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Updated July 2021

Rougham Tree Faires. September 3-5th 1982 .

The convoy arrives at Rougham 1982

Program from 1982

© C Shwartz

Green Deserts was the charity which was associated with the Fair, a worthy cause and one which is even more important now as the situation has worsened world wide ....

John Agnew (AKA. Baronet Agnew)

Passed away July 2011

For those who do not know of him he is the Owner of Rougham Estates where so many festivals took place in the past. Rougham tree fairs were always on the estate.

The charity Green deserts ran the fairs and many lived both in the commune at Kiln Farm in Rougham. And also particularly in the winter parked up in the farms grounds, much to the annoyance of the local populace though they never had any cause to complain other than the simple otherness of the community that had sprung up in there mist.

The Tibetan Ukranian Mountain troop would overwinter parked up around Johns house ‘Lawneys’ also on the estate. Many will remember him.
John did not just allow people the facilities to achieve things he was an active participant attending many Festivals and being a Stone Henge regular with the Green deserts crew. His ancient living bus was a regular site at festivals.
So much would not have happened without John’s generosity, I am sure that when his Father was alive he would not have been putting on Festivals but for pressure from John.

He retained his interest in putting on a show and has facilitated many recent events at Rougham Airfield which he has been trying to establish as a show ground.
I am a Rougham resident of many years moving to Rougham after most of the Fairs had finished though we attended as often when we were in the country.
I only know John a little and am better acquainted with many of the People from Brick Kiln Farm. We have worked Festies with them in the past. Being a regular house person with a regular Job we were a little on the outside but still have good friends from there, I always felt that John was a little separated by his background too. Always seeming to be slightly out of tune when jamming with his Bodhran.

John was a good man ,his actions have had a huge effect on the festival movement and the energy that came from that era.
Not always an easy man I hope all who knew him and benefitted from his generosity can appreciate the resources he made available to the travellers scene in those early days.
Even relatively recently Wango and Stoker built Wangos latest stage at the old US Air force gym on John’s estate while living up at the back of the gym.

Also in Rougham it was only a few months ago that Harry Heart of Carpet Bags passed away. An environmental Campaigner to his last breath Harry had had an interesting and rewarding life; He retained hope and energy for the environment through his life campaigning tirelessly. In his time he had been an award winning cameraman. And was well known on the Festival scene ,he too was one of the main movers in the Green deserts Charity ,he too is missed.

Dave Stocking

Rougham Tree Fayre 1980

Rougham Tree Fayre 1981

Rougham Tree Fayre History

Tibetan Ukranian Mountain Troupe Rougham 1982

Green Deserts Fayre 1985

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Free festivals and small fayres held in the United Kingdom between 1967-90.

1967-69.

Main list of Free festivals 1970-1985

Free rock festivals of the 70s and 80s

Publications

We are proud of the contribution we have made to Andy Worthington's sociological history of Stonehenge and the free festival scene in the UK .This new book gives a fascinating insight into the various counter cultural obsessions with the Stones and provides a variety of new perspectives to many of the key events surrounding the Henge such as the Battle Of The Beanfield and the more recent attempts hold a celebration at the Stones during the Solstice.   Find out more about this great book by clicking on the image on the left and visit the Heart of Albion Press web site .

Sending details of a small book I've just self-published which might be of interest to some readers of your admirable site. 'Waiting for Utopia- The Albion Free State, Windsor Free festivals and Radical Britain' is available as an e-book and paperback through Amazon: I have featured the book and its contents on one of my blogs too: https://wordpress.com/post/johnkruseblog.wordpress.com/7530 With many thanks in advance John Kruse

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Tibetan Ukranian Mountain Troupe-surreal pranksters of the Traveller community .

Acidia Lightshow Lightshow for Windsor festival and Stonehenge in the 1970s.

Traveller Daves Website - Chock full of of free festival photos !

Many, many thanks go to Roger Hutchinson , Big Steve , Roger Duncan, Celia, Will , Chazz, Jeza ,Chris Hewitt ,The Fabulous Time Tortoise , Peter Piwowarski - ( 70s music site/photos ) Martin S, Steve Austin ,Traveller Dave, Herb, Tim Brighton, Vin Miles, Haze Evans , Noddy Guevara, Chris Brown, Janet Thompson, David Stooke, Gary Gibbons , Nigel Ayers, Rich Deakin ,Glenda Pescardo,Justin Warman,Brian F, Steve Bayfield, Kev Ellis, Paul Seaton and many other minor contributors for their help in providing the archival material related to these free festivals which has at enabled us to construct the site .

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