Members of Abingdon Baptist Church were out taking refreshments round as the Abingdon Michaelmas Fair was being set up in the morning. Their tea tray service has become quite a tradition.

In the evening, the Fair Service at 7 pm was well-attended. The Mayor of Abingdon-on-Thames, Councillor Gwyneth Lewis, thanked everyone who made the fair possible, especially the cleaners who work between Tuesday night and Wednesday morning to make it look as if the fair had never been there. She handed over to Deacon Selina Nisbett, who said, among other things, “As we watch the courageous people who are held upside down on rides, may we remember the inverting message of Jesus’s gospel that the first will be last and the last will be first.”

The Abbey Brass accompanied the singing of the hymns, and then people had a free ride on the carousel horses. Willie Wilson of Bob Wilson’s Funfairs was there behind the scenes to ensure the Fair Service ran smoothly, and made sure the band had light to read their music.