The Oxford Welsh Male Voice Choir were performing this evening at St Helen’s Church. They were there for the Mayor of Abingdon-on-Thames Charity Choir Concert. The event was raising funds for the Mayor’s Charities Against Breast Cancer and The Abingdon Bridge.

The Mayor, Councillor Jan Morter, a teacher of music, also invited the Oxford County Youth Choir – open to anyone aged 11-18 who loves singing.

The Oxford Welsh Male Voice Choir have been singing together since 1928 – originating with Welshmen drawn to Oxford to work at the Morris Car Factory. It is open for anyone who is Male, and now comprises half Welshmen and half men of other nationalities.

After an excellent evening the two choirs joined together for the final two songs. The Youth and the Men were led by Helen Swift, the musical director of the Oxford Welsh Male Voice Choir, singing Oh Danny Boy, and Mae Hen (The Welsh National Anthem).

The Rt Rev’d Rowan Williams was at St Michael and All Angels, Abingdon-on-Thames, this evening for the big 7.30 pm service to bless the restored three bells.

After a long period of disuse, White’s of Appleton have just finished the work to get them back working.

Three young ringers from St Helen’s were invited to ring them for a short period in front of the congregation …

By the wonders of the internet you can hear them too.

Abingdon Concert Band and Abbey Brass both played in the Nags Head island garden from 16:00 to 19:00. Both are 40 years old this year, and Hornblower, the specially brewed anniversary beer, was drunk at the event.

It was a way to bridge the gap between Fun in the Park and Music in the Park, which also happened on June 3rd.

Music in the Park began at 17:00. But as armbands sold out earlier in the week, anybody without an armband could stay for another Hornblower.

Two more concerts in a pub garden follow on the 10th and (probably) the 17th of June.

At the Long Gallery of the Abbey Buildings there has been a Jazz Festival for the last two days.

Events were well attended, and the event brought lots of visitors into Abingdon, and into the Abbey Buildings. The new Mayor, Jan Morter, and her husband, were very much at home watching the Oxfordshire Youth Big Band. Both work with young people musically.

The more mature Funk Bake – pictured here, had a strong driving beat.

As with most jazz. the band would start playing the same riff together, and then each of the players would take it off in their own direction – improvising. The music is never the same twice. Unlike Gregorian Chants …

The monks on their way back from the Abbey Church might have taken some time to appreciate the sound of jazz. The 2017 audience, who came from far and wide, loved it.