Photos from Abingdon's Royal Bun Throwing

Bun Throwing held in Abingdon to celebrate the Queen's 90th birthday.

The crowd rejoicing

We had a great time in my home town of Abingdon-on-Thames for the 34th Bun Throwing celebration.

The tradition draws a huge crowd to the market place

At 7pm the first of 4,500 currant buns was thrown by the Mayor of Abingdon from atop the old County Hall to the thousands of people gathered in the town's market place.

People often worry that they won't catch a bun if they're at the back of the crowd - well here's proof that some of the bun throwers have quite an arm on them! This landed on top of the sign at Costa Coffee!

I've attended each Bun Throwing in Abingdon in my lifetime, a total of 14 since 1981. The first event was held to celebrate the coronation of King George III in 1761.

Our haul of buns - well, that of Christopher, Chris Senior and Jon

Unfortunately I didn't manage to catch any buns this time - only the second time I can recollect not getting one. The last time I blanked was at the small mid-week Bun Throwing to celebrate the 450th Anniversary of Abingdon Charter and a visit by Her Royal Highness the Princess Royal in 2006.

My dad showing his pride at nabbing five rejoicing buns

Christopher managed to catch a couple of currant buns too and was well happy with his achievement

Emily didn't catch any buns either. But did get one hit her quite hard in the head! However, we did catch this nice video of the action - we were in quite a prime position.



Timeline:
To date there have been 34 Abingdon Bun Throwings
1761 Coronation of King George III
1810 Golden Jubilee of King George III
1821 Coronation of King George IV
1831 Coronation of King William IV
1837 Coronation of Queen Victoria
1856 Declaration of Peace at the end of the Crimean War
1863 Marriage of the Prince of Wales to Princess Alexandra
1887 Golden Jubilee of Queen Victoria
1897 Diamond Jubilee of Queen Victoria
1902 Coronation of King Edward VII
1911 Coronation of King George V
1935 Silver Jubilee of King George V
1937 Coronation of King George VI
1946 VE Day
1953 Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II
1956 Visit of Queen Elizabeth II to Abingdon
1966 Abingdon International Week
1974 End of the Borough of Abingdon
1977 Silver Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II
1980 Queen Mother’s 80th Birthday
1981 Marriage of the Prince of Wales to Lady Diana Spencer
1986 Marriage of the Duke of York to Sarah Ferguson
1987 40th Wedding Anniversary of Queen Elizabeth II
1990 Queen Mother’s 90th Birthday
1995 50th Anniversary of VE Day
1997 50th Wedding Anniversary of Queen Elizabeth II
2000 Millennium
2000 Queen Mother’s 100th Birthday
2002 Golden Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II
2006 450th Anniversary of Abingdon Charter/Queen Elizabeth II’s Official Birthday
2006 450th Anniversary of Abingdon Charter/Visit by Her Royal Highness the Princess Royal
2011 Marriage of Prince William to Catherine Middleton
2012 Queen's Diamond Jubilee
2016 Queen's 90th Birthday

There have also been three non-official Bun Throwing events in the town
2012 World Bun Throwing Championships to find the town's best bun thrower
2014 Bun Throwing at Abingdon Fire Station to celebrate its 50th anniversary
2016 World Bun Throwing Championships to find the town's best bun thrower

Abingdon County Hall Museum kindly provided details of the Recorded Bun Throwings to 1997. Further details on events to 2006 can be found on the blog here.

Related blog posts:
- Bun Throwing in Abingdon 2016

Bun Throwing in Abingdon 2016

Here's a video with action from the Bun Throwing event to celebrate Her Majesty the Queen's 90th birthday.

Held on Saturday 11th June 2016, the first of 4,500 currant buns was thrown by the Mayor of Abingdon at 7pm.

The 2016 bun throw was the 34th since the tradition of Bun Throwing in Abingdon-on-Thames began in 1761. The first event was held to celebrate the coronation of King George III.

I have attended each Bun Throwing in Abingdon in my lifetime, a total of 14 since 1981.

Bun throwing in Abingdon in 2016

The next Abingdon Bun Throwing has been confirmed to take place on Saturday 11th June and is being held to celebrate the Queen's 90th birthday.

One of the special buns marked for the Queen's Diamond Jubilee bun throwing in 2012

It'll be the first occasion the 'rejoicing buns' have been thrown to the crowd of thousands since 2012.

Up on the roof of Abingdon's County Hall Museum on a trip back to Abingdon in 2014

On special occasions since 1761 townsfolk have gathered in the marketplace in front of the old county hall in attempt to catch a special hot cross bun. The first event was held to celebrate the coronation of King George III.

The 2016 bun throwing will be the 34th since the tradition began.

I have attended each Bun Throwing in Abingdon in my lifetime, a total of thirteen since 1981. I'm looking forward to returning to Abingdon for the next event.

Related blog post:
- Abingdon Bun Throwing in 2016 (includes timeline of events 1761-2012)

Abingdon-on-Thames celebrates the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee with a Bun Throwing

6,000 buns thrown in Abingdon-on-Thames for the Diamond Jubilee

On Sunday 3rd June 2012 my home town of Abingdon-on-Thames staged its unique tradition of Bun Throwing to celebrate the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee.

Like much of the country and the commonwealth Abingdon-on-Thames had lots of Jubilee entertainment taking place and we had enjoyed the Street Party that was taking place along Ock Street prior to the main-event of the Bun Throwing.

Bun Throwing began in 1761 to mark the coronation of King George III and the Diamond Jubilee throw was to be the 33rd event in that time! I’ve attended every Bun Throwing in the town since 1981 and the 2012 event was to be my 13th.

In all that time I have never known a Bun Throwing to take place in such terrible weather conditions – the rain was very heavy, but this did not put off the crowds, as you can see from the great photo (below) courtesy of Alastair Fear of the excellent Abingdon Blog.

The Crowd at the Abingdon-on-Thames Bun Throwing. Photo by Alastair Fear / AbingdonBlog.co.uk

The town’s marketplace was as busy as I have ever seen it and was full of excited townsfolk, along with a few visitors, all eager to try to capture one of the 6,000 currant buns to be thrown. We arrived in the town centre at around 4pm and took shelter under the newly re-opened old county hall.

The newly refurbished old County Hall in Abingdon-on-Thames before the Bun Catchers gathered in the marketplace

Before the start we managed to watch TV’s James May being interviewed ahead of his attempt to launch some buns via a special ‘machine’.

I also popped into the cafe Throwing Buns to say hello to the owners Kate and Phil as we’ve been chatting about Bun Throwing (& #BunThrowing) on Twitter in the build-up to the event.

Jubilee at Throwing Buns!!

The Bun Throwing began after the playing of the national anthem and the first buns were thrown by the Mayor of Abingdon-on-Thames Councillor Monica Lovatt. The Mayor was joined by Danny Parry and Selina Wallis who were victorious in the World Bun Throwing Championships that were held in April 2012 to find the town’s best bun throwers.

James May from the TV show James May’s Man Lab had brought a range of contraptions with him in an effort to launch buns to the people at the back of the crowd. One comment on the Abingdon Blog said that three buns fired from his machine had landed on the roof of New Look which is on the far side of the marketplace!

James May and his Man Lab team with one of their Bun Throwing machines. Photo courtesy of Alastair Fear / AbingdonBlog.co.uk

The throw itself lasted around 20 minutes and the bells of St Nicholas Church rang throughout. Our trio – me, Emily Gottfried and my brother Jon Gottfried – managed to bag a haul of 24 buns in total, one of which was a very special bun and had the Diamond Jubilee ‘60’ marking on it!

Our haul of buns, including a special Diamond Jubilee one!

Jon caught the most and had 14 buns in total; Emily managed to grab one bun, while I managed to get nine with a mixture of catches and scrambles.

Me, Emily and Jon just before the buns rain down

Jon also managed to almost catch a bun with his eye, but it unfortunately bounced off his head where it was subsequently picked up from the ground by a fellow catcher, leaving Jon with just a huge welt and a bloodshot eye for the rest of the day!

My friend Karl Sullivan had ventured to the event with us, but having not worn a waterproof jacket and being thoroughly drenched an hour before the throw began; he decided to take shelter in a friend’s flat at the back of the marketplace where he had a great view of the action.

Jon and me in the mix at the Abingdon Bun Throwing. Taken from crowd photo by Alastair Fear / AbingdonBlog.co.uk

A regular sight at Bun Throwings, even in bright and sunny weather, is people using upturned umbrellas to try to catch the rejoicing buns as they fall to the crowd. I have never seen so many umbrellas as on Sunday, but for a change most people actually put them away while they tried to catch a bun. The people who were standing next to us placed their still open umbrella on the ground and used it to store their buns; I also saw one bun land in it during the downpour!

Emily takes cover at the Abingdon-on-Thames Bun Throwing

Jon Gottfried at the Abingdon Bun Throwing

The oddest ‘catching device’ we saw was a fishing net. As traditionalists and members of the anti-umbrella brigade at first we scoffed at this method, but once we saw it in action and netting three buns we had to give a nod to the ingenuity of the user.

One of the bun catchers employs a fishing net!

Following the very rainy event the marketplace quickly emptied, with quite a few people seeking shelter under the old county hall. At Bun Throwings it is normal for many buns to land on the ground and be quickly collected, but with the very wet conditions many of the Current buns were left on the ground, with Jon saying it “looked like a Bunmageddon” in the marketplace and surrounding areas!

The aftermath of the Bun Throwing!

Walking through the town centre on Bank Holiday Monday we spotted a few of the buns still laying around – one was on a step on the old county hall.

One of the buns sits on a step at the County Hall on Bank Holiday Monday!

All in all the latest Bun Throwing was a brilliant event and a great way to celebrate the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee. It’s unknown when the next one will take place, or what it will celebrate, but I’m sure many people will once again turn out for it. I can’t wait!

Me and Jon with our special Diamond Jubilee Bun

Bun Throwing Stats & Facts:
- 6,000 buns thrown
- 33rd Bun Throwing since 1761
- The first Bun Throwing in the town since the name was officially re-named Abingdon-on-Thames
- First Bun Throwing to include two World Champion Bun Throwers taking to the roof alongside the Mayor
- Guests from Abingdon, Virginia, USA attended the event for the first time
- 1867 – a Bun Throwing was held to commemorate the Diamond Jubilee of Queen Victoria
- 1953 – a Bun Throwing was held to mark the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II
- 1977 – a Bun Throwing was held for the Queen's Silver Jubilee
- 2002 – a Bun Throwing was held to celebrate the Queen’s Golden Jubilee

Related Blog Posts:
- Competing in the first-ever World Bun Throwing Championships in Abingdon-on-Thames
- Abingdon-on-Thames’ Bun Throwing to get ‘Man Lab’ assistance!
- Abingdon Bun Throwing Report - Friday 29th April 2011

Bun Throwing Links:
- Abingdon Blog
- Abingdon Bun Throwing – Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee
- Abingdon-on-Thames Museum
- Abingdon-on-Thames Museum – Bun Throwing Page
- Abingdon-on-Thames Council

Latest News on the 2012 Royal Bun Throwing in Abingdon-on-Thames

Number of buns to be thrown announced and details of the first Royal Bun Throwing Championship

The 33rd Bun Throwing will be taking place in Abingdon-on-Thames on Sunday 3rd June 2012 and a total of 6,000 buns will be thrown to the crowd in the town’s market place. The event is being held to mark the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee.

The traditional event is unique to Abingdon-on-Thames and the first throw took place in 1761 to celebrate the Coronation of King George III. The next Bun Throwing didn’t take place until 1810 to mark the King’s Golden Jubilee. Last year the Marriage of Prince William to Catherine Middleton saw a Bun Throwing take place. Prior to that event the last two Bun Throwings were held in 2006 to mark the 450th Anniversary of Abingdon receiving its Charter, the first that year also marked the Queen’s Official Birthday, while the second event was held during a visit to the town by HRH the Princess Royal.

On Saturday 14th April the first-ever Royal Bun Throwing Championship will be taking place at Abingdon Vale Cricket Club on Culham Road between 2pm and 4pm. The tournament will see competitors paying a £1 fee per bun to attempt the furthest throw. The winners will receive the opportunity to join the Mayor of Abingdon-on-Thames – Councillor Mike Badcock - and other dignitaries atop the old County Hall as a Bun Thrower at the main event on Sunday 3rd June. A junior competition will also be taking place with the winner receiving the Junior Bun Throwing Trophy.

The Mayor has also announced that a small test event has already taken place at the Abingdon Vale Cricket Club to see how much space is required and to look at the aerodynamic qualities of the buns!

Last year a raffle was held to choose a winner to become a bun thrower.

Related Blog Posts:

- Abingdon Bun Throwing Report - Friday 29th April 2011 (including list of Bun Throwing Events – 1761-2011)

- Photos from the Royal Wedding Bun Throwing in Abingdon - Friday 29th April 2011

Links:

- Abingdon-on-Thames Town Council

- Abingdon Vale Cricket Club

A new ‘Royal Bun Throwing Championships’ to be held at Abingdon Vale Cricket Club

My brother Jon who still lives in my hometown of Abingdon sent me details from the Oxford Mail (and Abingdon Herald) about a brand new event that will be taking place later this year – a Royal Bun Throwing Championships!

Since 1761, Abingdon has carried out the wonderful and unique tradition of Bun Throwing to celebrate Royal events, or mark significant milestones.

The new Mayor of the town, Mike Badcock, has teamed up with Abingdon Vale Cricket Club to create the new Royal Bun Throwing Championships to find the town’s best bun throwers, who will join Councillors and other dignitaries atop the old County Hall (now the town's Museum) at the next Royal Bun Throwing to celebrate the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee in June. The reasoning is that for those people who are at the back of the Market Place during the Bun Throwing rarely catch many buns!

The old County Hall in Abingdon - the Bun Throwers launch the buns from a great height!

The new event sounds brilliant. I love the fact that Abingdon has Bun Throwing as a tradition and adding the new element of the separate Throwing Championships is a great idea.

I have attended all of the Bun Throwing events in my lifetime, twelve to date, with the last taking place on Friday 29th April 2011 to celebrate the Royal Wedding of Prince William and Catherine Middleton.

Chris Gottfried, me (Richard Gottfried) & Jon Gottfried proudly show off our Buns after the 2011 Royal Bun Throwing

On more than one occasion I have seen Bun Throwers use other means to deliver buns to the crowd – including tennis rackets and catapults! Some catchers also go to great lengths to catch a bun, with some people using upturned umbrellas! There’s always plenty of jostling amongst the townsfolk too as it is such a great achievement to be able to walk away with a special Bun.

I have been informed by the Town Council that The Royal Bun Throwing Championship will be taking place at Abingdon Vale Cricket Club on Culham Road between 2pm and 4pm on Saturday 14th April. The event will see competitors paying a fee to attempt to thrown the buns the furthest (with proceeds going to the Mayor’s three charities).

Further details will be advertised in the next issue of the town’s Spring Town Crier council newsletter (w/c 20th February).

I can’t wait to give it a go.

Abingdon Bun Throwing Report - Friday 29th April 2011

Report from the latest Royal Bun Throwing in Abingdon and updated timeline of all recorded Bun Throwings in Abingdon 1761-2011.

On Friday 29th April 2011 the 32nd Bun Throwing event took place in Abingdon on Thames to celebrate the Royal Wedding of Prince William and Catherine Middleton.

The Buns were thrown from the former County Hall Building at 6pm with over 4,000 currant buns thrown to the massive crowd below.

In our group the Bun's caught/collected were as follows:
Chris = 6
Richard = 3
Jon = 7
Kim = 1
Emily = 0
Total = 17 buns

From l-r - Jon Gottfried, the Town Crier, Chris Gottfried, Richard Gottfried

The last two Abingdon Bun Throwing took place in 2006, reports below:
- Royal Bun Throwing Report - 15th September 2006
- Bun Throwing Report – 10th June 2006

To date there have been 32 Abingdon Bun Throwings! Another is planned to take place in 2012 to celebrate the Queen's Diamond Jubilee.

Abingdon Bun Throwing Timeline:
1761 Coronation of King George III
1810 Golden Jubilee of King George III
1821 Coronation of King George IV
1831 Coronation of King William IV
1837 Coronation of Queen Victoria
1856 Declaration of Peace at the end of the Crimean War
1863 Marriage of the Prince of Wales to Princess Alexandra
1887 Golden Jubilee of Queen Victoria
1897 Diamond Jubilee of Queen Victoria
1902 Coronation of King Edward VII
1911 Coronation of King George V
1935 Silver Jubilee of King George V
1937 Coronation of King George VI
1946 VE Day
1953 Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II
1956 Visit of Queen Elizabeth II to Abingdon
1966 Abingdon International Week
1974 End of the Borough of Abingdon
1977 Silver Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II
1980 Queen Mother’s 80th Birthday
1981 Marriage of the Prince of Wales to Lady Diana Spencer
1986 Marriage of the Duke of York to Sarah Ferguson
1987 40th Wedding Anniversary of Queen Elizabeth II
1990 Queen Mother’s 90th Birthday
1995 50th Anniversary of VE Day
1997 50th Wedding Anniversary of Queen Elizabeth II
2000 Millennium
2000 Queen Mother’s 100th Birthday
2002 Golden Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II
2006 450th Anniversary of Abingdon Charter/Queen Elizabeth II’s Official Birthday
2006 450th Anniversary of Abingdon Charter/Visit by Her Royal Highness the Princess Royal
2011 Marriage of Prince William to Catherine Middleton

- Abingdon County Hall Museum kindly provided details of the Recorded Bun Throwings in Abingdon since-1761

"Rejoicing Buns"

Re-reading the book 'Oxfordshire: A Pocket Guide' (by Carole Chester) there is a mention of the Abingdon tradition of Bun Throwing on page 13 in the Gazetteer section.

Interestingly the tradition is described as "The curious custom of tossing 'Rejoicing buns' from the roof on special occasions...". I've never heard of the event's buns being called 'Rejoicing buns' before. It also states the events have taken place since 1820, rather than the recorded date of the first Bun Throw in Abingdon in 1761.