Tar barrels and mermaids

This weekend I saw a piece in the Guardian what's on section about the tar barrels of Ottery St Mary near Exeter.It's a calendar custom defying health and safety regulations.Back in 1972 I was at Exeter University for a term.In those few short months I saw David Bowie,Shakin Stephens and Pentangle at the students' union. I also went to see the tar barrel event.There was an old fashioned fair in the town,featuring a two headed stuffed calf and a real mermaid,a woman in a fishtail,sitting in a glass tank.Strange days as the Doors once sang.