On Friday morning over 1000 Romany Gypsies descended into Thame to attend this year's Light and Life Festival.
The festival has attracted some negative press in years gone by, but Thame Hub caught up with one of the Romany Gypsies attending the festival, to see if she could dispel the adverse connotations that the festival brings.
Tell us more about your festival, what sort of things go on?
It's a Christian convention, we meet up and worship God and hopefully win more souls for God.
What's happening at the festival for the rest of the week?
It's a place we meet at once a year and have Bible studies, prayer meetings, meetings for the youth and salvation meetings.
The festival has attracted a lot of negative attention can you reassure the people of Thame that you are here to enjoy the festival and not cause trouble?
There is always negativity isn't there, when the word Gypsy is used! That's down to the settled community's pre conceived ideas on us. Of course there's good, bad and indifferent within all communities. I can't speak for all but myself, but I will say the leaders of Light and Life will not knowingly allow any trouble to happen.
How long is the festival running for?
A week.
Why did you choose Thame for your festival?
We have our convention all over the country in different places each year.
What is a normal day in the life of a Gypsy?
The normal life of a Romany is just like that of a settled person. Just more difficult and with much more prejudice faced.
What do you like to be referred to as? Is Gypsy a derogatory term?
I am a Romanichal Romany Gypsy, we don't like to be referred to as travellers.
Where are you based normally?
Cheshire.
How many people are at the festival?
Upward from 1000.
There are rumours that former heavyweight champion Tyson Fury is at the festival is that true?
Who knows.... maybe?
Will the site be adequately cleaned once the festival is over?
Absolutely, without a doubt! As we speak our men are cleaning any rubbish that has been left.
If you'd like to find out more about the festival, you can visit www.lightandlifegypsychurch.com
