FORMER Oswestry Council Secretary, David Preston, made a special appearance at Borderland Rotary, recounting his adventures since leaving his post of thirty-three years, four years ago.

Mr Preston is now the chief executive of the National Association of British Market Authorities (NABMA), overseeing markets throughout the UK, including famous ones like Borough and Billingsgate in London.

During the meeting, David posed an intriguing question: "By tradition, why must markets be at least six and two-thirds miles apart, as the crow flies?"

After engaging in a lively discussion and receiving numerous suggestions, David provided the answer: " In medieval times, it was assumed that a person could walk 20 miles in a day so if you spent a third of the day walking to market, a third of the day at the market and a third walking home, thus twenty, divided by three, equals six and two thirds.

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“This also goes to show how town markets are so much part of the fabric of our society and history as they have been ever present over the millennia.."

Oswestry, for instance, has a rich market history, with the first formal charter granting common law protection granted during the reign of King Henry II in 1262.

Subsequent charters were issued during the reigns of James I and Charles II, solidifying the town's market presence for over 750 years.

David humorously added: " Of course, in those early day, you couldn’t buy potatoes as they weren’t introduced to Britain until 1586, but you can’t have everything.”

Notably, the government has established an all-party Markets Group, collaborating with NABMA to support and sustain markets and market traders.

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The group recognizes the social impact that markets have on communities, particularly as vital places for social interaction, especially for older individuals.

As David continues his journey with NABMA, his visit to Borderland Rotary provided valuable insights into the history and significance of markets, emphasizing their enduring importance in modern society.