The Financial Times Blog points out that the backdrop for The Key Note Speech, at this years Conservative Party Conference, by the Shadow Chancellor, was Abingdon.

The blogger begins… “What patch of Middle England did they chose? Well we can reveal that it is the fine Oxfordshire market town of Abingdon, home of Radiohead. Forget pebble-dash voters. Osborne placed himself firmly in the shires…..Labour will be delighted. It neatly fits into their attempt to define the Tory “North Oxfordshire set”“

But then somebody called John commented “Abingdon is south of the Thames (it used to be the county town of Berkshire) so it is hardly “north Oxfordshire” and was the home of the MG factory that made the iconic MGB, among others. It is now the home to some of the highest-technology workers in the world as Harwell and Culham (the home of the Joint European Torus) are both within walking distance (but for Harwell cycling is preferable) . So less the bucolic past that your anonymous minster would like your readers to believe, more the high-tech future.“

Well Put! But I’m not sure about South of The Thames. How does that work? Also anyone know where in Abingdon it is. The only building it looks like to me is St Helen and St Katherine School.

The Fair has gone now, and the bin men have been to collect our rubbish one day later than usual.

A few more pictures of the Fair…

Another prize has just been won.

Candy Floss, Toffee Apples, and Jumbo Hot Dogs.

Amusements.

The Bungee Ball.

This one is just a Blurr….

Storm.

Here is the Abingdon Michaelmas Fair with the County Hall as a backdrop.

There seemed to be a lot of spider men about this year – as prizes. Here is just one at the bottom of Stratton Way.

Dodgems…

Rides …

The Fair Operators look nonchalant. They have seen it all before.

Quite late, there was a bit of a confrontation between two groups of lads. But plenty of police were on the spot, and I hope not much came of it.

Finally a Swing Roundabout with Bellingers, the Abingdon Vauxhall dealer, in the background.

You will have to see the Harry Dog Blog to see Harry getting blessed as part of a Vicar of Dibley Style animal Service at St Edmund’s.

But Harry is not the only one got blessed. The Fair also got blessed at the annual Fair Service.

Revd Richard Bittleston from Trinity led the proceedings.

The Abingdon Town Band led the hymns which were all old favourites of mine.

Thanks to Anne – who borrowed my camera – for these pictures. Here is the Mayor, Patricia Hobby, with Nigel Warner, the Town Clerk.