Bon Voyage

Over the last three days, Abingdon has not been alone. There have been representatives from St Niklaas in Belgium, Argentan and Colmar in France, Schongau in Germany, and Lucca in Italy at the twin towns conference. It is an annual event, which Abingdon hosts every five years. So 2012 will be the next one here.

Delegates can discuss matters of mutual concern. This is the mayor from Schongau with the Abingdon twinning officer.

In this picture the Mayor of Abingdon is talking to the delegate from Lucca in Italy through an interpreter.

It was also good to meet this visitor from Abingdon, Virginia.

These people have earned a twin town medal for what they have done for twinning. Tonight was the final meal when gifts were exchanged, and people said 'Bon Voyage.' The previous night they had all been to Al Zaib for a traditional English curry.

Abingdon Extravaganza

The Mayor of Abingdon is in the foreground, and Peter Rhoades-Brown of Oxford United, who turned on the lights, is the one without a large chain .

Two visitors from our twin town, Schongau, dressed in national costume, huddled together against the wind and the first spits of rain. But the rain soon vanished leaving Abingdon like a different place...

There were pirates at Mostly Books (who also did an Extravaganza Blog) ...

Robin Hood at the Book Store...

Woolworths staff had gone completely Disney. They came second in the best dressed shop award.

Abingdon Drama Club were promoting Jack and the Beanstalk - a pantomime coming soon to the Unicorn Theatre. But as they were not a shop, they didn't get a placing.

Two of the Drayton Players were in the horse drawn cab, dressed as Cinderella and Prince Charming.

And the winners of the best dressed shop were The Newbury Building Society. They

declared themselves to be 'Over the Rainbow' about their success.

Whiz... Bang... Whoosh!

(On a sadder note. Hope the chap who collapsed outside the Abbey Bank is OK)

Free Carparks

Flags are flying in front of the County Hall. Its Abingdon's turn to host a three day twin towns conference. It is a good time to come because tonight is the annual Extravaganza and switching on of the Christmas Lights.

There will be free parking for the Extravaganza evening... Parade 6.45 pm. Lights Switch-on 7.00 pm. Fireworks 8.15 pm.

(picture of Charter Carpark taken two months ago from the County Hall roof)...

(Civic Carpark taken more recently.)

Stert Street at all angles

Most of the work has finished. The new pavement layout is complete and fresh white lines painted on new tarmac .

Loading bays and disabled bays are in place - 2 of each here on the right, some others further this way on the other side.

The traffic lights at the top have moved to connect Station Yard and Broad Street, rather than the surgery and job centre.

There are a lot of paving slabs still to be laid along Broad Street. Perhaps the Farmers Market will decide to move there next.

Co-op progress in November

This picture from last Monday shows that the parking places this side, and the pavement that side, have gone to allow delivery lorries onto the Co-op site. Some grey brieze block walls have been built round the back of the new store and alongside Exclusive Hair.

Late last week the developers also brought in a large crane.

Christmas Exhibition

Only a month to go... This Santa's grotto has been built in the museum as a stage. Here, Abingdon Touring Theatre will perform The Night After Christmas on the 27th to 30th December from 1.30 to 3.30 pm.

This Elizebethan lady, and Victorian bride are just for show

but the childrens costumes can be tried on...

All part of the Christmas Exhibition and Costume parade at Abingdon Museum.

Ding Dong Merrily on High

St Helens Christmas Fair took place in the church. There were stalls selling Christmas decorations and gifts, and a raffle.

It almost seemed like a throw back to a time when the church was the only public building in town - and all kinds of trade and business went on inside. Here for example are the book sellers near the font.

The Abingdon Guild of Bell Ringers were playing "Ding dong merrily on High".

Putting up Christmas Lights

Some electricians came in for a bit of stick yesterday after holding up the traffic, but these lads are trying to bring a bit of joy to the world.

There are far more bulbs to go wrong than on home Christmas Trees.

The switch will be thrown next Wednesday 28th at 7.00 pm.

No Sami's yet

Not sure where Sami's Kebab Van has gone. I've been trying to design a route to help him get through - given Stert Street is closed. I think he would have to follow the red route below...

Trouble is we only have one bridge over the Thames! All the political parties of Abingdon agree we need a new one. The trouble is getting anybody outside with the necessary money to agree.

Most dug up town in Oxfordshire

The left filter light along Ock Street has just been turned on.

Work must be almost complete on the Stert Street - it is closed overnight from the 19th to 22nd November for resurfacing.

Abingdon is to be awarded the prestigious 'Most dug up town in Oxfordshire' award for the second year running with thanks to the guys from County Highways who have made all of this possible, and Isis Accord who did the real hard work. If we can win again next year, we get to keep it.

(Just an update at 21:00 on this post with thanks to Martin G. Electricity work, that went wrong, has kept the road closed during the day as well as the night, causing gridlock and even more anger about Abingdon. The workers think it will be open again tomorrow morning.)

Bury Street Shopping Centre

There was a lady doing a survey about shopping habits in Abingdon today - for the district council.

Before 1974, Abingdon Borough Council looked after everything including the roads. I have the impression that a few influential people could arrange matters down at the club - not sure how true that was.

But control has got fragmented. Not only are there three levels of local council, but an investment company controls the precinct...

The investment company have agreed with the district council to refurbish the precinct...

Despite that shops in the precinct have been closing this year. People blame the new traffic system, but Frend & Co the jeweller recently moved to West St Helens Street because they were being asked too much for a new lease. Going Places are now part of Thomas Cook and so have joined their shop along the precinct. Clarks have consolidated into one shop. Shoe Zone have just gone.

Halfords could be the next to close. They have larger shops in Cowley and now more recently in Didcot.

I have heard people say things will have to get worse, before anything radical can be done and things get better again. This may be all part of the plan of the investment bank to free up space and create larger shops to bring in some bigger players who will pay big money rents.

Rainbow over the Abbey

It was the end of one exhibition at the museum yesterday - called 'Still Life in Stitches' by the Oxford embroiderers. The museum closes for three days, and then opens again with a Christmas Exhibition.

Looking out of the museum window, there was a rainbow over the Abbey.

Open and shut case.

This suitcase was left by somebody on the Ock Valley walk.

Last winter I saw another suitcase dumped on this walk - full of old books that had gone very soggy. The titles were: The Perfect Spy, Day of the Jackel, Catch 22. They hadn't quite made it to the charity shop, or perhaps they had been and been rejected...

But this turquoise case was empty when I first saw it, and the next time I saw it a few day later, somebody had moved it to near the dog bin.

I'm no great detective, but to me it did appear to be an open and shut case.

Happy 5th Birthday

Happy 5th birthday to Added Ingredients.

Before this shop arrived in Abingdon, Stert Street was looking run down. But since its arrival, Stert Street has got much better. (Other areas of the town centre have not done so well).

Peoples Millions

On the Market Place today there was a boat. Gone Sailing, the project for disabled sailors, need an electric lift to give access to their pontoon at Farmoor Reservoir. They'll be going head to head with other worthy causes on Wednesday 28th November for ITVs People's Millions. They want our votes.

Also today, in Trinity church hall there was a Festive Fair to raise funds for another good cause: the organ needs restoring.

Flood Meeting - quick roundup

(Pictures taken on the Sunday Morning of the Ock flood)


(looking down Marcham Road)

Dr Evan Harris hosted a meeting tonight at which representatives from various agencies were asked questions by the public, and himself. Five months on, people were still angry at the lack of a flood warning. The Environment Agency (EA) explained that their flood warning control room, had only two people in it, and had been overwhelmed by the widespread flooding that day. They did not give a Flood Warning before the proper measures were in - for fear of being seen to be 'crying wolf'.


(Drayton Road Bridge)

Looking forward there were not that many ideas proposed to protect the whole area should it happen again, although the EA did guarantee a two hour Flood Warning next time.


(Looking across the fields from Mill Road towards Tesco)

The Environment Agency (EA) have a report out today. They said more dredging would not help. It could be useful removing the unused footbridge 'pinch point' near St Helens Mill, but that would only help a few properties. Dr Harris argued we should start there, and then work backwards - looking at widening the channel under the Drayton Road bridge, once the flow at the town end had been improved.


The EA are looking at a flood relief area just west of the A34 and Tesco - to hold more water from the Ock. Its still a possibility, but may not score high enough on the EA prioritisation system which calculates number of properties protected against cost. (And no, it's not the proposed reservoir!)


(Francis Little Drive)

Some people had been to the Flood Fair in Oxford yesterday to learn about 'flood resilient' repairs. The Flood Forum web site has more information. There is also likely to be such a fair in Abingdon, but people who had been said such devices can be expensive, and elderly people on pensions complained they could not afford them.


(bottom of Caldecott Road)

Just quickly finish the roundup: No improvement to the Stert River defence is envisaged at Tilsley Park. Downstream, the Stert Street culvert is to be improved in places. As always Radley Lakes got a big cheer, but the EA said NO to looking again at Radley Lakes ... in terms of flooding. The EA have limited manpower, and have had 25% cuts in funding recently (Dr Harris had already argued that it is central government must take a large part of the blame if the EA locally cannot afford to do what they should be doing, and he needed to know what could be done with more money in order to press central government.)

Your Future

People gathered at the Guildhall for a café style discussion of the future of our district. They were presented with some of the big issues.

One subject was the economic vitality of town centres:

"Changes in shopping, working, and leisure habits... mean that the town centres of Abingdon, Faringdon, and Wantage are not enjoying the full benefits of the Vale's economic success... Residents are leaving their home town to work before the shops are open and returning after they are closed...They are using out of town superstores or travelling to large regional centres..."

Options to consider...

• Create better local awareness of town centre shops
• Resist out of town developments
• Set up business improvement plans for the town centres
• Improve the character of the towns through environmental improvements
• Put on more events to encourage people into the town centres
• Locate more houses near town centres
• Encourage an evening economy

Didcot have turned their town centre around. They had enough derelict land near the town centre to start again, and built a new town centre adjacent to the old. It is like an out-of-town development in the town centre. The old bit may die off and be turned into housing but they have just moved sideways a bit.

I don't think we can copy that. There is not the room. But thinking caps on...

Burford Bridge

Abingdon Bridge is actually two bridges, separated by Nags Head Island.

The southern part, crossing the navigation channel, is also called Burford Bridge.

I hope not too many people comment that these are better than the usual pictures. My wife borrowed the camera and took these two :-)

The Rising Tide

These are some of the autumn poems, by year 6, displayed at the entrance of Thameside School. This has been one of the best of autumns when it comes to golden leaves.

Round the corner, and "Ahoy land lubbers!" the scene changes completely to a pirate ship, on which pupils chart their progress on the "Rising Tide" school attainment programme.

Fancy That

"Fancy That" opened on Saturday, selling jewellery and accessories. Sonia, who runs the shop, was one of the flood victims back in July. The shop premises also got flooded. But undeterred Sonia has created her dream shop.

It is located where Movies used to be on Ock Street.

Golden Kitchen can be seen across the road.

Abingdon and troops honour war dead

Troops from Dalton Barracks were there to remember those who died in past and present conflicts.

Stan Bradford, the president of the Abingdon Royal British Legion said he wanted to thank the people of Abingdon for one of the biggest turnouts he had seen over many years.

These are the Abingdon veterans leaving the war memorial (with thanks to Abingdon walks for the picture).

And afterwards, individual came to look at the wreathes, or leave their poppies in the strips of grass.

Poppies, Jive Dance, and Day Centre

There were poppies on sale today - these are at the Information Centre at Old Abbey House. There is a late push because Abingdon was late getting poppies this year. The Abingdon Herald has the full story (...)

There was dancing on the Market Place to publicise CEROC (Modern Jive) Classes every Tuesday Night at the Guildhall from 8-11 PM.

Abingdon Day Centre for Older People had open house today. Coffees were being served. This chap was doing a good job getting people through the door. But it was not quite the best coffee in Abingdon - as he claimed!!!

Private Eye - Museum Edition

In reality, the proposed museum lift did not make the front cover of Private Eye, but on Page 14 of Private Eye this week there is an article about the proposed changes to the County Hall. Private Eye were not impressed by the size of the new lift and asked Abingdon "Why not leave the Town Hall alone?"

Reporting a Problem - fixed

Normally the way to report a pot hole or a missing pavement is to ring or write to the local Oxfordshire County Council highway depot near Drayton, or report it on the County Council's own problem reporting web page.

There is also an independent web site called fixmystreet.com where you can mark on an online map where the problem is, add details and upload a picture. I've just tried it out so I'll let you know if it works...

Next time I passed that way it was 9 days later, and it had been fixed. So well done fixmystreet and the County Council

Bottom of the Stone Steps

The steps are where the Thames Path leads up towards Abingdon. If you were a long distance walker would you go up, or carry on to the next place?

Abingdon Marina Changes

The rutted road to the Marina Park has been resurfaced. The last stretch is now concrete, with a few hollywood style footprints - not intentional.

There are some good views down there, especially if you like electricity pylons - some fine examples!!!

Abingdon Marina are to increase the number of moorings from 100 to 120 by adding some extra floating pontoons.

Spot the Difference

Pictures taken a few weeks apart. The view is of of the corner of 35 Ock Street (the Church in Abingdon's open house), Abingdon Baptist Church and carpark, and the corner of Richard Coxeter Ltd. Coxeter is a well established name in the annals of Abingdon retailing. Richard Coxeter sells curtains and carpets and soft furnishing.

Road Sign Re-think

The trouble with the town end of Caldecott Road is there is no pavement one side. People come out of Saint Amand, Turberville, or any side street and have to cross the road. To warn drivers there are warning signs: both the one shown, and one with running children.

Times have changed. Mobility scooters are commonplace. They often drive down the wrong side of the street.

Would this be more appropriate?

Old Anchor Inn - Real Beer Festival

Paul and Lesley, the landlords of the Old Anchor Inn, have laid on an extra few barrels of beer in the backroom as part of a Real Beer Festival - this weekend only!

The Old Anchor Inn is one of Abingdon's landmark buildings.

2nd Abingdon Scout Group Fireworks

This firework display was in the field behind Long Furlong Community Centre. Its the tenth year the scouts have held such an event, and by the way scouts have been going for one hundred years.

Money raised from the event will go towards helping to restore the group's scout hut - which got damaged in the floods.

Wider, deeper, extra...

This is Chaunterell Way on the Ladygrove Estate where a lot of the houses have caravans in the front gardens. People use the caravans during the day, and then use their upstairs at night. Building work on flood damage continues.


Good news: there were two men from the Environment Agency clearing parts of the Ock today. But what can you do against so much water with a rake, and a saw?

There will be a public meeting about the flooding on 16th November at 7 p.m at the Guildhall.

There is a Flood protection fair (with products, ideas and advice) on 15th November from 3 - 8 p.m at the Kings Centre, Osney Mead, Oxford. Free Admission. No Parking.

The Vale District Council has recently issued its flood review. The review by the Environment Agency should be published soon. They are just doing their internal reviews.

My big worry is that each council and agency are only focusing on what they can do within their powers, and not on the bigger picture - how to protect those 380 homes and affected businesses next time. We need something wider, or deeper, or extra to take the water next time. Wider, deeper, extra...

There must be More to Life...

Approaching Abingdon Lock from Oxford you see these old hulks. I'm not sure they get used that much - given one has trees growing inside.

The black and white markers guide boats towards the Lock rather than the weir - always a good idea.

The locks on our patch of the Thames all seem to have a keepers cottage, and an office. The lock keeper's most important duty is tending the weir, but we all know him as the Lock Keeper.

For more information on the Thames try the Visit Thames website. It has a piece on Roger Steere, who has lived in the Lock House since 1984. Roger and his wife, Gillian, agree that running this lock has been 'extremely rewarding.' A former programmer, Roger says, 'When I was in computers, I thought ,"there must be more to life than this" so I became a lock keeper'.