Ok, so it might have been raining (it was), but there was some expected magic in the air in the centre of Cambridge last weekend.
Strawberry Fair is held in the city centre, on Midsummer Common, right by the River Cam and the Fort St George. It is Cambridge’s one-day celebration of music, arts, people, and pure festival magic.
Starting in 1974, thousands of people come together each year to feel a sense of community and creativity. The performers and the free-spirited humans who follow them come together for a free day of utter escapism.
This year was its 51st year.
But let’s go back to 1994 for a minute. Was that when that fateful World Cup happened, too?
I’m sure I remember watching that on a portable TV in the courtyard of the Fort St George while something tasty was cooked on the BBQ by Deano, the chef.
Living in the stunning 16th-century Fort St George back then, I always appreciated the building’s beauty with its wonky ceilings and creaking floors. Parts of the timber-framed building still date back to the original building, particularly in the snug. Back then, we would light a coal fire in there during those dark winter months, waiting for customers, and playing cards. Cassy sat next to us. She was the puppy that was supposed to keep us safe. The softest German Shepherd dog ever, she became my companion who had a talent for spotting a sad mood.
The summer months were crazy days. Strawberry Fair in 1994 brought in £22,000 in just one day.
While I was writing in the coffee shop last year, I decided to use Strawberry Fair in my fiction story.
Simon Rhodes and Blake Winters were school friends who had a dream of being in a band. Their big break happened on a stage at Strawberry Fair, long before they became the massive band they ended up as.
Book 3 in the series is being written right now, and there will be a standalone book out this year called Winters. That’s Blake’s backstory, written from his point of view. It’ll be dark and inspiring, and we will finally figure out why he has a permanent frown on his face. Liesa Ulman is the only person to soften that frown.
Hearing about the return of Strawberry Fair, I had to go, for research, of course. There was a plan to either get on stage next year and read, or some other ‘book promo’ type of thing. But I’m not too sure the festival goers are my readers.
Could I stand and imagine Blake and Simon on those stages?
God, yes.
There was a definite air of closeness to them while I stood with soaked trainers (should have put on the purple wellies!) and imagined them figuring themselves out and perfecting their craft, before the days of private jets and stadium lights. And before the tragedy which made it all possible.
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Note: thank you to the organisers for the hard work on this event. And an extra thanks to the lovely new author friends I made.
