There was a lot happening in Abingdon today.

Trinity had a Christmas Fair.

St Helen’s had a Christmas Market.

At Trinity, one of the stalls was selling Christmas cards and decorations made by Trinity’s Friendship Group.

At St Helen’s one of the stalls was selling books written by the Rector of St Helen’s, Revd Charles Miller, together with poetry books by Rowan Williams.

On the Market Place there was a Local Excellence Market – the first of three weekend events organised by Abingdon-on-Thames Chamber of Commerce. Next Saturday is the Christmas Extravaganza, and the week after is the Christmas Craft Market.

Would you like to switch on the Christmas lights at the Extravaganza? Find as many elfs as you can in the town’s shop windows to get the chance.

There is one elf in the shop where you can buy My First Christmas neckerchiefs.

Children in Need happens this Friday – 16th November. There are lots of ways to help raise money for this good cause. The car park attendant at Coxeters has found one of the best (Thanks to Steve for this picture.)

I am not forgetting that Children in Need recently helped fund a big project at The Abingdon Bridge.

Among the posters at the Library + Mostly Books is one for a concert on Saturday by the Sea Green Singers at the Abbey Chapel, Checker Walk. They sing for causes they believe in – the ordinary men and women in England struggling for justice, equality, and freedom.

The Christmas version of Oxfordshire Art Weeks is also on with one exhibition in Abingdon, and one nearby in Radley.

At Dalton Barracks a fireworks festival was being prepared throughout the day.

The rain made the organisers nervous.

Evening came and then lots of people decided to go to the event. The roads ground to a standstill, and so the main display was delayed while the cars were directed in.

Children’s quiet fireworks began the evening.

The bonfire was lit. There was a funfair and food kiosks.

There followed a display of fireworks, one by one, where we were educated about the different fireworks. We were like students being taught about music before going to a concert.

Then the main display came. It was well worth the wait.

The fireworks choreographed with music …

were beautiful.

Bun Throwing is an Abingdon Tradition that began with the 1761 Coronation of King George III, and celebrates important Royal and other events. Buns are thrown by local dignitaries from the roof of the County Hall to the populace. (This year we saw the introduction of an ingredients list so that there was no problems with the modern problem of allergies.)

The reason for the 2018 bun throw was to celebrate, one hundred years ago, the end of the WW1 . The dignitaries, aided by a few soldiers with good throwing skills, threw the buns.

It was raining rain

as well as buns.

Thankyou to Elizabeth for sending me this picture of her grandson with some buns. One is the special centenary buns with a poppy.

Richard Gottfried has been running the World of Bun Throwing Blog since 2006, and has attended every bun throwing in his lifetime.  He was born in Abingdon and comes back for every bun throw.

This time he got hit by a bun while taking a selfie.

After the people had gone there were rich picking for the Abingdon pigeons. They love bun throwing too.