From a letter to the Abingdon Herald last October came the plan to celebrate 70 years of the MG Car Company with a Carnival. There had been a Carnival in 1979 for the 50th anniversary of MG. Sadly those 50th anniversary celebrations were followed by British Leyland’s announcement that the factory was to be closed. Despite the closure much of the social fabric of the factory has survived through various sports and social clubs.

  The idea this Abingdon Carnival was to recreate the special atmosphere of the 50th celebrations. Support of the Town and District councils along with the hard work of numerous local social clubs and car clubs created this unique event.

  The Abingdon factory also produced Austin Healey and Riley models so a celebration of the ‘the works’ was to also include these equally desirable classics. A week of activities such as a special football match with the MG and Abingdon Town XI versus Arsenal ex-professional and celebrity XI. In addition there were various other fund raising events such as a disco, bingo and a golf tourment.


  An MG Car Exhibition has been set up in the Abingdon Museum and it will remain open until Sunday October 10. Depicting the history of the MG factory all kinds of memorabilia and models are on display. No cars are on exhibition but there are various wooden models, made for wind tunnel testing and prototype design as well as numerous scale models. There are many unique items from the factory, including a selection of special hand tools used in the assembly process.

  The Carnival Parade of MGs took place on Sunday 12 September with Old No I leading the way through the centre of Abingdon. Local people lined the streets to wave and cheer the cars that had played such an important part in the life of Abingdon. The route went from the old factory site, down Ock Street and round Stratton Way to Rye Farm Meadows. The MGs and other Abingdon marques were then parked and displayed on the meadows while driving test type activities took place in a central arena. All the cars on display were able to enter a self-judging concours competition. Also set up in the meadow were a host of other attractions, including a funfair, craft fair, puppet show and even helicopter rides to provide additional entertainment.

For Abingdon’s streets to be once again packed with MGs of every age and type was a stirring sight for those who love the marque. The Carnival Parade provoked many memories of the close association between the town and the MG Car Company and the great pleasure that the cars from Abingdon have given their owners through the years.