There was a good turnout for the annual Boxing Day MG car get-together in Abingdon Market Place. At one point 53 cars were counted, with several others having already arrived and departed earlier in the morning.
The temperature hovered around 4°C, but unlike Christmas Eve there was no windchill, and the sun made an appearance. Although the official start time was 9:30 am, cars began arriving earlier, and by mid-morning the Market Place was almost full, with latecomers being carefully squeezed into spaces.
Among the late arrivals was Bridget the Midget. In 2008–09 she became the first MG to circumnavigate the globe in a single run, and has since taken part in many other long-distance adventures.
The Boxing Day meet was once an opportunity for a shared drive, but has become more of a social gathering, with drivers and onlookers chatting throughout the morning.
Getting a cup of coffee was no problem, with the cafés around the Market Place doing a good trade.
There was also fundraising for Abingdon Foodbank, who had been invited along.
Eventually the cars departed one by one, and by 12:30pm most had left. This particular MG had come over from Pangbourne.
The Market Place was once a carpark, but nowadays only MGs are allowed on the Market Place by prior arrangement. The organisers of this event are the Abingdon Works Centre of the MG Car Club.
