Rock star opens market (From Witney Gazette)
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Rock star opens market
2:54pm Monday 17th March 2008 in News By David Horne
Alex James swapped his bass guitar for a large inflatable banana when he opened the Witney Fairtrade market. He is pictured here with Wendy Maddison, the coordinator of Witney Area Fair Trade Action Group
ALEX James, former rock star now turned farmer, brought a cool message to a Fairtrade fair in Witney.
The ex-bassist of top band Blur was the celebrity guest in the town's Langdale Hall, where hundreds of supporters and customers came to sample and buy products from across the globe.
The event on Saturday was organised by Witney Area Fair Trade Action Group (WAFTAG), whose spokesman said more than £3,500 was spent.
She said: "It was hugely successful.
"By having Alex here, we hope we have shown that buying Fairtrade is the right thing to do."
Mr James, who has a farm near Kingham, is soon to visit Burkina Faso, in west Africa, with the charity Christian Aid.
He presented prizes to winners of an art competition, including Clanfield Primary School.
WAFTAG has over 2,100 signatures to its petition calling for Witney to be come an official Fairtrade town.
