Two 150th Anniversaries in Abingdon

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There were two 150th anniversary celebrations in Abingdon yesterday.

2010 is the 150th anniversary of the founding of Our Lady’s School, Abingdon, in 1860 by the Sisters of Mercy. Yesterday, many former pupils returned for a huge reunion. The senior school has only this year become Co-ed and the first boys are currently in year 7.  I did a blog on the Sisters back in 2006
Training aircraft on the ground
The second 150th Anniversary was the Air Cadets. People have not been flying that long admittedly, but cadets came into existence after the Crimian War 150 years ago. Army Cadets, Air Training Corps, Combined Cadet Force and Sea Cadet Corps all trace their origins to 150 years ago. The Cadet Forces were initially formed to help bolster the country’s defence numbers after the Crimean War. It gave early training to young people, some of whom would join the forces and be already well prepared.
View looking at Abingdon from the South
150 Cadets each had a twenty minute training flight, each in a powered gliders from Dalton Barracks to celebrate the anniversary. They started flying at dawn on the longest Saturday and finished at dusk. Thanks to them for these few pictures taken over Abingdon and coming to land at Dalton Barracks…
View over Abingdon from Plane window

View of Abingdon Town Centre

View of Abingdon Town Centre

Coming in to land at Dalton Barracks

Mayor of Ock Street 2010

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Voting
Today the people of Ock Street and the surrounding courts had their chance to elect the Mayor of Ock Street.
Lots of people taking pictures
Normally there are two or three people taking snaps but this year it was as if the Paparazzi had descended on Abingdon.
Man with black face from up north
And the men with the black faces from up north who have completely different traditions were there too – not Morris at all but they enjoyed a dance and a beer.
Feeding The Ox
He could be just having a laugh but you never know. It may be symbolic.
Roger Cox - reelected
Roger Cox was re-elected as the Mayor of Ock Street. Roger at aged 60 defeated Harry Knight aged 59 by just a handful of votes.
Roger carried round
Roger was carried round town as the victor for the forth year running.
Late dancing
The dancing started at about 9:30 AM. It returned finally at 8:30 PM for the last dance before going on to the Abbey Buildings for a meal and some entertainment. I believe they then sing folk songs and show off their other talents.
Sammi Kebab
Another great Abingdon tradition watches on from his Kebab van.

Throwing Buns

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Throwing Buns
A new cafe / sandwich / bun shop is opening later this month in the shadows of the County Hall from where they throw the buns as part of the time honoured Abingdon tradition. See World of Buns for a Bun Throwing Timeline.

I guess the next official Bun Throwing is likely to be in 2012 when we celebrate The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee. Perhaps there will be some unofficial bun throwing in the new cafe on opening day. The Mayor will be there.

This was once Escapade, that gift shop with the incense and rings…  and up a few stairs… the second hand books,  greeting cards, and party games in tins.

Two Modern Abingdon Developments

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House in 1981
This advert shows three houses down West St Helen Street when they first went on sale in 1981. These houses were also on the books of a London based estate-agents (called Goddard and Smith)  and were described as being in the Heart of Abingdons Conservation Area – they still are.
House Now
Compare that with today, almost 30 years on. Not that much has changed in the scene apart from the number of  cars.  Even Conservation Areas have not banned traffic.
Our House
In the window of Andrews is a picture of Printer’s Court, a recently completed development, off Coopers Lane and Ock Street.
Our House
It backs on to the Royal Mail sorting Office Yard where there is the biggest yellow hatched area in Abingdon.
Our House

Royal Mail are also having work done on the flat roof of the sorting office to keep it watertight for the next ten, twenty years or even thirty years – or for however long we continue to send letters.