The Town Crier could be heard through the day announcing the Queen;s 90th brithday. Thanks to Lesley for this picture.
People gathered on Abingdon Market Place this evening before the beacon lighting.
It was not as big an event as the bun throwing on 11th June (The Queen’s Official Birthday). Roads were not closed. Local people could find a place on the Market Place, and even watch from the comfort of a seat.
The Mayor of Abingdon, Councillor Helen Pighills, lit the beacon flame above the County Hall at around 8:30 pm. Other beacons were lit across the country to celebrate the Queens 90th Birthday. Thanks to Elizabeth for sending this picture.
Colin covered the event on his famous twitter feed The Abingdon Taxi.
‘..and as the beacon was lit above The Bing, a chorus of Happy Birthday started up in one corner of Market Place..’
Meanwhile over the River Thames, near Nags Head Island, Rob send me a picture of balloons being blown up. There is more than one way to celebrate a birthday.
I would have come to see this if I had known about!
Karen – if you are an Internet-user, events such as this and lots of others are always advertised on the town website abingdon.gov.uk/events – it is well worth keeping an eye on that. Also, if you are a Twitter user, follow WhatsOnAbingdon. Otherwise, the Town Council always advertises its events on noticeboards around town, there are What’s On leaflets available and the Town Crier will shortly be going to every house in Abingdon with events up to early September. Round & About is a pretty good source too. Hope you don’t miss all the good stuff coming up!
If anyone has anywhere that they could display a few of the What’s On leaflet, then call in at the Information Centre at Roysse Court (Bridge Street) and I am sure they would be happy to give you a bundle to take away. Each edition of the leaflet covers about 3 months
Lots of town events coming up in June and throughout the summer
Forgot to say!!
Clubs and Societies Day in the Abbey Buildings on Saturday 10am-3pm.
Lots of different clubs and societies will be represented – too many to list, but include sports, arts, drama – and for all age groups.
This event is only held once every 2 years, so don’t miss it!
Call me a Geek if you want but rather a shame that the Union Flag above the Town Crier’s head appears to be upside down !
A cry that the Town Council is in distress ?
At least it was pleasant weather for her birthday.
For non computer people, it was also mentioned in the Abingdon Herald, along with other events in other towns and villages.
Similarly, our family would have turned up if we’d been aware!
Funny, I said to my husband during news last night “pity Abingdon didn’t do anything”
Some of us are too busy to spend our time on the internet; I only catch up with the Abingdon Blog about once a week, and then discover all the things I’ve missed! Notices round the town would be useful, like they do for Farmers’ Market, then they would be seen by people on foot, on bus, or in cars.
Yes, but sadly not many event organisers have the resources to pay for notices of that kind – or to go around putting them up and taking them down again. I have lobbied for some time for the establishment of a few key sites on the outskirts of town where event organisers could be given permission to put up their notices or banners, to attract people on their way in or out, but no success so far!
In the meantime, check through Round & About and the Town Crier before you recycle them!
Hester, I know from our previous chats how tough it seems to be to get events advertised… but out of interest, when you have lobbied; is the problem the lack of sites…or is it the permission that’s the issue?
We do have a what’s on leaflet but it was not in there. We do not buy the Abingdon Herald as it is a waste of money! I work in the centre of Abingdon and I still didn’t see anything about it. Never mind though at least I know when the bun throwing is 🙂
Abingdon Blog is brilliant – isn’t there a similar blog listing what’s coming?
George, Backstreeter already does this. Just click on Events 2016 at the top of this page.
Steve/Hester; When I put on the Abingdon firework display, i had God”s own battle with the TC over advertising it. I used to put up posters and banners, (all of them very safely so that they would not obstruct vision and on places where traffic would be at a standstill or crawling along), about 2 weeks prior to the event. I always removed them the following week after the event. It took me several hours of work, on my own, only for the TC to send someone out the next day, specifically to take them all down again. They ended up in a skip in the cemetary! I went and spoke (angrily) to the clerk of the TC and he eventually agreed that as it was a public event maybe i could put them up after all…so i had to spend hours going round replacing them all again! It was a constant battle every year with tne TC who didn’t want to support it in any way shape or form.
That is probably why there are no signs or banners for events now.
The ‘Powers that Be’ do not seem so concerned about the huge, garish banners with which MacDonalds decorate their fence at the Marcham Road roundabout. Not only are they an eyesore but I imagine that they are quite a distraction for motorists at an extremely busy traffic intersection.
However, back to the blog. Glad that the Town was able to celebrate this very important event.
Cassandra…I think you’ll find that that is Abingdon’s very own hamburger roundabout.
But yes, the celebrations were marvellous; and I am sure those 5 people enjoyed it.