Jubilee Prom in the Park – Video of Land of Hope and Glory with Fireworks Finale


2,500 tickets were sold, and many more could have been sold, but after two drenchings at the Street party and the Bun Throwing, not everybody braved the final event. So here is a video of the finale. There were some very good bands, and a Last Night of the Proms Singalong led by Abingdon Town band and The Abingdon Operatic Society culminating in the fireworks and music shown in the video (apologies for sound quality at times).

Abingdon Bun Throwing – Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee

Diamond Jubilee Bun Throw
Despite the rain a very good crowd turned out for the Abingdon Bun Throwing to celebrate the Diamond Jubilee of Queen Elizabth II.
Diamond Jubilee Bun Throw
Among the Bun Throwers was the Local Member of Parliament for Abingdon, Nicola Blackwood.
Diamond Jubilee Bun Throw
The BBC had sent along a team trying out various devices to throw buns. Some looked like catapults, and others were more like canons.
Diamond Jubilee Bun Throw
I’m not sure if any of them could beat the Abingdon People’s champion who won the recent World Bun Throwing Championship. Both the canon and he were getting bun far across the Market Place.
Diamond Jubilee Bun Throw
That is a long way as you can see here.
Diamond Jubilee Bun Throw
The Mayor of Abingdon
Diamond Jubilee Bun Throw
and twenty drenched councillors threw the majority of the 6000 buns, some specially marked with 60 to mark 60 years since The Queen’s Coronation,
Diamond Jubilee Bun Throw
to the drenched people below. I hope you enjoyed the bun throwing. There was a magnificent turn out for such a rainy day.

Braving the rain at Abingdon’s largest Jubilee Street Party

Somebody did tell me that Sunday was expected to be a deluge and they were right. But everything went ahead on Jubilee Sunday and we saw some of the character that makes our country great.

Abingdon’s largest Jubilee Street Party went ahead. I hope they others managed as well.
Ock Street Street Party
With no traffic coming along High Street the bus shelter made a good shelter for this group from Lombard Street.
Ock Street Street Party
In fact all the bus shelters got well used.
Ock Street Street Party
The dignatories had no such cover I’m afraid. The Mayor underwent three drenching during the day: at the Street Party, at the Bun Throw, and at the Prom in the Park.
Ock Street Street Party
It was not just English people. This marque had people from several different countries, and they were letting people try their foods.
Ock Street Street Party
All of these people came over from Abingdon Virginia showing that all Abingdonians have what it takes.
Ock Street Street Party
Some people had charity stalls, such as the Friends of Abingdon Community Hospital.
Ock Street Street Party
And although a number of trade stalls were booked I think only the one turned up. So they deserve a special mention. Wood Turning specialist Vallis Green. He will be back near Christmas.
Ock Street Street Party
There were too many to mention who braved the rain and made a Jubilee party in the rain to celebrate the reign of Queen Elizabeth II.

Jubilee Fun in The Park / International Dance Day

Jubilee Fun in The Park
Yates Lettings from Stert Street had organised a competition of childrens drawing for the jubilee.
Jubilee Fun in The Park
The competition was judged by the Abingdon Traditional Morris Dancers, including their new fool – a one time Mayor of Abingdon. You can see more of these pictures on my other blogĀ  Sixty Sixties.
Jubilee Fun in The Park
Cllr Alice on the town council has Chaired the Jubilee Committee and worked hard to make all this happen.
Jubilee Fun in The Park
This was the man selling Union Jack hats, flags, and foil balloons.
Jubilee Fun in The Park
On the stage at Fun in the Park there were also lots of dance groups, with a large crowd to watch.
Jubilee Fun in The Park
Young girls (and some boys) near the front were trying to imitate most of what was going on.
Jubilee Fun in The Park
There were all the usual community stalls but it was the first time I had noticed the Radio Amateurs. They were talking to other Radio Amateurs round the world, sending out our Fun in The Park jubilee greetings. They did get through to people from twin town Colmar, and hope in the near future to set up an event on the Market Place and communicate with all the twin towns.