Last Friday, Radio 4’s Any Questions was introduced by Jonathan Dimbleby … “Welcome to Oxfordshire, to Abingdon beside the Thames, and to an Independent Girls School with pupils aged between 9 and 18, called St Helen and St Katharine School. It has all the facilities that you might expect of such an institution including a Science Centre with twelve new laboratories and a 3-D design centre. The School’s vision is to inspire the next generation of leading women.”

With just under three weeks to go to the EU referendum, the first question was ‘If we Brexit will we have more control to limit immigration?”

There to answer were Caroline Lucas, Green MP and board member of the pro-European Britain Stronger in Europe campaign, seen her with Rebecca Dougall, Head of the school. Also there were Gisela Stuart, Labour MP for Birmingham, Edgbaston and Chair of the Vote Leave campaign; and Julia Hartley-Brewer, journalist and broadcaster, current morning presenter on Talk Radio and a vociferous Brexiter,

and Lord Heseltine. Caroline Lucas had the final words on the first question and spoke on the value of inspiring people, particularly young people, about everything that is positive about EU membership.

Next was a question from 16 year-old Florence Wiggins a Lower 6 student at St Helen’s. “Why weren’t 16 and 17 year olds being allowed to vote in the forthcoming referendum?” The exchange included Julia Hartley-Brewer commenting wryly that “Cameron is now wishing he’d extended voting rights as polls suggest more 16 and 17 year olds would vote stay” and was thrown back to Florence who articulated the position that this was about the future of the UK and that the impact legacy of the decision on 23rd June will be on her generation, citing the previously temporarily lowered voting age for the 2014 Scottish independence referendum.

Impressed by the balance and maturity of Florence’s response, Lord Heseltine said “I may not want to give the vote to all 16 year olds, but I would certainly give the vote to you” which was greeted with a mighty cheer from the 300 strong audience.

The rest of the programme can be heard at BBC Radio 4 – Any Questions.

The annual fun in the parks is taking place today in the Abbey Gardens, and on the main stage to start the day was the Abingdon Community Orchestra.

Organised by Abingdon-on-Thames Town Council the event incorporates lots of colourful people.

The Red Cross are there as always to provide trained first aiders.

There was a recent news story about the biggest bouncy castle in the world. It cannot be much bigger than some of the inflatables at the Abbey Meadows today. There were also lots of community groups with stalls in the Car Park.

There are also a bike track, a climbing wall, and army recruitment personnel and vehicles on the Market Place to ensure the town centre is also involved.

Later today there will also be the Music in the Park. They have run out of wrist bands for that.

On Bank Holiday Monday there will be a variety of walks organised by the Friends of Abingdon. Register at the Market Place from 10am.

Morning Walks leaving at 10:30 am:
The Boundary Walk. About 4 miles and takes about 2 hours.
The flora and fauna of the Ock Valley. 3½ miles and takes about 2 hours.
The Ramblers lead a longer 8 mile walk via Radley Lakes, Radley and Lodge Hill.
The Lost Abbey tour takes about 1½ hours.
The St Helen’s tour will take approximately 1 hour.

Afternoon Walks leaving at 2:00 pm:
The Wilts and Berks Canal Heritage Tour. About 3 miles.
The Radley Lakes walk, where you can enjoy tea and cakes and walk round the lake before returning. This is about 5 miles.
The Lost Abbey tour takes about 1½ hours.

An exhibition of portraits and stories of African Quaker Peacemakers, “This Light That Pushes Me”, will be open from Monday May 30th (Bank Holiday) to Saturday June 4th 2016, from 10am to 4pm in St Nicolas Church,

Abingdon Quakers also invite you to either or both of two talks BY African Quaker Peacemakers.

The 2nd World Bun Throwing Championship takes place on 30th May at the Abingdon Cricket Club. Posters say that registration begins at 12 noon on the day, and banners say the event starts at 2pm. There will be a REAL Bun-Throwing on 11th June at 7pm to celebrate the queen’s 90th birthday. The world champion will join town councillors in throwing buns on that occasion.

Reports on all 3 should appear here in due course.

Spring is here. The trees along Appleford Drive, near the playpark, are in full bloom.

On Friday 13th May at 7.30pm the Rotary Club of Abingdon have organised a Choral Concert called Spring Serenade in aid of local charities at St Helen’s Church. The choir are well known within Oxfordshire and have won a number of awards for their recital work.