Oxfordshire Art Weeks is on with twelve venues in Abingdon, mostly this week. Check the website or brochure for the times.
At the Guildhall, the large cloakroom area is being used for an exhibition by the Oxon Artmakers.
St Nicolas Church has an exhibition by the artists of the Abbey Group.
Peachcroft Farm Barn has paintings, sculptures, ceramics, jewellery and textiles.
They include works by Maísa Stolz, a Brazilian sculptor, who has animals re-enacting old masters. Here is a sheep Mona Lisa, next to paintings by well-known Abingdon artist Sue Hill.
Before the bun throw, there was a Coronation Fun in the Park in Abbey Meadow from 10 – 3.
The Mayor of Abingdon, Cllr Andy Foulsham, has led two bun throws during his year as mayor, the Platinum Jubilee and the Coronation.
Yellow Submarine was one of the Mayor’s charities this year. They support young people with learning disabilities or autism. They were going to move into the Charter Centre, but a more pressing need for the centre has arisen, possibly the need for more health care space near the town centre surgeries.
There were sporting activities people could try out. Abingdon Hockey Club are there for all ages and all abilities.
I arrived fairly late as inflatables were getting deflated and stalls packed up. But there was still a long queue for the ice cream van, and family and friend groups were enjoying picnics. There were also street parties before and after the bun throw, so if anybody sends any pictures to backstreet60@gmail.com, I can add them here or in a separate post.
This photograph was taken by H.J. Milligan (Copyright) of Abingdon when there was a Bun Throwing from the roof of Abingdon County Hall in June 1953 for the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II
Percy Holmes, the Mayor of Abingdon for that year, had baked the 2,500 buns because he was also a Master Baker.
The Monarch’s speech for the Royal Occasion was amplified across the Market Place using loudspeakers.
There was a Bun Throwing from the roof of Abingdon County Hall today for the coronation of King Charles III.
There were 5000 buns.
The buns were thrown by dignatories. Here are Julie Mayhew-Archer (Freeman of Abingdon) and Layla Moran (Member of Parliament for Abingdon). Also throwing was the Mayor, ex-Mayors, town councillors (some newly elected on Thursday, and some more established councillors), and some people chosen because they could throw well.
Thanks to Andy for this picture taken from the upstairs window of Pablos, showing the crowd.
The Market Place filled up much earlier than usual. Many of these people had been waiting for a couple of hours, some even longer. Some thought the bun throw started at 4 pm. That was the time advertised for the road closure. The programme was:
Band Performance 4pm
Mister Hemmings’ Morris Men 4.20pm
Ashnah ATS dancers 4.35pm
Abingdon Traditional Morris Men 4.50pm
Civic procession 5.05pm
National Anthem 5.10pm
Bun Throwing 5.15pm
Only those near the front could see the dancers or hear the band. We could, however, see handkerchiefs from Morris dancers. It was a surprise that Abingdon Town (brass) Band were not performing as in all previous bun throws.
But it was worth the wait. Nothing beats the thrill of a bun throw. The sun shone, and everything looked colourful.
500 special buns had the letters CR for Charles Rex or King Charles. Those were the ones to be varnished and kept for a lifetime.
Throwing Buns Cafe was open, did a good trade, and got a CR bun.
It was good of King Charles to make an appearance. I’m not sure Queen Camilla will be pleased.
The horns of the Ox of the Abingdon Traditional Morris Dancers were covered with red, white and blue flowers for the occasions. They carried on dancing long after the bun throw had finished.
And other people stayed because it was such a lovely sunny day. I have added a video below. It is shaky in places.
In 1953, it rained for the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II. That coronation was broadcast in black and white on small screens.
In 2023, it rained for the coronation of her son, King Charles III. But a lot had changed when it came to broadcasting.
The Abbey Cinema in Abingdon laid a red carpet.
They had bunting and an array of food and drink fit for a coronation.
In 2023, people could watch the ceremony at the Abbey Cinema on the big screen and have food and drink served by ordering on their telephones.
King Charles III was crowned in Westminster Abbey. The image appeared simultaneously in the Abbey Cinema in Abingdon.
The moment was also seen in pubs, cafes, church halls, and homes throughout Abingdon and even on the X3 bus leaving Abingdon for Oxford.
