At Abingdon Lock boats were not being allowed through from Oxford as there was a police incident at Culham Reach.
So boats were allowed to go to Oxford but would not be allowed back again until the restriction was lifted. Both river and footpath were closed just beyond Abingdon Marina while the police, fire, and environment agency searched the river.
It meant there were very few boats coming through Abingdon today.
Les Badcock led out the Mr Hemmings Traditional Abingdon Morris Dancers on their day of dance today. This is always held on a nearest Saturday to the birthday of former Abingdon Morris dancing legend Tom Hemmings who kept the Abingdon Tradition alive in the mid 19th century.
Teams included Summertown Morris, a women’s side from Oxford.
Ashnah, American Tribal Style Belly Dancers from Abingdon on Thames.
Morris Dancers from Adderbury Village, just south of Banbury;
Borderline from Arborfield, south of Reading,
and Windsor Morris – a female side dancing in the very bouncy style of the nineteenth century Cotswold villages of Badby and Brackley.
Near the Market Place were also members of the Britain Stronger In Europe campaign. There could well be a lot of In Out In Out campaigning in the weeks to come.
There is a mini-ring of bells on the Market Place this morning.
The Stallpits Mini-Ring, from Shrivenham in Oxfordshire, began touring in 2013 with a ring at the Faringdon Corn Exchange. The bells are in Abingdon today to help promote the Hope within Us events, that begin in a week. Everybody can have a go, and sign the visitors book.
Also on the Market Place was a stall raising money for Christian Aid, and for the Gerontius Amenity Fund – a charity founded in 2012 by people with contacts in Sierra Leone to provide health care for poor people.
In the first election for the Thames Valley Police and crime commissioner (PCC) back in 2012 the turnout was 13.3 per cent. That was thought to be disappointing.
The 2016 PCC election is the first election, that I remember, where no literature has been delivered to our door. We will wait and see the turnout with interest.