While the newer part of the Guildhall is being revamped, the Town Council Tourist and Visitor Information service has moved downstairs to Roysse Court.

Next door, at St Nicolas Church at lunchtime, Ruth Weinberg was doing a slide show on Victorian Abingdon – the second event this year for Heritage Open Days.

She told us that the River Stert used to be an open ditch that ran along Stert Street, with bridges across. There was a peculiar sound to be heard on Saturday nights when people left the  Stert Street drinking establishments, called the Saturday Night Sound – of people landing with a splash. It was an interesting and entertaining talk with many good pictures.

This Saturday, there are events on the Market Place, and 16 open properties – all for free. It will be the first time that The Abingdon Bridge (at The Old Police Station on Bridge Street), and the Bowling Club in Albert park, have taken part.

The bells of St Nicolas Church, in Abingdon, rang out during the bun throwing ceremony when the Queen visited Abingdon in 1956, and rang out at 6pm this evening to mark the hour when Queen Elizabeth II became the longest reigning monarch.

The peel began with the trainee group.

The church of St Nicolas has been there since at least 1170, and so has been there since the reign of Henry II, through the reign of 37 Monarchs.

Not far away Fabulous Flowers had their own tribute.

The Queen, now 89 years old, went about business as usual: opening a railway, unveiling a plaque, meeting people ,and passing the many flowers she received to a lady in waiting.

At 6pm, on 9th September 2015, the bells will be rung at St Nicolas Church in Abingdon for Queen Elizabeth II who will become the longest serving Monarch – surpassing the record of 63 years and 216 days set by Queen Victoria.

The annual Rotary Dragon Boat Day was being held on the River Thames at Rye Farm Meadow in Abingdon-on-Thames.

The day was sunny with a cooling breeze and large crowds gathered.

There were lots of other things happening including funfair, BBQ, tea tent, real ale beer tent, music and community stalls.

Lots of people dressed up.

There is no chance to practice before the day, and dry land coaching is given before teams get into their boats.

Teams raced against each other to get a good time and progress to the semi finals and finals, raising money for their own charities and the Rotary charity.

A good time was had by all. Some teams had better times than others.