As part of a Day of Action some local people were on the Market Place yesterday. They are worried about the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) being negotiated between US and EU officials. It is intended to remove trade barriers and increase growth, but protestors worry it will increase corporate power at the expense of people power and the environment.

Also on the Market Place yesterday were scouts fund raising to go to the 23rd World Scout Jamboree at Kirara-hama, Japan

The World Scout Jamboree is a gathering of tens of thousands of Scouts and Guides from almost every country in the world who, for ten days live together, experience each others cultures, take part in exciting activities and have an amazing adventure.

One week after the Michaelmas Fair, the Runaway Fair has taken over the Market Place and High Street, and so all the traffic is going down East St Helen Street and up West St Helen Street.

The Liquid Amber Trees are in their autumn glory. Somebody did ask me why Abingdon Town Council did not consult local tree specialists about putting in native species rather than these American trees.

At 11:00 the Mayor of Abingdon, Councillor Angela Lawrence, together with the Oxfordshire Chief Fire Officer, Dave Etheridge, opened the day’s events. The Mayor then unveiled a plaque celebrating 50 years of The Abingdon Fire Station on Ock Street.

At 12:00 there were Group photos. There were many present, former, and possibly future colleagues of the Fire Service in the pictures.

At 13:00 there was Bun throwing from the top of the fire station tower.

The people of Abingdon love a bun throw. Some buns had the number 50 inscribed.

At 14:00 there was Morris Dancing.

And at 15:00 the event was closed with a release of balloons. The winning balloon wins a holiday.

Throughout the day there was the chance to take part in Fire Service activities, from climbing the ladder, as demonstrated in the picture by one of the firemen, to directing a fire hose, to going up in the hydraulic lift, and going in the fire engines.

There were also stalls, some very good cakes, and an exhibition about the Abingdon Fire Service from early years through to the present.

The Abingdon Flower Club Celebrates its Emerald Anniversary (1959-2014) with a Flower Festival at St Nicolas Church in the centre of Abingdon.

Friday 26 & Saturday 27th Sept 10:00am-5:pm and Sunday 28th 1:00pm-5:00pm

There are 30 arrangements, celebrating anniversaries such as 100 years of car Making in Oxford, and 90 years of MG in Abingdon.

There are arrangements for Saint David, Saint George, Saint Patrick and Saint Andrew.

There are arrangements for: Bun Throwing, Christmas, St Nicolas Church (844 years), Peace 1918, 100 years of Brownies, 60th Anniversary of the 4 minute mile by Roger Bannister, 50 years of Britain in Bloom, and many many more.

(Also on  Saturday 27th Sept 2014 in Abingdon is the Fire Station 50th anniversary celebration. And Abingdon will be turning PINK once again when Against Breast Cancer hold their annual Splash of PINK Day.)