While the Euro concert was happening in the park, there were lots of dancers around town, to celebrate Tom Hemming’s birthday. Tom Hemmings was a well known Abingdon Morris Dancer in the 1950s. The group above are from near Reading.
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The Vale Islanders were also there to dance in 1700s traditional dress.

There was a group from Kirtlington.

and two or three other group, like the Rock Hoppers behind Les, pictured here, who helps organise this event – which has grown over the last couple of years.

Les is one of Mr Hemmings Abingdon Traditional Morris Dancers. They are different from the Abingdon Traditional Morris Dancers. But as one Morris web site says, ‘if something is worth doing it is worth doing twice. There is always more than one way of thinking about Morris…’

The Abingdon Traditional Morris Dancers have their big day with the election of The Mayor of Ock Street on June 13th.

On the touch line the manager was shouting orders and watching anxiously…

But on about the 80th minute Saxton scored the only goal of the cup final.

Deputy Mayor, Councillor Patricia Hobby presented the North Berks cup after the game. Thoroughly deserved. Saxton Rovers, from South Abingdon, have now won an unprecedented four trophies this season.

They had already won the Berks and Bucks intermediate cup, the Charity Shield, and the Division 1 title by a mile.

At the Abbey Grounds today, bands from Abingdon and the twin towns were performing…

Here are a few of them flying the flag before it kicked off.

I was very impressed by the first band from Sint Niklaas. In fact all the bands were good.

People were going crazy for the European Commission stall.

The Town Council organised the event, and the commission sponsored it, and were giving away free stuff like blue T-shirts and bags with the Euro flag on the front. Here wearing the T shirts are the MC, and the main organiser.

The last band on were Le Vens. They may sound kind of French but they were one of the two Abingdon Bands. The other was the Black Hats.

This is part of the ‘Le Vens’ fan club.

Back in 2006, this blog featured some young trees that were trying to make it in modern day Abingdon. So I thought I’d catch up with them again to see how they are getting along.

This tree dedicated to John Jones OBE is looking very healthy.

These two in the Albert Park seem a bit late coming into leaf, but they may be slightly worried by the cull that has just happened in the Park, particularly to the likes of the leylandii. But I think they are doing OK.

The three at the bottom of Calcecott Road did not survive. Three more have replaced them, and – because of the better protection – all but one are doing OK.