St Nicolas’ Church Bells rang at the time of the St Paul’s Cathedral jubilee service. The Queen could not attend but watched the broadcast like many other people. The Archbishop of York said, ‘So, thank you for staying the course. Thank you, for continuing to be faithful to the pledges you made 70 years ago. Thank you for showing us how service and faithfulness matter. People of all faiths and no faiths and people of goodwill can learn from this.’

There were more community stalls in Rye Farm Meadow, including this one from Abingdon Court Care Home, showing off some of the resources and activities they use to make life more stimulating for people with dementia.

In the Marquee during the day, the ATOM Science Festival was a buzz of experimental activity with many children and a few adults learning about Science. These scientists are telling us how harmful proteins can be modelled and crystalised so that ways can be found to counteract them.

In the Marquee in the evening, there were bands. They included Rodney Quakes from Abingdon. (If you missed them there is a short video at https://youtu.be/rE3FjngLCOo.)

On the Tithe Farm Estate in Abingdon, there was a gathering on Longfellow Drive Green. Lots more street and green parties are still to come.

Jackie Smith, the town archivist, led a walk on Industrial Abingdon, one of the walks organised by the Friends of Abingdon.

Abingdon Bowls Club were dressed in red, white and blue for an afternoon of bowling in Albert Park.

At St Helen’s Church this evening, there was a service to celebrate ‘the incomparable event of the Platinum Jubilee of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II’. There was a packed church and a large choir.

The choir sang the Introit ‘Zadok the Priest’ – from the coronation.

The Mayor could not do his reading, so Councillor Jim Halliday read instead. It was said the Mayor has Covid.

In the sermon, Revd Masheder began by recalling the day when he watched the coronation as a small child. He said that Seventy years ago, more people believed than now. He had the hope people would rediscover faith.

The choir then sang the anthem ‘I was Glad’ – from the coronation.

The service ended with singing the National Anthem.

The first day of the Abingdon Jubilee Meadow Festival began today in Rye Farm Meadow by the River Thames, with a funfair outside the fenced area and most activities inside the fence. Recycled cloth bunting went all around the fence.

Pat Lonergan, one of Abingdon’s longest-serving town councillors,  was handing out the festival programme at the entry. Inside, there was music on the big stage and on the marquee stage. There were lots of community stalls and refreshment stalls.

To celebrate the history of the MG Car, once produced in Abingdon, there were a series of MG cars, one from each decade of the Queen’s reign and one before. The green MG2C was a car Prince Philip had when he was courting Princess Elizabeth. The red Y type saloon was made in the year of the Coronation, 1953.

On the Friends of Abingdon Museum stall, there was a chance to make shakers like the one held by the little girl in the B&W photo from the 1953 Coronation celebration. That little girl is now the lady on the left. The other lady taught our children at Caldecott School back in the 1980s.

On the Welcome people from Ukraine stall, there was the chance to plant sunflower feeds and let them grow at home.

There we saw Lynette with her 1960s Carnaby Street jacket.

The Queen’s cutout was at the Kingfisher Canoe Stall. The Kingfisher Club House is very close to the meadow.

We walked past the WI stall and admired some of the pictures taken yesterday at the North Abingdon WI Jubilee celebration. This one shows the best Jubilee hat and cake.

This is Healthy Abingdon. The air was fresh, the sunshine allowed people to sit and relax, and it felt healthy.

Here are one of the many performers on the main stage.

Along Bridge Street, Fabulous Flowers decorated the shop with red, white and blue flowers.

There is a royal combination in one of the town’s planters.

On Abingdon Bridge, there were union jacks.

Boats are also decorated and have prime position for the four days of activity at Rye Meadows.

Thursday is clubs and societies with entertainment on both the marquee and main stage. There is a civic service at St Helen’s at 7pm.

If anybody wants to send me pictures of Street parties that I can use, then my email is backstreet60@gmail.com.