GLASSES were raised in a toast when a history book celebrating a cherished park’s 150th anniversary was launched.

More than 100 people turned out at St Michael and All Angels’ Church, in Park Road on Sunday, when the 9th Earl of Abingdon, Richard Bertie, cut a cake to mark the launch of Celebrating 150 Years of Albert Park, Abingdon-on-Thames.

The book is the first history anthology dedicated to the popular park and its centrepiece statue of Prince Albert, which was unveiled by the Earl of Abingdon’s great grandfather, Montagu Bertie, in 1865.

Albert Park Residents’ Association member Bryan Brown, who came up with the idea of the book, said it was fantastic to have so many people from the community at the launch.

He added: “Production of the book has been a community project – it has been a labour of love, it is an anthology written by many different authors and in many different styles.”

All the cash raised from sales will go towards improvements to the park.

The book costs £12.50 and can be bought by emailing albertparkra@gmail.com or from selected stores in Abingdon.