On Sunday, at the Abingdon Cycle Festival, the Town Crier announced the rides as they set off every quarter of an hour through the morning and early afternoon.

The first rides were the fast rides over 40 or 50 miles. Then followed a range of different rides for all abilities.

Traffic was diverted down East St the Helen Street and West St Helen Street so the Market Place and High Street were dedicated to stalls which registered cyclists, provided food and refreshment,cycle products and safety, and different bands played.

There was also a challenge of three static bikes trying to do an enormous distance without moving.

The event wants to encourage people to get on their bikes and enjoy the outdoors. During my canvassing in Caldecott (to try and get on the Town Council as an Independent) I hear the message that more people would use their bikes, and let their children cycle, if the roads and cycle ways were safer.

The Abingdon Head of the River Rowing event saw nearly 400 boats rowing from Culham Reach, 1850m upstream on the River Thames, to the finish line across from Wilsham Road.

Head racing takes the form of time trials. Crews set off one at a time and are timed from start to finish. The boats started off in groups of nearly 100 in four divisions.

The first boat from the first division to come in was competing in the Op 8+ event and came in with a time of 7:03, the fastest time all day. Op 8+ means Open 8 rowers + cox (I think). The team was from B T C (Southampton) Rowing.

The Oxfordshire Lowland Search and Rescue were to be seen along the course to help and keep rowers safe throughout the day.

After competing crews rowed back to Rye Farm Meadow,

passing town landmarks like the Old Anchor Inn.

This is crew 143 from Wallingford Rowing Club in event Op J16 2x, which probably means Open Junior up to age 16 with 2 crew.

There is a lot involved in getting the boats from the River back to their trailers without bumping into anybody. Stewards guide this as well as the rowing.

All the oars seem to be kept like a big wigwam near the landing stages.

Competitors and spectators could then enjoy a BBQ, local beer, tea, cakes and Morris Dancers. There was also the WWII event from yesterday’s post nearby.

The event was organised by Abingdon Rowing Club.

The Prime Minister (Mr. Winston Churchill), had a magnificent reception today when he paid a visit to Abingdon Lock to help rally members of the local Home Guard. He made a very stirring speech.

Mr Churchill spoke with members of the Home Guard and demonstrated the famous V for Victory sign.

Abingdon lock keeper Mr Richard Hawkins told me it’s all in a day’s work … welcoming the Prime Minister and some soldiers back from Flanders.

A large crowd of Abingdon people had gathered to see Mr Churchill and welcome back the heroes of Dunkirk.

They were bloodied but not beaten.

May Blossom, the sweetheart of the Home Guard, sang some favourites.

Members of the UTP (Upper Thames Patrol) Local Defence Volunteers were also there guarding the River. Mr Churchill did say, in my hearing, that he considers the name UTP Local Defence Volunteers not plain English, and so plans to rename them the UTP Home Guard.

Local people spoke to soldiers evacuated from Flanders who said they were bombed almost the whole way over the channel and it was a miracle so many of them got back alive. It was thanks to a fleet of small boats.

Congratulations to Mr Richard Hawkins (the lock keeper), and assistant keeper Frank Jordan, and to other volunteers, who made this a day to remember.

The Head of the River rowing event on Sunday will see nearly 400 boats rowing against the clock from Culham Reach to Wilsham Road. They set off in groups of almost 100 at intervals from the following times:
Division 1 Start Time: 09:30
Division 2 Start Time: 11:45
Division 3 Start Time: 14:00
Division 4 Start Time: 16:15

You can also watch boats, and visit refreshment stalls, at Rye Farm Meadow where boats embark from landing stages. So throughout the day from about 8:30 until 17:00 there are rowing boats to be seen going up to the start point at Culham Reach or back again.  The event is run by Abingdon Rowing Club and they have many volunteers to make sure it runs smoothly on one of the best stretches of water on the River Thames.

At Abingdon Lock there will be the Thames at War event from 10:00 – 16:00. There will be WW2 re-enactors, Winston Churchill, Live Music, Exhibitions, Period Boats, Military Vehicles. Feel free to dress in 1940s clothes.

There will also be the Eighth Abingdon Cycle Festival starting at Abingdon Market Place. There are a wide range of rides planned, including quick race team dashes, mellow road, mountain bike rides, and family rides.