pictured with Ellie Finch and Poppy Haward, who won a competition to name the children in the sculpture.

Read the full story and see more pictures in the Middy, which is out on Thursday, July 4.

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