
The Mayor of Abingdon and his Deputy took part today in sky dive to raise money for the Mayor’s Charities, one of which is the Fire Fighters Charity. The fund raising was joined by firemen from Bicester.

All did a tandem jump which involves being strapped to an instructor.

and taken by a very cramped aircraft up to about 13,000 feet over Royal Air Force – Weston on The Green. The cloud level was about 5,000 feet. Then they threw themselves out of the plane, fell for about 30 seconds to just above the clouds. The parachutes were then successfully opened.

Not much more to tell. There was a lot of wheeling round as the parachutes came near the ground. After landing, the Mayor was raring to have another go, but his Deputy felt a little sick – being somebody who can’t even do a fairground ride normally.
Displays for Mayor of Ock Street’s Day June 19th!

On June 19th the residents of Ock Street choose The Mayor of Ock Street – or Mock Mayor of Abingdon. I have a suspicion that this is a very important year for the Morris Dancers.
There are two groups of Traditional Abingdon Morris Dancers. For 40 long years they have not danced together. But things are happening…
Two weeks ago at the Cherry Tree in Steventon both groups were there together and some were looking for a chance to dance together.

Whoever becomes Mock Mayor, and leader of the Abingdon Traditional Morris Dancers, will need to handle this situation. Get it wrong and there could be three groups of Morris Dancers. The new group would be those who want to end the forty year feud and dance together.

There are displays in the shops of Abingdon to promote the annual election – in Fatface, Scuffs , and Merityre.
(The real Mayor of Abingdon will be dancing on the day as a member of the Abingdon Traditional Morris Dancers. There was talk earlier in the year that he might also stand to become Mock Mayor. I don’t think that is going to happen. But he is to jump out of an aeroplane tomorrow for charity. See more and sponsor him on The Mayor of Abingdon’s Brand New Website. )
Sea Cadets on Parade

Here are a couple of pictures from the annual inspection of Abingdon’s very own Sea Cadet’s by the regional Officer – seen here comparing his own boot-shine with that of an Abingdon Sea Cadet.

Also present were… The High Sheriff of Oxfordshire, The chair of VWHDC, Mayor of Abingdon, representatives of the other local Cadet forces, The Thames Valley Police, A Fitzharries school teacher (‘school teachers of cadets are always welcome’)… + Friends and family.
The cadets performed a Ceremonial Guard and were presented with certificates and badges earned during the year.
Thanks to Sue for the pictures. (‘The Sea Cadets are a voluntary uniformed youth organisation, open to all young people aged 12 to 18 which provides fun, friendship, adventure, and learning on water and on land.’)
Mother Goose and the Duckling

A little duckling is making cheep cheep noises because he cannot find his mum and desperately starts following a group of geese.

Mother Goose turned and soon let the ducking know that it had made a mistake and got it to go away. It carried on going cheep cheep as it carried on looking. Mum was not to be seen.