Something I learned through meeting and talking to people at Appleby Horse Fair but didn’t fully appreciate before was the fact having a caravan does not stop a gypsy or traveller from being homeless. If a family has no legal stopping place they fall into this category.
Yesterday I met a family who are an extreme example of this. For seven years they have been living along the country lanes in Yorkshire, in appalling conditions – with no electricity, water or toilet facilities. There are complicating factors but in 21st century Britain no one – no matter what – should be let down by the authorities in such a drastic way.
For various reasons, yesterday wasn’t a raging audio or visual success. I’ll be returning next week and hope to get a fuller feel for their plight.