There is an old Abingdon custom of throwing buns from the County Hall. Its origin is obscure, but it has been in its present form since the coronation of George III in 1761. The bun throwing is performed by the Mayor and town council who, in their robes of office, climb to the roof of the County Hall and throw buns to people assembled in the Market Place beneath. The buns are rather like hot cross buns where the cross is replaced by letters or numbers designating the cause for celebration. The example above shows PR for the visit of the Princess Royal in 2006.
Throwing small cakes for ceremonial reasons was not uncommon in late Medieval England. On a Tudor History web page, one entry says “On Palm Sunday the boys of Chippenham in Wiltshire, like those of other parishes, climbed onto the church roof to throw small cakes to the crowd below. In 1507, Palm Sunday fell on 28 March. At Chippenham Francis Gore and Nicholas Hulkebere were not among the boys sitting on the roof of the south aisle, but on the ground with those taking part in the church procession and scrambling to collect the cakes. Disastrously it was not only the cakes that came down from the roof. Two large stones fell on top of them and crushed them.”
A modern day DJ, Steve Aoki, has also made it part of his act to throw cakes at his audience as part of his show. He showers those below with ‘cake love’ as he calls it. The instream video shows a guy in a wheelchair catching some of the ‘cake love’ …
In June 2016 Abingdon will hold a ceremonial bun throwing to celebrate the 90th birthday of her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.
Nearby Wantage will also hold a public cake throwing against two councillors who have been derelict in their duty. Wantage is the birthplace of King Alfred who, being preoccupied with the problems of running an ancient kingdom, accidentally let some cakes burn, and was scolded by a woman who had entrusted the task to him. Accordingly the Mayor and town councillors of the town of Wantage have an ancient tradition of throwing burnt cakes at any of their members who have failed to keep their eyes on the task in hand.
Alastair, could you use your connections to advise the Mayor and Councillors to stop throwing buns if they see any up-turned umbrellas; people can’t see past them and it’s grossly unfair!
On the subject of bun throwing I would recommend people to look at an excellent example on the British Pathe news site on YouTube entitled ,’Special-Royal Visit -1956′.This also includes the reopening of the old Hall,Morris dancing and Her Majesty’s visit to Wallingford and RAF Benson.
It’s a good job the “public cake throwing against two councillors who have been derelict in their duty” isn’t against Abingdon/Vale councillors….I can think of a few who would (SHOULD), be lined up against the wall!
On 2nd thoughts….LET’S MAKE IT a real thing….might make a few of them consider their decisions for the town a bit more carefully! (And let’s not waste cake either…. rotten tomatoes?)
Ps We could include EX councillors too?
Good Morning Iain ;o)
Just checking the date 🙂
If only “are you ‘avin a laugh!?”, and ” you’ve got to be joking” were phrases we used on just 1 day a year?
Unfortunately “you can not be serious” is what we come to expect…. Then again, they do just take us all for fools, everyday single day…
Good one, Peter Del. And any athletic big man who catches more than one bun should hand them over to the less agile. With a smile, please. Last time I saw people walking off with sackfulls of buns while children who had been knocked over in the scramble went home crying.
Btw. I’m assuming, Backstreeter, that you didn’t realise that there was an expletive flashed up on the screen of the video? (Or was that an April Fools joke too?) :o)
Ps I bet that clip gets a lot of views now!
I can’t find the time for the bun throwing anywhere – does anyone know?