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The Fairtrade Towns movement was started in 2000 by Bruce Crowther, now the national Fairtrade Towns Co-ordinator for the Fairtrade Foundation. At the time Bruce was a full-time vet and local campaigner in Garstang, which became the world’s first Fairtrade Town.

The idea came to him in the middle of the night. “I think the best ideas do,” says Bruce. “I’m inspired by Thomas Clarkson, the man who led the campaign to abolish the slave trade. He kept a candle and a quill pen by his bed so he could jot down any ideas that came to him, ensuring they were not lost by morning."

"The network of Fairtrade Towns has become a wonderful way of involving people in councils, synagogues, churches, mosques, businesses, shops, supermarkets, cafés, bars - in fact throughout the whole community right across the country. The Towns raise awareness and sales of Fairtrade which both contribute to tackling poverty and improving the lot of marginalised and disadvantaged farmers."