The Mayor of Hiroshima sent a letter to the Mayor of Abingdon, along with the mayors of other towns and cities that have joined the peace accord. It was read out by the Mayor of Abingdon, Cllr Andrew Skinner.

Then, Emiko Urata, a recently retired teacher from Hiroshima, explained the significance of the paper lanterns she had brought from Japan and the paper cranes she had made herself.

Around 75 people gathered around the Peace Pole in St Ethelwold’s Garden to read the Peace Pledge together.

As in previous years, the lanterns were carried in procession to the River Thames. The first lantern was launched by the Mayor of Abingdon and Emiko Urata.

The Oxford Seagreen Singers sang from St Helen’s Wharf.

In Japan, many cities hold lantern-floating ceremonies at this time of year to remember those who died in the atomic bombings. This is the third year that the ceremony has taken place in Abingdon, marking the anniversary of the bombing of Hiroshima on 6 August 1945.

There were twelve new lanterns this year, painted by the art club at Notre Dame Seishin Junior High School in Hiroshima. They joined lanterns preserved from previous years.

Each lantern carried a message of peace in English or Japanese, or featured symbols expressing hopes for a more peaceful world.

After drifting, the lanterns were collected by canoeists so they can be reused in future years.