The best thing about the Royal Jubilee is the sense of
Occasion. I’m not even sure that an upper case “O” is enough to convey the huge
amount of preparations currently going on: or the huge amounts of bunting absolutely
Everywhere. There’s bunting. And
there’s bunting on bunting. And then……
(The bunting though. Nice bunting itself I like, but there is
horrendous tacky pictures, banners and plastic junk all over the place. It’s
really not required. The country should be celebrating itself, not the ability
to import the cheapest of tat.) However: I digress.
Amongst all the pomp and pageantry, the soldiers in bearskin
hats, the horse and carriages, eccentric England has always had a fine line in
quirky traditions. And Bun Throwing, this
particularly regional tradition is one of the more bizarre.
Since the 19th, the Royal town of Abingdon Upon Thames
has been marking Royal Occasions (marriages, births, coronations and so forth) in
a unique “Bun Throwing” event. The Town Councillors gather on the roof of the
recently refurbished County Hall in the centre of the town, and throw thousands
spiced buns down to celebratory throng below in the Market Place. The County Hall contains a Museum dedicated to the history of
Abingdon (also home of the MG motor car.) In their cabinets are some dried buns
from many Bun Throwing’s through the years.
There is also “Throwing
Buns” an aptly named café right next to the county hall, which contains a
wealth of information on the cake-y craziness. I have to admit it's a particular favourite of the Lazy Mum, nearly daily a variable faction of yummy, slummy, lazy mums meet to come to terms with another day. The coffee and cakes help soften the blow.*The Buns* as called affectionately is a real oasis of quirky loveliness slap bang in the centre of Abingdon.
And here I was to find the only non tacky piece of Jubilee merchandise,
and something celebrating all things unique, handmade and eccentric. It’s this (available
to order HERE.)beautiful girls dress. Something
beautiful, unique and unusual. I’m so against the tat. Throwing Buns cafe has
again got the tone just right. And this gorgeous dress by Mandmade is made by
hand in Abingdon itself.
This year sees an attempt to solve the age old problem of the Mayor and dignitaries not being able to throw the Buns very far from the top of the magnificent County Hall. The council invited James May the charmingly eccentric Top Gear and maverick "Man Lab" to come up with a solution. Mr May is most likely fretting over last minute detail - or it may have all fallen apart - as this is written so the results are awaited with baited breath. His contraption is set to be displayed in the County Hall after the Jubilee and will also feature on his popular Man Lab TV series.
Abingdon and particularly "the buns" sounds great I wish I could join you there for a coffee and a bun. I would eat it thought not throw it(too greedy)
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