This coming weekend will be the annual Quasimodo Fair in our twin town, Argentan, and as every year a couple of people from the twinning society, and a couple of civic guests, are going across. This year Ann Dodd – pictured with Peter – will be one of the twinning society members. Unfortunately she will miss the bun throw on Friday as a consequence.

The Bun Throw will be at 6.00pm on Friday 29th April – a few hours after the Royal Wedding proper. There will be an essential safety briefing for councillors, freemen, and the raffle winner, a little while before the throw. Buns will be thrown from the scaffolding just below the level of the roof.

I could not take pictures during the ceremony so will fill in with words…

We get a letter through the door before Remembrance Sunday reminding us to remove our cars from West St Helen Street during the parade.

Dignatories lined up at the Guildhall at 9:45 and processed behind Abingdon Town Band along East St Helen Street to St Helen’s Church for a church service of remembrance starting at 10 and ending about 10:45.

There is not room round the war memorial for everybody who comes anymore. There were more people than ever this year. Four riflemen stood at the corners of the war memorial. The standard bearers of the uniformed organisations stood at the front. Soldiers, and uniformed groups stood in rank round the memorial, and local people round the outside.

At 11 am the last post was played as the standards were lowered to the wet ground, and then the two minute silence followed. After the trumpet reveille wreathes were laid on the memorial steps to the singing of “Oh God our Help in Ages Past” and the band playing “The Day Thou Gavest Lord is Endeth” and The Naval Hymn “Eternal Father”

After the ceremony of remembrance people lined the High Street and the Mayor stood on a platform to take the salute as first the soldiers of the regular army from Dalton Barracks marched past, then the Royal British Legion and veterans, and then many other military and uniformed groups.

Only then did it begin to rain so people were free ro go inside. Many went home and some went to a short reception in the Guildhall where a toast was said to the Royal British Legion, to Abingdon, and to the Queen.

update ———-

Thanks to Sue for a couple of pictures…. veterans with Sea Cadets behind parading from St Helens Church

and some people at the war memorial.

A lot of daffodil bulbs were planted in front of the Fire Station today. The idea came when the Fire fighters at Abingdon wanted to pay tribute to a former colleague – a welshman – hence the daffs – who recently lost his battle against cancer. The idea then blossomed into making it a “Field of Hope” and asking everyone who has been touched by cancer to be involved.

Duncan Brown, the Mayor, went from bulb planting to opening the Skinny Hippo.

(Two other shops opened in the town centre over the weekend so I will try to feature them soon – but Cargo has closed.)