It’s Independent Booksellers Week from 15th – 22nd June…

In the window of The Bookstore are some flutterbooks for Independent Booksellers Week. They also have their own event: An Evening with Kate Adie next weekend at the Cornerstone Theatre in nearby Didcot.

I could not get my normal view of our other Independent Bookseller, Mostly Books, because there is a new planter in the way.

Featured in the Mostly Books window are the Amazing Books For Boys Event , the Children’s Food Festival, and a Very Hungry Caterpillar…

The Kingfisher Canoe club were gathered at the weir on Saturday evening –

trying to hit a rag, dangling at the end of a string.

The Kingfisher Club do seem to like their games

particularly when there is also a hint of danger.

Bike Week began yesterday.

There was a stall and displays under the Abbey Archway.

There was also a chance to get bikes marked.

There will be a number of bike rides over the next week. This is Andy Watt at the start of cycling six times round the modern boundaries of Abingdon, and a bit more beside. He started at 7 am, and I guess it will be about 60 miles.

Others Bike events are here thanks to the Carbon Cutters of Abingdon.

Today was the election of Mayor of Ock Street. After the ballet box was made ready for the good citizens of Ock Street, dancing began at around 10:15 outside the The Black Swan. This years’ visitors were…

Chipping Campden who say on their website ‘Morris is life affirming … and a bit daft.‘

Saddleworth were also there

with colourful hats, and tough northern cloggs that left a lasting impression on Abingdon’s pavements.

and Berkshire Bedlam can be seen performing a dance that is so dangerous they never rehearse it. Their website says they are “rated amongst the top 99% of all Morris sides in the country“

and the hosts were The Abingdon Traditional Morris Dancers.

As always between the dances there was some parading around.

The Mayor came to watch, and then to help in the counting of the votes.

And at 4:15 the result of the election was announced, and very close it was too. Mr Roger Cox was re-elected for the third year in a row with a slender majority of two. That microphone is from BBC Radio 4 who are covering the event for their Saturday Morning Program – to be broadcast at 9 am on 27th June.

In these dark days where many of our elected MPs have been found to be on the make, I hope that Roger, the Mock Mayor, whose only payment is an occasional free beer, will set a shining example to our nation.