The Abingdon Mummers have been performing the Sunningwell version of the ancient mummers play in the pubs of central Abingdon this evening.

The play can take from ten to fifteen minutes depending on the audience, and involves among other happenings a sword fight and the death of one character and his resuscitation with the aid of an flashing brolly.

The play ends with the mummers singing ‘We wish you a merry Christmas’.

The collecting box is then taken round to raise money for a local charity – in 2016 that is the Abingdon Breakaway Club.

After the performance all the character drink some of the pub’s best brew before going to the next performance.

Yesterday the Country Market were in the Day Centre in the Charter.

You had to get there fairly early to buy one of their Christmas ‘Figgy’ Puddings. They don’t actually contain figs but are full of raisins, currants and brandy.

When the last one was gone there was no use singing ‘I won’t go until I get some‘.

The Country Market are there on the 2nd Saturday of each month – next one is Saturday 14th January 2017.