The first Abingdon Walking Festival was based on the Market Place today. It was coordinated by the Abingdon Events Partnership, which invited different groups to participate.

The five longest walks, ranging from 4 – 11 miles, were led by the Ramblers.

Two gentler walls were led by Abingdon Community Walks, who were also giving away exercise Tea Towels.

A talk on famous women walkers was in the museum basement, followed by a walk.

There was also a variety of other groups, including Abingdon Eagles Basketball Club , who organise walking basketball at the Vale Leisure Centre.

Berkshire, Buckingham and Oxfordshire Wildlife Trust have a lot of Wildlife reserves where people can walk, including four close to Abingdon around Dry Sandford.

The Friends of Abingdon Civic Society have several self-guided walks, the latest being Abingdon Royal History. Two more are currently being designed. The walks can be found on the Civic Society website. They will organise a further day of themed walks in May and more on Heritage Open Day in September.

The day started with rain, which was not good for the Farmer’s Market.

Sunshine came after the market had packed up.

After so many jubilees for the Queen, whose birthday would have been today, we are to celebrate the coronation of King Charles. Shops are beginning to put out decorations for the Coronation.

This time, there will be a Coronation Bun Throw – not a jubilee.

Over a thousand people attended the Abingdon Beer Festival on Saturday night and many more on Friday. Sunday visitors (like me) had the advantage of no queues but the disadvantage of fewer guest beers. Brews such as Yabba Dabba Doo and Rude Not Too had run dry. Plenty of Abingdon Bridge and Trub and Gunners Gold from Loose Cannon was on hand to stop the beer festival from ever running dry.

Bryan Brown welcomed people at the door, and food tents were well stocked on Sunday.

The Friday and Saturday night bands were not playing, but there was a D.J. with some good music on Sunday

On the way out, a notice told visitors about next Saturday’s Abingdon Walking Festival. Anybody wanting to walk on Sunday will have to do their own thing.

The Town Crier, Penny Clover, was on the Market Place, announcing that the Abingdon Beer Festival is on this weekend in the Abbey Buildings.

Entry is free, and the festival is open on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Cider, Wine, Food and music from local bands also feature during the festival.

On the Market Place representing Abingdon Rotary was David Pope. He told me that the most important letter in the word altruism was not I but U. Doing things for others motivates Rotarians. Not I but You.

Penny and David were there in a non-political capacity, but both, as active members of the local community, have decided to stand as candidates for the town council.

Seeing some people open-air preaching on the Market Place was also interesting. I spoke to one, and he said he had been a Hindu but converted to Christianity ten years ago. In the past, England sent missionaries over to India, and now we have missionaries of Indian descent preaching in England. They come from a church in Heddington whose members are mostly of Indian descent.

Another important Abingdon event at the moment is Carousel by Abingdon Operatic. There are tickets for the last show this evening.