Abingdon Peace Group's Hiroshima Day Candle Float

A beautiful set of pictures and a description of events can be seen via this link: https://abingdonblog.co.uk/

Dear Peace Group supporters,

Our lantern-floating last night was blessed with perfect weather, excellent speakers and singers, and over 75 people all of whom joined in to help set up and clear away. If one of them was you, thank you so much – much appreciated!

We have had write-ups in the Oxford Mail online: https://www.oxfordmail.co.uk/news/26438609.abingdon-hiroshima-day-ceremony-float-lanterns-thames/ and on Alastair Fear’s Abingdon Blog: https://abingdonblog.co.uk/ 

Mayor Andrew Skinner gave a heartfelt endorsement of the value of “bottom-up peace initiatives” like ours as a way to build a culture of peace, and read out a personalised letter from the Mayor of Hiroshima. Emiko Urata gave a fascinating account of the cultural significance of lantern-floating and of the origami cranes she had folded to give to visitors. Doug Bradshaw read a moving poem, “Remember Hiroshima” by David Gill of Oxford CND, and Roger Baker led us in a solemn and meaningful recitation of the community affirmation. Anne Dodd welcomed and introduced everyone.

Then people took their cranes, lanterns and tealights and we proceeded to the slipway at St Helen’s Wharf where the Mayor and Emiko launched the first lantern. Sea Green Singers sang on the wharf, and Sally & Adrian Allsop and Richard Smart and canoe-club friends were on hand to scoop them out of the water at the end of the evening.

Thank you all!

If you have any photos better than the ones captured here, do send them in!

The vigil on Monday mornings 8.15 – 8.45am will continue throughout August, except on Bank Holidays.

In Peace,

Sally,

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