Oxfordshire Chilli Festival and Rugby 7s

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Oxfordshire Chilli Festival
The Oxfordshire Chilli Festival was on the Market Place in Abingdon throughout the day. There were stalls serving meals with chilli, and lots of stalls with chilli sauces to sample and buy, including  Chillies2u who grow a wide variety of chillies on their farm near Witney in Oxfordshire. They then sell their own sauces and chillies at Farmers Markets, and over the Internet.
Oxfordshire Chilli Festival
Throughout the day there were also a variety of bands
Oxfordshire Chilli Festival
and a chilli eating competition.
Oxfordshire Chilli Festival
Competitors were provided with a glass of milk and a bag. If they needed to drink the milk or threw up in the bag they were out of the competition. The winner was the last one still eating chillies.
Oxfordshire Chilli Festival
Also at Abingdon Rugby Club throughout the day was the annual Rugby 7s competition. Abingdon can be seen in green and yellow playing Chinnor.

Apprenticeships and Farmers Market

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apprenticeships
In the Community Shop (on the corner opposite Poundland) today and tomorrow (Sat 16th Aug) there is the chance for students who have just received their A Level and As Level results (great Abingdon successes here) to investigate apprenticeship as an alternative to university – or anybody else who is interested.
farming
The Farmers Market was also in town today, and Tommy the Tractor was driving down Bury Street to let younger consumers know.
farming
The Country Market are still going strong at the Farmers Market, and very popular, even though they had to give up the Market at the Roysse Room.

River Ock in August

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River Ock
The lower stream of the River Ock shimmers as it flows towards the River Thames. It is a lovely way to walk in, or out, of town from the Drayton Road, and forms Abingdon’s own Mesopotamia (from the Greek, meaning ‘between two rivers’). But it does need taking care of from time to time, not just from flooding.
River Ock
Himalayan Balsam is gaining ground again. This invasive species overtops the nettles in one place. Some stalks growing from the banks are 8 or 9 feet tall.
River Ock
The additional drainage channel from the Ock, that cuts across to Caldecott Road, is also overgrown with nettles and other weeds.

Visit to a Museum in Salisbury

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Over the years regiments have been amalgamated. The Royal Berkshire Regiment, in which a lot of Abingdon men served, eventually became The Rifles – along with several other county named regiments.
Royal Berkshire Regiment
The museum that holds the collections for two of those regiments: the Royal Berkshire Regiment, and Wiltshire Regiment, is in Salisbury in Wiltshire, and is called The Wardrobe.
Royal Berkshire Regiment
There are probably more Wiltshire, than Berkshire, exhibits on display but given the location within view of Salisbury Cathedral that is understandable.
Royal Berkshire Regiment
Just inside the entrance there are some army banners. Next to one Royal Berkshire Regiment banner a label says “Following the Opium War of 1841, the 49th Regiment (later the Royal Berkshire) was authorised to wear the Dragon and the word ‘China’ emblazoned with its colours.”
Royal Berkshire Regiment
Not on display, but viewable on their web site, the museum have some pictures of Abingdon soldiers, and people, that can be ordered. There are some of of an early “Abingdon contingent assembling on Abingdon Railway station on route to their war time station after the start of the 1st World War.”