The weather did not look good for the Abingdon Air and Country Show at Dalton Barracks.

But by the time the flying started, soon after 1pm, the rain had cleared and there was some blue sky.

Not all the flights had been able to get there because of the conditions, but there was still lots to enjoy in the early afternoon.

After the first flights, there was a shower, and people settled back again to watch the planes and a parachute display team.

As well as the airshow there were many interesting exhibits of the type you see at a Country Fair.

Members of the local Nepalese community were collecting for their home country – devastated by an earthquake.

At around 3pm the rain set in again. Some people headed for the exit – causing queues…

Other headed under canvas.

In one of the marquees Fiona Harrison entertained people in the wartime spirit with some old Cockney Favorites.

That was followed by the Abingdon Traditional Morris Dancers and Vale Islanders.

More pictures on the Abingdon Blog Facebook Page

Looking forward to the coming bank holiday weekend and the annual Abingdon Air and County Show. It is always one of the highlights of the Abingdon Calendar with the aeroplanes, vintage vehicles, stalls, and performances, and all run by volunteers to raise money for charity.

Looking forward a bit further, and it is time to consider whether to put together a team to row in the Dragon Boats on 6th September – the most fun you can have on the water. Another event run by volunteers. This time by the Rotary Club of Abingdon Vesper, and raising money for Charity.

The weekend after (12th -13th September) is Heritage Open weekend, when there will be a Victorian theme – 150 years after the Albert Monument was opened. The Albert Park is quite unique as it is run by the local charity ‘Christs Hospital of Abingdon’ for the good of the people of Abingdon, and not by any council or authority.

Like all Heritage Open Days everything is Free to Explore. In 2015 The ‘Ragged Victorians’ will there ‘bringing the past into the present’.

It is another event that is run entirely by volunteers. They are looking for anybody with interesting Victorian collections, or artifacts, or craft skills, or costumes, who would be willing to take part.

This Satuday Morning:

Sue Ryder took over the Kempster Room, in the museum basement, for a sale of clothing, at just £1 for three items.

There was a small French Antiques and Craft Market on the Market Place. This is a change from the usual French Food Market – put on to see if the concept would work before they bring the rest of the market.

The scouts were also on the Market Place selling books, bric-a-brac, and Tombola tickets.

There were still armbands available for the Music in the Park event on 6th June.

The Friends of Radley Lakes also had a display of photographs of Radley Lakes at St Ethelwolds House.

Apologies to anybody who this does not concern but if you do live in Caldecott Ward, I did do a short biography in the About link just in case.

The Abingdon Freewheeling Cycle Festival took place today, on a cool Sunday in April. There was a road closure, on High Street, to allow more stalls than ever before.

Cycle rides, free for everyone, were setting off from Abingdon Market Place at regular intervals from 9am to 1:30pm – with about thirty rides in total. They ranged from 5 mile family rides …

to 40 mile fast rides, or 50 mile off road orienteering courses.

The last ride was a 10-15 mile Retro Fun Ride.

New this year was a Shoretrax woodern track for the BMXers and Mountain Bikers.

The Abingdon-on-Thames Town Crier was both Master of Ceremonies – calling riders to order at the start of rides, and festival mascot – he appears on the cycle festival leaflets and fliers.

There were many cycle related stalls, food wagons, live groups playing music, and massages.