A day-long sit-in took place on Abingdon Market Place yesterday under the banner ‘This Genocide Must End.’

Protesters beat pans and hung small knitted baby cardigans. A note beside them claimed that holding a funeral every day for each child reportedly killed in Gaza during the current war would take more than 52 years. Organisers said the display was intended to keep attention on the civilian toll, especially children. A police officer spoke with demonstrators earlier in the day.

Children’s agency UNICEF has repeatedly urged all parties to stop the violence and protect civilians, warning that Gaza’s one million children face catastrophic conditions, including severe food insecurity and malnutrition.

2025 marks the 80th anniversaries of VE Day (Victory in Europe Day) on 8 May and VJ Day (Victory over Japan Day) on 15 August. A VJ Day 80 flag flew at the Royal British Legion in Abingdon to mark today’s occasion.

At noon, members of the Legion, dignitaries, and the public gathered at the War Memorial for a ceremony. The Town Crier opened proceedings, followed by a member of the Royal British Legion who read the Exhortation, ‘They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old…’.

Two minutes’ silence was then observed.

The first wreaths at the memorial were laid by the Mayor of Abingdon and the Deputy Lord Lieutenant of Oxfordshire,

followed by a veteran and representatives from other organisations.

This evening, between 6:30 and 7:00 pm, the bells of St Nicolas Church rang out as part of the anniversary commemorations. (Video of bell ringing at https://www.youtube.com/shorts/G14FbGzUOL0)

Abingdon marked the 80th anniversary of Victory in Europe (VE80) with a display of classic MG cars on the Market Place. Alongside the cars, an exhibition told the story of how the MG factory in Abingdon helped the war effort during World War II.

When the war began, MG stopped making cars. Instead, the factory’s workers turned their skills to wartime production. They repaired armoured vehicles and built Crusader tanks. They also made engine parts for Lancaster bombers, wing sections for Tempest fighter planes, and other aircraft parts—such as units for Albemarle aircraft and panels for Hawker Typhoons.

One of the MG cars on display, a Magnette, had a special passenger: an 80 year old, soft toy duck called Quackers. Quackers was made during the war by the car owner’s Uncle Harry, who was seriously wounded in Italy and lost the use of his right hand. As part of his recovery, he taught himself to knit with his left hand and made Quackers who has stayed with the family ever since.

The Mayor of Abingdon, Councillor Gabby Barody, visited the display and spoke with the organisers. It is likely to be her final event as Mayor, as the town council will elect a new Mayor tomorrow.

P.S. This is the display currently at the bottom of Stratton Way. Thanks to Abingdon-on-Thames Town Council.

This weekend, visitors to the Royal British Legion in Abingdon can view the impressive “Overlord” model railway layout, created by Chris Mead. Transported from Wakefield, the layout is so large that it has to be displayed in two sections to fit the available space.

“Overlord” depicts a busy dockside scene, inspired by the wartime ports of Southampton and Portsmouth. Grey naval ships — landing craft and destroyers — are moored in resin water. On the quayside, military trains connect the docks to the inland supply routes, while tanks and troops prepare for embarkation.

The layout represents the build-up to Operation Overlord, the Allied invasion of Normandy in June 1944. Among the many details are a captured German U-boat repurposed by the Allies, the PLUTO pipeline (used to supply fuel across the Channel), and sections of the floating Mulberry harbours that were vital to the landings.

This video gives a tour first of the Royal British Legion club with bunting and poppies and then the railway layout: