Thanks to Elizabeth and Peter for more pictures taken yesterday.

It was Palm Sunday yesterday, and Elizabeth sent me a picture of the Palm Sunday Procession round St Helen’s Church beside the River Thames in Abingdon. Palm Sunday commemorates the entrance of Jesus into Jerusalem riding on a donkey, when people welcomed him with palm branches, and the people in yesterday’s procession carried crosses made from palm leaves.

Peter sent me some more pictures taken during the Spring Head rowing yesterday. Here is one rower after the race near Abingdon Bridge.

Here are rowers going under Abingdon Bridge.

A picture from the bridge looking down giving a feeling of movement.

And from Nags Head Island near Abingdon Bridge
Abingdon Rowing Club hold annual Spring Head of the River time trials

The Abingdon Rowing Club chose the warmest day of the year for the annual Spring Head of the River time trials. Boats were put into the River Thames at the landing stages alongside Rye Farm Meadows.
Lots of people were there to enjoy the spectacle and the sunshine.

The rowers then rowed under Abingdon Bridge, and beside St helen’s Church, to the start at Culham Reach, passing the finish along the way.

There was rowing throughout the day as rowers were divided into four divisions. So at most times there were rowers either rowing to the start, or racing to the finish.
They started in the wilds of Culham.

They passed the woody area of the Marina Park.

Then came into the blue stretch alongside Abingdon Rowing Club.

Back at Rye Farm Meadow there were refreshment tents serving burgers and hot dogs.

Then another batch of 80 boats set off for the start.

An excellent job was done by the stewards keeping order, and allowing other motor boats to come through during the gaps between racing.
Abingdon Horticultural Society – Spring Show 2017

There were colourful displays of flowers and plants at the Abingdon Horticultural Society – Spring Show, in the Northcourt Centre this afternoon.
In the main hall, many early flowers were displayed and judged by category. Most of the daffodils are faded outside, but exhibitors had managed to keep some daffodils at their peak for the show.

Also on display were works of art and craft; pictures of the Best Spring Gardens, three of which had been given prizes; and a selection of photographs on a Spring Theme.

Then in the back room were displays of preserves and cakes, and a few entries for the children’s classes: decorated eggs, paintings on a Spring theme, and Easter nests.
Coffee and tea and cake were also available, and after looking around the show, people were sitting outside enjoying the spring sunshine.
Abingdon Operatic, Wide River Load, and Tombola

In town this morning there was a display in the Community Space, and people handing out leaflets, for the upcoming Abingdon Operatic Society production of Annie (18th-22nd April at the Amey Theatre).

Such a lovely morning. On the River Thames there was a wide load being transported slowly upstream, driven by a small outboard motor, and accompanied by other craft..

It contained the main landing stage and various pontoons and picnic tables for tomorrow’s Head of the River rowing event.

Last year, the event had to be called off because the current was too strong, and Abingdon Rowing Club could not navigate this wide load safely under Abingdon Bridge.

Also in town was a tombola raising funds for one of the local political parties. Pictured here, with the ticket 680 prize, is Pat Lonergan, the Town Councillor with the current longest unbroken term of office – he was first elected in 2003.