Sir, For some of us, in the elderly age groups, the removal of the Office Wall in Saundersfoot brings to an end our memories of old rituals like France Fair and, in particular, the Treacle Bun Race.

France Fair - I have no idea where the name came from - was held in May and was a sports event held in the area of Cambrian Terrace, extending to Brewery Terrace for some of the races.

There was also a roundabout on The Green, now the Harbour Car Park. It was mainly for children under 14 years with a May Queen.

The highlight, however, was the Treacle Bun Race. Boys had to stand on the Office Wall and eat a currant bun which had been soaked in black treacle.

When they had finished the bun, they had to run around the Office Wall back to the start point. The first home received sixpence.

Behind the Cambrian Hotel was a paddock where the proprietor, Mr. Jim Davies, kept a pair of horses and a mowing machine which he used to cut hay for the local smallholders.

One of my favourite memories was to be awakened at about 4.30 am to the wonderful sound of a horse-drawn mowing machine working in our meadow at Foxen Holes (now named Green Meadow) along Hopshill Road.

The sharp clicking of the sprung drive and sprockets as the machine reversed to negotiate the corners was unmistakable.

Prior to this, my father, my uncle Joe Waters and Mr. Jack Collins, who lived on The Ridgeway, would cut the hay with a scythe. This would take a couple of days of back-breaking toil.

My memories of that are the steady swish of the scythe as it cut through the hay and the unique scratch of the whetstone as the men sharpened the scythe at the start of each row, holding the scythe under one arm as they swept the whetstone along the blade.

After harvesting the hay and stacking it in the hayricks, we all enjoyed the taste of home brewed ginger beer, which my mother had brewed in the dairy. We would often have to replace corks which blew off with a loud bang during the brewing process!

When all was safely gathered in, my mum provided a huge meal for all the helpers, the main item of which was home-cured ham.

Mr. Duncan Hilling,

Saundersfoot.