The Great Fair of Saint Thomas Ye Martyre is heldin May and October in Haverfordwest. Untilrecentlyit was situatedon the Green, (loads of complaints in the local paper), close to St Thomas a Beckett's Church, beforemoving to the edge of the town.

Fourteen years ago Itook my twin grandsons to the opening of the May Fair, when they were four years old.Suspendedabove the crowds, they watchedas the Town crier rang his bell, the vicar said a prayer and arichly caparisoned Mayordeclared the revelry could begin. Harry and Oliver twirled round and around, unaware they were taking part in an ancient custom.

There were hot dogs and candy floss,but nobear baiting or cock fights and no slabs of sticky gingerbread either, which were a feature of the medieval fairs.

To provide sweetness and moistness, iron rich molasses or golden syrup was used in the gingerbread.Nita does not have a gingerbread recipe in her book but she does have one for Ginger Cake.

Aswell as ginger, cinnamon is used. Spices, highly prized and priced in the Middle Ageswere introducedto this country by the Knights Templars when they returned from their foreign travels. (No Gift Shoppesthen).

Nita's recipe is undated, but the inclusion of powdered egg suggests it was wartime. I've substituted a fresh egg.

Method:

Take 12 ounces of Self Raising flour, half a teaspoon of bicarbonate of soda, 1 ounce of powdered ginger, 1 ounce of cinnamon, half a pint of hot water, 1 egg, 2 tablespoonfuls of treacle or syrup, quarter pound oflard (butter for me,darlings), quarter pound of brown sugar. (I would add a good spoonful of marmalade for the flavour andthe chewy piecesof peel).

The next part is simplicity itself, which is whatI like. Put butter, sugar, treacle in a bowl and pour over the hot water. Mix and allow to cool. Add beaten egg and the rest of the ingredients. Mix again. Bake in a moderate oven for about 45 minutes. (Molasses burns easily, so be careful). I have made this with honey insteadof treacle and it's good. I mix the juice and grated rind of an orange with icing sugarand pour it over the cooled cake. This is not Atkins, so don't worry about the carbs girls.