Wednesday, September 08, 2021

Abingdon Bun Throwing in 2022

There are plans for The Queen's Platinum Jubilee celebrations in Abingdon-on-Thames to include a bun throwing event.


To celebrate Her Majesty The Queen's 70 year reign there will be a number of events taking place in Abingdon-on-Thames between Thursday 2nd June and Sunday 5th June.

Taking into account that many previous bun throwings in Abingdon have taken place on Saturday afternoons or early evenings it's likely that Saturday 4th June will be the bun throwing event day.


Currant buns from the Bun Throwing that celebrated the Diamond Jubilee of Elizabeth II in 2012. A total of 6,000 buns were thrown on that occasion
Currant buns from the bun throwing that celebrated the Diamond Jubilee of Elizabeth II in 2012. A total of 6,000 buns were thrown on that occasion 

The last bun throwing held in the town to date was in 2018 to commemorate 100 years since the end of the First World War. That bun throwing was the 35th event since 1761.

The tradition sees the mayor and other dignitaries climb to the top of the old County Hall to throw hundreds or thousands of currant buns down to the townsfolk gathered in the market place below.


I'll be keeping an eye on the Abingdon Town Council website for more information on the jubilee events and a possible bun throwing next year.

Buns at the Museum - a history of throwing buns

Abingdon Museum has a special bun throwing exhibition this month.


Currant buns from the bun throwing that celebrated the Diamond Jubilee of Elizabeth II in 2012. A total of 6,000 buns were thrown on that occasion

Abingdon Museum has created a special exhibition titled "Buns at the Museum - a history of throwing buns" as part of the upcoming Heritage Open Days at the museum between the 11th and 19th September.

Check out the Abingdon County Hall Museum website for more information.


The last bun throwing held in the town to date was in 2018 to commemorate 100 years since the end of the First World War. That bun throwing was the 35th event since 1761.

The tradition of bun throwing sees the mayor and other dignitaries climb to the top of the old County Hall to throw hundreds or thousands of currant buns down to the townsfolk gathered in the market place below.

Friday, June 25, 2021

Bun throwing in the news

It was nice to hear that bun throwing was featured in the Abingdon Herald and Oxford Mail this week with a look at the town's bizarre and ancient tradition.


It was fun that a photo of me throwing a bun at the Royal Bun Throwing Championships in 2012 was included in the piece too!

Throwing a currant bun at the World Bun Throwing Championships at Abingdon Vale Cricket Club
Throwing a currant bun at the World Bun Throwing Championships at Abingdon Vale Cricket Club

Check out the article on the Abingdon Herald and Oxford Mail websites.


The last bun throwing held in Abingdon-on-Thames was in November 2018 to mark 100 years since the end of the First World War.


That bun throwing was the 35th event to take place since 1761.

I wonder when it will be possible to hold another bun throwing?

Tuesday, February 23, 2021

Bun Throwing in the Oxford Mail

Bun throwing featured in the Oxford Mail.


My mum let me know that a photo of me appeared in yesterday's Oxford Mail (Monday 22nd February) in a photo feature about bun throwing events from years gone by.

You can see the article online too.

Richard Gottfried throwing a currant bun at the World Bun Throwing Championships at Abingdon Vale Cricket Club in 2012. Photo by Emily Gottfried
The paper had a photo of me throwing a currant bun at the World Bun Throwing Championships at Abingdon Vale Cricket Club on the 14th April 2012. That's the photographer who took the snap in this photo that Emily took!

Looking on the Oxford Mail website there was another mention of bun throwing last week in a piece titled "5 unique traditions only people in Oxfordshire understand".

Monday, January 04, 2021

Abingdon Bun Throwing 1995

The Abingdon Traditional Morris Dancers recently posted a video of the Abingdon Bun Throwing in 1995 that commemorated the 50th anniversary of VE day.

You can watch it on the Abingdon Traditional Morris Dancers Facebook Page.

It's nice to see the old shops in the background too. My first job was at the Tandy shop in the Market Place.