Sunday was a day for 90th Birthday Parties for HM Queen Elizabeth in Abingdon. I expect others will send more pictures in due course. But here is a quick look at what was happening at Abingdon Rugby Club where ‘Yeah Baby’ organised the bands.

The Mayor of Abingdon, Councillor Alice Badcock, was there to host this event put on for people in the town.

There were a number of entertainers there

including Mr Fox, and the fantastic Mr Otter who wheeled a wooden cart laden with magic props and curios.

At 18:00 on Saturday in St Nic’s Church people gathered for a service of celebration for the Queen’s 90th Birthday while crowds outside gathered for the bun throwing.

The service was led by Rev’d Paul Smith, and the singing was led by four choirs from: St Helen’s, St Nic’s, St Michael’s, and Radley Parish Church. The choirs sang Zadoc the Priest, and led the congregation singing some of Her Majesty’s favorite hymns (as featured at her own wedding) including ‘Praise my Soul the King of Heaven’ and ‘The Lord’s My Shepherd’. They also sang the National Anthem but not the verse about ‘Scattering her enemies and Confounding their politics…’

Her Majesty might have been amused to hear the service being accompanied by tunes such as the floral dance played outside by Abingdon Town Band.

The crowds gathered outside had grown so large that it was difficult to get out at the end of the service. Worshipers had to make an escape from the side entrance to join the crowds for the bun throw.

At the start of the bun throw we saw three different hot air balloons behind St Nic’s Church: an MG balloon, a green and white balloon, and a Union Jack balloon.

Bradley took the pictures used here flying the green yellow and white balloon. Many thanks to him.

They took off from Rye farm meadow with the kind permission of the local authorities, and got some amazing views of the Bun Throwing.
The MG balloon was flown by Peter Woodward,

and the Union Jack balloon (seen at Rye Farm before take off) was piloted by Peter George.

If there is one thing that sets Abingdon apart from the rest of the world it is that we like Throwing Buns on Royal Occasions.

On the Market Place today people started to gather from about 3pm. The crowds just grew and grew and by 6pm the Market Place was already getting full. There was some Morris Dancing, and the National Anthem was played by Abingdon Town Band just before 7pm.

Then people began shouting together ‘We want buns! We want buns!’

At 7pm, Abingdon Town Councillors, Freemen, helpers from the army, and even world champion bun throwers, began throwing currant buns to the populace. They had 4,500 buns specially made by Tesco. There were some normal currant buns,

and others with ’90’ on them.

Bun throwing happens at Abingdon on major Royal, national, and civic events. This bun throwing was to celebrate the 90th birthday of  Queen Elizabeth II.

We love catching buns here in Abingdon.




Happy 90th Birthday from Abingdon!