The fields between Sutton Courtney and Didcot Power Station attracted crowds to view the demolition of the final three cooling towers.

People had gathered from before 6 am as the expected explosion and demolition was to be between 6 am – 8 am. Then just before 7 am there was a siren, and one chap sent up a drone to get an aerial view.

At 7 am there was an explosion and the towers began to fall to the ground.

It only took a few seconds

for all three to collapse.

There was a cheer from the crowds when they were all down.

People started to head off as the clouds of dust cleared.

I heard screams and saw a yellow flash in the field behind us. Through a hedge I could see what looked like bright lights chasing people. There were rumours of a transmission explosion.

At about 7 am, there were power cuts back in Abingdon for a short while.

The Oxfordshire Chilli Festival was happening on Abingdon Market Place today.

It was also the last day that the last 3 Didcot Power Station cooling towers were visible from the County Hall roof. They are scheduled for demolition tomorrow morning between 6-8am.

This is how they looked today from the Sustrans cycle path between Sutton Courtney and Didcot.

There was also an open garden at the exotic garden at 53 Springfield Drive, and they had lots of visitors.

and lots of plants to admire for visitors, and cakes to eat. Donations and proceeds go to Maggie’s Cancer Centre and Blue Cross.

Back at the Chilli Festival there were chilli plants for sale,

chillies, and many different chilli sauces and foods cooked with chilli.

Bands played throughout the day followed by the chilli eating competition.

After all other competitors had been eliminated the last two competitors could not be separated and so they were given a pint cup full of chillies to see who could eat them the fastest.

The winner, by a half pint, was last year’s returning champion, the Queen of Chilli, Shahina.

Proceeds go to Mind – the Mental Health Charity.

Steve’s ‘Exotic’ garden will be open on Saturday. On top of Steve’s previous achievements, his garden was featured in the July edition of the RHS members magazine, ‘The Garden’.

There will also be the Oxfordshire chilli Festival on the Market Place on the same day with chillies, chilli sauces, and chilli foods; live music from 11.30 am to 3.00 pm; followed by an adult chilli eating competition.

Then just three weeks after is the Abingdon Horticultural Society Autumn Show.

Abingdon-on-Thames Visitor and Community Information Centre has moved to Roysse Court.

There are lots of visitors this weekend in Abingdon. Most have come with caravans or with scooters and tents. I don’t know how many need to visit the centre to ask for information.

The caravans can be seen on the other side of the River Thames on the Cricket Field.

The scooters have come for the 2019 Oddballs Rally at Abingdon Rugby Club.

At the Oddballs Rally there are oddball stalls selling oddball parts. There are large white marquees where bands play oddball music which leads to a lot of oddball dancing and bouncing around.

I took this picture the morning after when there was a relaxed campsite feel with occasional announcements from the P.A. about buying raffle tickets. Money is raised for charity at the Oddball Rally. Some people were relaxing, others had gone off on their scooters, or walked into town by the River.