A peace ceremony was held today in St Ethelwold’s Garden beside the Peace Pole, marking the first anniversary of its installation. The Mayor of Abingdon, Councillor Gabby Barody, took part in the ceremony.

Among those attending were people from Ukraine and Afghanistan, along with civic leaders from Abingdon’s twin towns, here for a Mayor’s conference – a reminder of how town twinning, which grew after the Second World War, was intended to foster peace and understanding by building personal connections across borders.

Former Mayor Councillor Gwyneth Lewis spoke about the peace process in Northern Ireland and shared a photo of the Peace Bridge in Derry. There was also a talk by a speaker from The Parents Circle — a group that brings together Israelis and Palestinians for dialogue and reconciliation, and another group of ex combatants for peace. Roger Baker, from the Abingdon Peace group, led people in an affirmation of peace.

After the ceremony, there was music played on the bandura, a traditional Ukrainian harp.

Coffee, cakes, and circle dancing followed, led by women in Ukrainian costume.

It was a lovely sunny afternoon.

Yesterday, the Abingdon Peace Group held a vigil at the war memorial, marking Armistice Day, and wearing white poppies. They were joined by three visitors from Abingdon’s twin town, Argentan in France.

Sally Reynolds, from Abingdon Peace Group, said their Banner – NO MORE WAR – ‘represents the sentiment we have in common with veterans of all wars – that war is a catastrophic event and there are no more ardent peacemakers than those who have experienced it.’

The Abingdon Peace Group had their first lantern-floating this Friday, 9th August, the anniversary of the Nagasaki bombing. There were messages from the Mayors of Hiroshima and Nagasaki and a group of about 40 people made a community affirmation of peace round the Peace Pole in St Ethelwold’s Garden.

Emiko, the teacher in Hiroshima whose students made and painted the lanterns sent a message: Today is August 6th, which marks the 79th anniversary of the atomic bomb attack. Hiroshima was enveloped in prayer. And we, who wish for a peaceful world, are encouraged with you and your activity.

People then processed to St Helen’s Wharf to light the candles and launch the lanterns.

The lanterns floated and made a peaceful scene and as the sun set they were gathered back by a couple of canoes.

On Saturday, over 50 people from diverse backgrounds gathered in St Ethelwold’s garden, in Abingdon, to celebrate the dedication of a new peace pole. Councillor Gwyneth Lewis, the Mayor of Abingdon, expressed her full support for the initiative, highlighting Abingdon’s identity as a ‘town of peace.’ Her experiences with peace poles during her work with the United Nations has shown her their importance as a global symbol. Peace poles are simple monuments that carry a message of unity and hope.

The message on St Ethelwold’s Peace Pole is: ‘May Peace Prevail On Earth’. Alongside are translations in French, Spanish, Russian, Arabic, Welsh, and Irish Gaelic. (All six official languages of the United Nations and two other languages of the British Isles.)

The new peace pole in Abingdon joins countless others worldwide in an aspiration for peace.