The annual Youth Festival of Music did not happen today. In previous years the young people have performed during torrential downpours, and today was such a lovely sunny day.

The town crier had come out expecting to announce the music starting at 11, but as there was no stage and no performers, he gave a cry instead for the archaeologist in the County Hall Museum.

She had over twenty visitors during the day. Discoveries came mostly from Abingdon, but there were also visitors from Frilford, and Clifton Hampden. Their finds were mostly Roman and Medieval coins and pots. The two Roman Coins shown above are from the late third century.

Also of interest was a tandem for sale near the Market Place.

I read in the Herald and then saw on the BBC local website that the Abingdon Country Market is to close after 65 years.

The 90 minute Country Market in the Roysse Room on a Friday Morning used to bring in the crowds, but not so much any longer.

In recent years The Country Market stall at the Farmers Market has been far more popular. So we will see next Friday at the Farmers Market whether they are still there.

I hope so, and they are just moving with the times.

The Local Excellence Market, organised by Choose Abingdon, was in town today.

The Mayor of Abingdon-on-Thames, Angela Lawrence, and Councillor Hermann Matheson, were selling wrist bands for next Saturday’s Music in the Park where Angela will be singing the lead in Rule Britannia.

Yvonne, a chocolate artist from Chocolate Tree, was getting people to create their own chocolate decorations.

Q Gardens, up on Milton Hill, are the largest fruit farm in Oxfordshire, and they also grow a lot of veg. They had a fine display of seasonal asparagus.

Designs in Glass helped restore some of the heraldic panels during the refurbishment of Abingdon County Hall. On display they had ornaments, and some of their modern window designs.

More local excellence will be featured next time there is a Local Excellence Market.