On Saturday 24th April the people of Garstang, Lancashire celebrated 10 years as the world’s first Fairtrade Town. This small market town with a population of just 5,000 has given rise to a grassroots movement made up of 480 Fairtrade Towns in the UK and a total of over 800 in 19 countries worldwide, including cities such as London, Paris, Rome Copenhagen and San Francisco. Over 100 guests attended what was a truly international celebration with over 50 congratulatory messages from the nearby Fairtrade city of Lancaster to the largest Fairtrade City of London; from Jersey to Japan looking East and Belgium to Brazil looking West.

Unfortunately the volcanic ash cloud filling the UK airspace left some British people stranded abroad and prevented most international well wishers from attending the event. But no volcano could dampen the fiery spirit of Ms. Shoko Akashi who is leading the campaign to make Kumamoto the first Fair Trade Town in not only Japan, but the whole Asian continent. Shoko braved the airport chaos and arrived in Garstang the day before the event. She was to read out messages from the campaign group, Mayor and local authority of Kumamoto and then perform the traditional Japanese dance ‘Sakura Sakura’ about the springtime cherry blossom. But again disaster struck as all her luggage, including ceremonial Kimono was left behind in Helsinki. Nothing would stop Shoko however and by some small miracle a Japanese dance group staying in the same hotel was able to come to the rescue. With a new ‘cherry blossom’ Kimono the dance could go on. International links were also made via webcam with Media the first Fair Trade Town in the US and Garstang’s community link and Fairtrade cocoa farming village of New Koforidua in Ghana.

Another highlight of the evening was the launch by Ian Agnew of the Lorna Young Foundation of the new directly-traded Mzuzu coffee from Malawi, that will first be sold in Garstang’s One World Shop the Mustard Seed. The Director of the Fairtrade Foundation Harriet Lamb CBE was full of praise for Garstang’s pioneers and delivered a highly motivational and inspiring speech. Former Chair of the Garstang Fairtrade Steering Group Elaine Gisbourne said, “I was deeply moved by Harriet Lamb’s address; it will stay with me for a very long time to come”. Following her speech Harriet Lamb cut the Fairtrade chocolate cake made by budding chef and 14 year old Fairtrade supporter Anna Crowther before giving a toast to Fairtrade Towns, using Co-op Fairtrade bubby of course.

Guests were also treated to a 15 minute slide show giving the history of the Garstang Fairtrade Town campaign as well as many stalls and displays from local Fairtrade traders together with Ubuntu Fairtrade cola and the Cooperative Group.

Bruce Crowther
UK Fairtrade Towns Advisor and founder of Fair Trade Towns
April 2010

View pictures from the anniversary in Garstang (photo:John Sargent)

Read the case study, from Garstang - the worlds forst Fairtrade Town