ONE of Oxfordshire’s quirkiest traditions was celebrated in spectacular style for the Platinum Jubilee, as 5,000 buns were thrown from the top of Abingdon’s county hall.
The event, which dates back more than 400 years, is usually held to mark a royal occasion, with town councillors voting on whether to lob the currant buns into the crowd.
The use of umbrellas to capture more buns was banned this year, yet that did not deter hundreds of people from trying to catch a fast-moving baked good.
Crowds already gathering in Abingdon for one of the quirkiest of Oxfordshire’s traditions - bun throwing pic.twitter.com/UnxpecGtE7
— Liam Rice (@OxMailLiamRice) June 5, 2022
Jon Crowley, a member of Abingdon Guild of Town Criers, said: “It’s always a special occasion, it’s not a regular event and the council decides when they feel it’s important enough.
“It’s kept fairly rare to keep the event special, it’s nearly always royal events. Absolutely everybody can take part, there’s Morris dancing, town crying – it’s designed for everyone, much like pantomimes or the circus.
“The town is spread out into the north with the more modern houses, but this brings everyone in, and you can make friends.
“There should be a bun for everyone – we banned umbrellas as people used to open them out and capture them.”
One person who managed to get hold of a bun was Sue Kalnus, whose mum, Ann, used to be a town councillor, and has lived in Abingdon since 1970.
She said: “It was a part of growing up, this is only in Abingdon – which is awfully boring and normal except for days like this.
“It’s so good to see people coming together. One bun smacked me but I’m ridiculously happy to have one and I’ll be telling all my friends in California the weird things that English people do.”
Alan and Diane Dickson made the trip all the way from Edinburgh, and captured four buns, including one with ‘70’ emblazoned on it – marking the 70 years Queen Elizabeth II has sat on the throne.
Mr Dickson said: “We heard about it four years ago and we thought we should come down to try it.
“It’s amazing how many people were in the crowds, it was absolutely worth coming. The people of Abingdon are so friendly.”
Mrs Dickson added: “It’s a wonderful eccentric tradition. I’d hugely recommend it to anyone else, it was a brilliant day.”
Entertaining the crowds before the buns were hurled from the top of the county hall was the Abingdon Traditional Morris Dancers.
The group’s Mayor of Ock Street – a mock mayor – Harry Knight, said: “It went brilliantly – if I’m honest it’s been one of the best bun throwings, it was very well-organised, the weather was good, the children were at the front and able to get their hands on the buns.
“We’re here to keep the crowds entertained and keep things going. Luckily we had the band as well, but we just carry on rain or shine.
“It’s been a good weekend with things going on and this is the climax of it, it could’ve haven’t gone better.”
Read more from this author
This story was written by Liam Rice, he joined the team in 2019 as a multimedia reporter.
Liam covers politics, travel and transport. He occasionally covers Oxford United.
Get in touch with him by emailing: Liam.rice@newsquest.co.uk
Follow him on Twitter @OxMailLiamRice
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