Earlier this morning, some of the Abingdon town centre shops were getting ready for the celebration of Queen Elizabeth II’s 90th Birthday.

Throwing buns had just started putting up bunting and flags.

Fabulous Flowers had almost completed a fabulous floral arch in red white and blue.

And, after an early start, there was time to sit down for a cup of tea at Sue Ryder. They will be serving cream teas, and putting on entertainment throughout the day, as a fund raiser.

This photograph was taken by H.J. Milligan (Copyright) of Abingdon when there was a Bun Throwing from the roof of Abingdon County Hall in the year ____.

The Abingdon Herald had a picture of the new Mayor of Abingdon for that year. He had baked the 2500 buns himself for he was also a Master Baker. On that occasion the Monarch’s speech for the Royal Occasion was amplified across the Market Place using loud speakers.

Was the year?
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In 2016 to celebrate the Queen’s 90th Birthday, at St Nics at 18:00 (on 11th June) there will be a Choral Evensong followed by bells and a traditional bun throwing at 19:00 on the Market Place.

Abingdon Town Council have also organised a Queen’s 90th Birthday Picnic Party Sunday, at the Rugby Club, 12th June, 12:00-16:00pm.

Abingdon Vineyard Church have also got a Queen’s 90th Birthday Party, with children’s activities, on 12th June from 10:30 – 13:00 at Preston Road Community Centre.

There was an over 90s party at Christchurch last weekend.

Last Friday, Radio 4’s Any Questions was introduced by Jonathan Dimbleby … “Welcome to Oxfordshire, to Abingdon beside the Thames, and to an Independent Girls School with pupils aged between 9 and 18, called St Helen and St Katharine School. It has all the facilities that you might expect of such an institution including a Science Centre with twelve new laboratories and a 3-D design centre. The School’s vision is to inspire the next generation of leading women.”

With just under three weeks to go to the EU referendum, the first question was ‘If we Brexit will we have more control to limit immigration?”

There to answer were Caroline Lucas, Green MP and board member of the pro-European Britain Stronger in Europe campaign, seen her with Rebecca Dougall, Head of the school. Also there were Gisela Stuart, Labour MP for Birmingham, Edgbaston and Chair of the Vote Leave campaign; and Julia Hartley-Brewer, journalist and broadcaster, current morning presenter on Talk Radio and a vociferous Brexiter,

and Lord Heseltine. Caroline Lucas had the final words on the first question and spoke on the value of inspiring people, particularly young people, about everything that is positive about EU membership.

Next was a question from 16 year-old Florence Wiggins a Lower 6 student at St Helen’s. “Why weren’t 16 and 17 year olds being allowed to vote in the forthcoming referendum?” The exchange included Julia Hartley-Brewer commenting wryly that “Cameron is now wishing he’d extended voting rights as polls suggest more 16 and 17 year olds would vote stay” and was thrown back to Florence who articulated the position that this was about the future of the UK and that the impact legacy of the decision on 23rd June will be on her generation, citing the previously temporarily lowered voting age for the 2014 Scottish independence referendum.

Impressed by the balance and maturity of Florence’s response, Lord Heseltine said “I may not want to give the vote to all 16 year olds, but I would certainly give the vote to you” which was greeted with a mighty cheer from the 300 strong audience.

The rest of the programme can be heard at BBC Radio 4 – Any Questions.

The annual fun in the parks is taking place today in the Abbey Gardens, and on the main stage to start the day was the Abingdon Community Orchestra.

Organised by Abingdon-on-Thames Town Council the event incorporates lots of colourful people.

The Red Cross are there as always to provide trained first aiders.

There was a recent news story about the biggest bouncy castle in the world. It cannot be much bigger than some of the inflatables at the Abbey Meadows today. There were also lots of community groups with stalls in the Car Park.

There are also a bike track, a climbing wall, and army recruitment personnel and vehicles on the Market Place to ensure the town centre is also involved.

Later today there will also be the Music in the Park. They have run out of wrist bands for that.