Faringdon FUN (Frivolously Unnecessary Notices) TrailOn various buildings in and around the Market Place in Faringdon, there are a number of silly signs ( or Frivolously Unnecessary Notices (FUN) as some like to call them) that can only be described as a complete waste of money. A number of signs that had previously been plastered or painted over have now all been revealed and restored. It is believed that the twelve signs were originally put up at the instigation of Lord Berners in 1935
In fact, not all the signs are as frivolous as you might think, and thanks to the research carried out by a certain Prof Featherstonehaugh from Oxford University, we now know what some of the signs are actually trying to tell us. And it also turns out that the signs actually form a Trail around the Market Place, roughly sketching out the shape of a giraffe’s head. If you’re interested in finding out more, then there is now a FUN Trail Pamphlet that is available free of charge from the Tourist Information Centre. Funded by New Homes Bonus scheme (VWHDC) and Pink Pigeons Trust We are grateful to the Vale of the White Horse for their financial support in putting together the FUN Trail Pamphlet, thus helping to preserve an important part of Faringdon's previously undiscovered heritage. 
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Gerald's Anagram Yoicking Signs (GAYS)
24 dog height signs around the Market Place. Anagrams of Faringdon
Click a picture to enlarge Print a copy of the signs "Yoicking" refers to the howling ullulations that are used by fox hunters to call their hounds to order. Apparently, in 1935, Lord Berners (aka Gerald Tyrwhitt-Wilson ) played a joke on his fox-hunting partner ( Robert Heber-Percy) and installed two dozen dog-height signs around the Marketplace, impregnated with fox scent. The scent sent the confused canines into a frenzy, which Lord Berners found very amusing. When it was discovered that these signs were all anagrams of Faringdon, the foxy trail quickly came to be known as "Gerald's Anagram Yoicking Signs"     |
