Author Archives: Backstreeter

Throwing Buns on the 90th Birthday of Queen Elizabeth II

Bun Throwing
If there is one thing that sets Abingdon apart from the rest of the world it is that we like Throwing Buns on Royal Occasions.
Bun Throwing
On the Market Place today people started to gather from about 3pm. The crowds just grew and grew and by 6pm the Market Place was already getting full. There was some Morris Dancing, and the National Anthem was played by Abingdon Town Band just before 7pm.

Then people began shouting together We want buns! We want buns!’
Bun Throwing
At 7pm, Abingdon Town Councillors, Freemen, helpers from the army, and even world champion bun throwers, began throwing currant buns to the populace. They had 4,500 buns specially made by Tesco. There were some normal currant buns,
Bun Throwing
and others with ’90’ on them.
Bun Throwing
Bun throwing happens at Abingdon on major Royal, national, and civic events. This bun throwing was to celebrate the 90th birthday of  Queen Elizabeth II.
Bun Throwing
We love catching buns here in Abingdon.
Bun Throwing
Bun Throwing
Bun Throwing
Bun Throwing
Happy 90th Birthday from Abingdon!

Queen Elizabeth IIs 90th Birthday

Earlier this morning, some of the Abingdon town centre shops were getting ready for the celebration of Queen Elizabeth II’s 90th Birthday.
Queen Elizabeth IIs 90th
Throwing buns had just started putting up bunting and flags.
Queen Elizabeth IIs 90th
Fabulous Flowers had almost completed a fabulous floral arch in red white and blue.
Queen Elizabeth IIs 90th
And, after an early start, there was time to sit down for a cup of tea at Sue Ryder. They will be serving cream teas, and putting on entertainment throughout the day, as a fund raiser.

Guess the Year of the Bun Throw

Guess the Bun Throw Year
This photograph was taken by H.J. Milligan (Copyright) of Abingdon when there was a Bun Throwing from the roof of Abingdon County Hall in the year ____.
Guess the Bun Throw Year
The Abingdon Herald had a picture of the new Mayor of Abingdon for that year. He had baked the 2500 buns himself for he was also a Master Baker. On that occasion the Monarch’s speech for the Royal Occasion was amplified across the Market Place using loud speakers.

Was the year?
1935
1937
1946
1953
1956
1966

In 2016 to celebrate the Queen’s 90th Birthday, at St Nics at 18:00 (on 11th June) there will be a Choral Evensong followed by bells and a traditional bun throwing at 19:00 on the Market Place.

Abingdon Town Council have also organised a Queen’s 90th Birthday Picnic Party Sunday, at the Rugby Club, 12th June, 12:00-16:00pm.

Abingdon Vineyard Church have also got a Queen’s 90th Birthday Party, with children’s activities, on 12th June from 10:30 – 13:00 at Preston Road Community Centre.

There was an over 90s party at Christchurch last weekend.

One Act Play Festival

One Act Play Festival
At the Unicorn Theatre this week there is a festival of one act plays. The plays are introduced by, Dierdre, the Chairman of the Oxford Drama Network committee, who organise this annual event.
One Act Play Festival
Each evening there are two plays.

After each play an adjudicator gives some background to the plays and then assesses the plays. He then suggests some directional changes and tries them about before the audience.

The first play this evening called Deckchairs showed two pairs of women on the seafront passing the time of day.
One Act Play Festival
During the interval we had a drink in the Long Gallery of the Old Abbey Buildings where the Oxfordshire Drama Wardrobe, based in Steventon, had a display of their costumes. They are there for drama groups, and people who need to dress up for other reasons, to hire.
One Act Play Festival
In the second half we saw a play called California Suite by the Bartholomew Players. It was very well directed and performed.

Three of the plays get called back tomorrow night for the Gala Evening. I was surprised that California Suite was not among them. The others must be excellent.

The Gala Night includes:

  • Still Life by Noel Coward performed by Breakaleg Productions
  • Too Long an Autumn by Jimmy Chinn performed by Sinodun Players
  • Dynamo Flo by Wayne T. Brown performed by Oxford Theatre Guild.