At Dalton Barracks a fireworks festival was being prepared throughout the day.

The rain made the organisers nervous.

Evening came and then lots of people decided to go to the event. The roads ground to a standstill, and so the main display was delayed while the cars were directed in.

Children’s quiet fireworks began the evening.

The bonfire was lit. There was a funfair and food kiosks.

There followed a display of fireworks, one by one, where we were educated about the different fireworks. We were like students being taught about music before going to a concert.

Then the main display came. It was well worth the wait.

The fireworks choreographed with music …

were beautiful.

Bun Throwing is an Abingdon Tradition that began with the 1761 Coronation of King George III, and celebrates important Royal and other events. Buns are thrown by local dignitaries from the roof of the County Hall to the populace. (This year we saw the introduction of an ingredients list so that there was no problems with the modern problem of allergies.)

The reason for the 2018 bun throw was to celebrate, one hundred years ago, the end of the WW1 . The dignitaries, aided by a few soldiers with good throwing skills, threw the buns.

It was raining rain

as well as buns.

Thankyou to Elizabeth for sending me this picture of her grandson with some buns. One is the special centenary buns with a poppy.

Richard Gottfried has been running the World of Bun Throwing Blog since 2006, and has attended every bun throwing in his lifetime.  He was born in Abingdon and comes back for every bun throw.

This time he got hit by a bun while taking a selfie.

After the people had gone there were rich picking for the Abingdon pigeons. They love bun throwing too.

This blurred image was taken during an evening’s walk in Abingdon this evening. There were lots of fireworks.

Remember, remember the fifth of November,
Gunpowder treason and plot.
We see no reason
Why gunpowder treason
Should ever be forgot!

Guy Fawkes was a Catholic in the days when opinion was polarised between Catholics and Protestants. The fifth of November was set as a day to remember his attempt to blow up King and parliament and it has not been forgot.

There have been attacks on the government and the Houses of Parliament since Guy Fawkes’ in 1605. A bomb exploded under the car of Airey Neave, the MP of the Abingdon, in 1979.

Thanks to James for this …

The Anchor Inn has re-opened under the very capable hands of a Keith Allen look-a-like. In turn this means the Thursday quiz is back!

The Anchor has gone through many a different pair of hands over the past few years and they may have come and gone but the Thursday Quiz has remained a stalwart and, again, it has returned.

Thursday just gone was the first of the new run and a different quiz host is now in charge now Frank has handed in his notice. He had been doing it for years and years and will be sorely missed by all the regular teams – Barcelona Folk, Doughnuts and Willmott’s Wisdom and others.

The Thursday quiz at the Anchor is back – Kick off at 9, get down early to avoid disappointment .