Recently I mentioned a walk that visited some places associated with St Edmund of Abingdon. We learned that St. Edmund’s Chapel and St. Edmund’s Fair perpetuated his memory for some time in Abingdon. St Edmund’s Chapel was near St Edmund’s Lane, and St Edmund’s Fair was on the day when St. Edmund was ‘translated’ to become a saint (9th June). As the calendar was changed to come into line with the rest of Europe in 1750 and 11 days added, then we assumed that St Edmund’s Fair would now be on the 20th June one day before the summer solstice.

Tuesday 9 June 1668 was the day that Samuel Pepys visited Abingdon, on the way from Oxford, and wrote in his diary “At night come to Abingdon, where had been a fair of custard; and met many people and scholars going home; and there did get some pretty good musick, and sang and danced till supper: 5s.”

We also learned that the school fair at St Edmund School takes place on the Saturday nearest 20th June.

The Great Get Together took place today in memory of the late MP, Jo Cox, who represented the constituency of Batley and Spen in Yorkshire. Many thousands of events have taken place across the country including the one in Abingdon at St Ethelwolds House. People brought food to share.

On what was a very hot day it was good that there were lots of salads and cool drinks.

And people sat out on the lawns and terraces sharing the food and meeting new people.

Entertainment was provided by, among others, the Mayor on penny whistle, her escourt on the piano accordian, and members of the John Mason folk players.

The event was organised by Emma, inspired by Jo Cox to found Better off Together in Abingon; and by Sue of Host Abingdon, and other groups such as the Abingdon Peace Group.

Both Emma and Sue gave a short speech, as did the Mayor, Cllr Jan Morter. The final speech was given by Layla Moran, the new MP for this area who remembered Jo Cox and her maiden speech in the House of Commons.

Jo Cox said “Batley and Spen is a gathering of typically independent, no-nonsense and proud Yorkshire towns and villages. Our communities have been deeply enhanced by immigration, be it of Irish Catholics across the constituency or of Muslims from Gujarat in India or from Pakistan, principally from Kashmir. While we celebrate our diversity, what surprises me time and time again as I travel around the constituency is that we are far more united and have far more in common with each other than things that divide us.”

Saturday 17th June is the day when the residents and businesses of Ock Street elect a mock mayor for the next year… The results of the election can be heard some time after 4:15pm outside the Brewery Tap. The new Mayor is then paraded down Ock Street. Throughout the day morris dancing can be seen in and near the town centre, and down Ock Street.

Also on Saturday is the Trinity Church Fair from 10 to 12:30, and the St Edmunds School Fair 12:30 – 15:30.

And on Sunday the great get together in honour of Jo Cox takes place at St Ethelwold’s House 12:00 to 3:00.

The annual Music in The Park was a sell out. The event is like one big party with many family and friendship groups converging on the Abbey Grounds to party and picnic together, and enjoy the music with everybody else.

There were bands like Bigtopp, an energentic band, with a new take on ska;

and the AGC Rock Band – an army band from the Adjutant General’s Corps. Very good and popular they were too.

The evening clouded over, after a sunny day, and there were a few drops of rain at one point, but that soon passed and didn’t scare anybody.

The evening concluded with a lot of flag waving, including many Union Jacks, and at least one Rainbow Flag …

as Abingdon Town Band took to the stage led by the inimitable Steve Rich.

They started with some modern classics. The song 500 miles went down particularly well with people up front stomping the 500 miles, and photo bombing my camera.

The evening concluded with You Will Never Walk Alone, and music from the Proms … Land of Hope and Glory, Rule Britannia, and The National Anthem.

The evening finished with a reprise of the music and some spectacular fireworks. We went safely home afterwards to hear of another terrorist attack in London and pray for those affected.