A Few Halloween Haunts

One good haunt is The Plough where you can not only enjoy a pint but also see The Grim Reaper.

The Old Gaol is a building where prisoners once met a grisly end at the gallows. One boy was only eight. Tales of its being haunted are well documented.

The room above the Abbey Gateway was an even older Gaol, and it too experienced bad things, and is said to be haunted.

This picture outside the Abbey Grounds shows the results of the excavation for Abbey House. Abingdon has a lot of history.

Tales of hauntings in East Saint Helen Street abound. So its safe to say all the buildings down this way are possibly haunted, and that King William III (of Orange) could still be kicking around in the house - with the blue plaque - where he stayed.

Local Roots, at the top of East Saint Helen Street, also have a witch in the window.

But for a lot of people Halloween is a chance to dress up and have a party.

Pumpkins 2008

Artistic Pumpkins at Fabulous Flowers.
Pumpkins for Sale at Peachcroft Farm

Not all the pumpkins are destined for Halloween. Some will end up in the Christmas Dinner.

Herald - A New Day

Last week the Abingdon Herald went on sale, as it always has, on a Thursday

But this week, and from now on, it goes on sale on Wednesday. They have a great picture of a bulgarian acrobat in the Big Kid Circus - currently off Dunmore Road.

The only picture I have so far is from outside the big top, but there is still time. Thats the A34 behind.

Looking for Bargains

These are to be found at the bottom of the Tesco Curry Sauce shelf .

This is a rare chance to turn back the clock, and buy something for a shilling (5p in new money) and still get change.

Most offers benefit the shopper - but look at the small print - Not All.

MG Works Donation

This donation is from the MG Works Centre in Abingdon towards the museum project which will include MG exhibition space.

It's always good to see MG cars back on the market place.

And open up the lid to look inside.

Wouldn't It Be Loverly

From 27th October - 1st November at the Amey Theatre at Abingdon School, Abingdon Operatic Society will be performing such songs as: "Wouldn't It Be Loverly", "I Could Have Danced All Night", "On The Street Where You Live" and "Get Me To The Church On Time".

But can you name the show?

Incinerator Protest

On Monday, the Vale of White Horse District Council (VWHDC) will be considering its response to the proposed Incinerator between Sutton Courtney and Appleford. Some of the campaigners were in town warning people of the air quality and health dangers. They will be back on Monday to petition councillors.

(Picture borrowed from the Sutton Courtney against the Incinerator Site. Its their Copyright.)

The County Council is the real decision maker but the VWHDC is consulted, and will be considering:

• The visual impact of the development with its tall chimney
• The effect on traffic - a 10% increase is expected
• The effect on outdoor air quality and the environment generally

Abingdon Artists at Church

The lady at the door is ENTERING into St. Nicolas Church to look round the exhibition put on by Abingdon Artists.

Many of the canvasses are displayed on these linen frames - a recent investment by Abingdon Artists.

There are landscapes, still-lifes, portraits, and standing out near the alter: a guardian angel. Perhaps the religious setting influenced the selection - for there are no nudes.

Goodbye Terry Stock

In the Guildhall tonight there was a good crowd for Terry Stock's goodbye send-off. Terry was the popular and hard working chief executive of the Vale of White Horse District Council (VWHDC) from 1997 to 2008. (a portrait of Sir John Mason is behind him.)

Tiles on Long Alley

Last week the new roof tiles were all stacked in readiness at the top end of Long Alley Almshouse.

This week things have moved on at the top end, but elsewhere there is still work to be done.

Two well known local authors

Two well known local authors were there at a Gala dinner to raise money for the Save Radley Lakes campaign which is fighting to prevent ash from Didcot power station being dumped into Thrupp Lake at Radley.

Abingdon author Paul Gustafson, creator of Eggbert books, was the master of ceremonies.

Crime Writer, Colin Dextor creator of Inspector Morse, was the guest of honour and after dinner speaker.

Save Radley Lakes are still raising money and need your support. Radley Lakes are to the north of Abingdon. To the south of Abingdon, Sutton Courtney are campaigning against the Incinerator, and Drayton and Steventon want to Stop the London Reservoir being built on their farmland.

Abingdon itself, in the middle, needs flood defences to prevent another repeat of July 2007. It seems to be all about the environment - global recession or not.

(Thanks to Marjorie for the pictures)

Wedding at the Guildhall

The car arrived...

The town crier did a special cry to announce the bride.

The bride with her maids in honour advanced with great dignity...

We stood mesmerised. Weddings are magical affairs. A moment to last all time.

Abingdon Marathon 2008

The competitors left Tilsley park at 9 am on Sunday 19th October

About 4 miles into the race this chasing pack come through the Abbey gateway. The leader had gone through 30 seconds earlier. Number 1 in this group won 2 years ago but was disqualified because he had used a friends number. He got it right this time. He was to be third this year - but in a faster time

The course followed Saint Helens Wharf.

This is one of the runners from Abingdon's twin town, Argentan.

The loudest cheer came from near the bottom of Saxton Road

which got the competitors smiling. After this point the competitors left Abingdon on a double circuit round Drayton, Sutton Courtney and Milton ... returning to Preston Road and then out again...

Some time later....

The lead runner came back over the iron bridge. The time car showed 2 hours 18 minutes at this point and he was 3 minutes ahead of the rest of the field. I did try to get to Tilsley Park in time to see him finishing.

But as with 2 years ago I only got there in time to see the second place competitor.

The winner's final time was 2 hours 32 minutes.

This is the first of the Abingdon Amblers finishing in 7th place with a very good time.

The leading female runner came in on 3 hours 3 minutes.

Back in town the runners were still going through for quite some time. The route was through the underpass then up Bath Street.

Crafts Festival - Week 1

The Craft Festival is on from 17th - 20th and 23rd - 26th OCTOBER - 10am to 5pm - at the Medieval Abbey Buildings. There are 65 stalls in the first week, then some change over for the second.

Lime Tree Pantry with their handmade pies seem to be there every year.

John Kemp, English wines and liquers, was there from St Albans.

This fine display is of Mouse and Moon Fabric Sculptures.

That is some of the good stuff. Now for the not so good display : SOMEBODY has bumped into this wall and not stopped to tell the house owner.

Old Gaol Plans

The planning application for the Old Gaol development were published a week ago, and the Abingdon Herald has done a front page on it with the title: Gaol deal 'should be renegotiated'. One of the factors on which the original decision was made was value for money. The newspaper reports that the district council will get less money for the site than when the developer was first chosen - before the credit crunch and the detailed plans, but the actual figures are not yet in the public domain.

Main points of the Old Gaol plan itself:

New vehicle access onto Bridge Street will be provided by demolishing part of the old Police Station (the picture is from the earlier model). The swimming pool building will also be demolished.

The plan sees the conversion of the Old Gaol to restaurants and apartments. It was to be restaurants and shops and apartments, but the developers have listened to local opinion, voiced back in January, and dropped the shops and added more restaurant space. There are three restaurants: one in the Old Gaol and one in each of the two buildings, pictured in front of the Old Gaol, on Bridge Street.

Other features of the plan include:

• a pedestrian walk way from East St Helen Street next to Twickenham House
• more apartments to the back
• underground parking
• public open space fronting the river
• the Bridge young peoples centre moves from cottages next to the river to part of the police station further up
  

You can see all the details on the Vale District Council Planning Web Site. ( www.whitehorsedc.gov.uk .... select planning applications... select view and comment on application online... then Application Search: 08/01238/LBC . )

The District Council are involved in this as vendors who chose this developer, and as the planning authority that decides the application, so that must add a complication.

Jeepers, Creepers!

Fabulous Flowers have an autumn display. Next door have moved on to do Christmas.

Still there is time to enjoy a few autumn leaves before it is too late. Here are some golden leaves, across the River Thames from The Old Anchor Inn,

and red trees from Rye Farm Car Park,

and a yellow tree between Healey Close and the River Ock.

Finally, Jeepers, Creepers! How big the creepers have grown - at the Albert Park!

This weekend is the Abingdon Craft Fair, and the Abingdon Marathon - good photo opportunities hopefully!

Global Awareness Badge

When over in Abingdon, Virginia, for the 230th anniversary celebrations, Pat, our Mayor, and several other visitors, were interviewed about life in the UK by this young lady - Claire, aged 9. She was working on her global awareness Girl Scout badge.

Claire was suprised so much was alike, and that children in the UK have the same games and toys - like Barbies, and enjoy the same things like computers and dance class. She heard about differences between the towns, such as the more readily available bus and rail services over here. In Abingdon, Virginia, properties are more spaced out, and there is far less public transport.

Claire found it funny that what she calls "hiking" we call "rambling." (she lives close to the Appalachian Trail where hiking is big). To her "going to go raaahhmmbling" sounds much more romantic spoken in a British accent. (Thanks to her mum Leslie for most of the words here.)

Blog Action Day 2008 - full toubab!

On blog action day bloggers try to write about the same subject on the same day - this year on October 15th the topic is Poverty.

The one example of of the word 'Poverty' I found today in Abingdon was in the Oxfam shop window where you can "Bring in your unwanted M&S clothes, get a £5 M&S voucher and help to end poverty .

In the year 2000 over £50,000 was raised for the Abingdon Millenium project. It included donations from Abingdon Virginia. There is no millenium monument to show for it - no sculpture on the Market Place. Instead, the money went to help fund WaterAid projects in Ethiopia and India.

The idea came from Margaret Rickmann, who with Allan Rickmann - not the actor, left Abingdon about 4 years ago to work for VSO (voluntary Service Overseas) in the Gambia, and then in Cambodia. They did return for a couple of months in 2006 to Abingdon, UK and Margaret wrote on the Rickmann Travelog with a feeling of reverse culture shock:

Day two back in UK. An efficient but pleasant banking experience. A walk along a tarred road. Buses, no rubbish, and cool enough temperatures to walk at high speed - full toubab!

"Let's get a bus back." Allan stuck his hand out.

Ïn UK you need to go to a bus stop"-Ah! of course.

A fishing gnome

I was asked to investigate this gnome somewhere near Abingdon Town Centre. He is a fishing gnome and is to be seen with a little wooden aeroplane. Having shown his whereabouts on this blog I hope he doesn't get nicked. He could be the start of a gnome gathering.

Runaway Fair

The runaway fair, another Abingdon tradition, happens a week after the Michaelmas Fair. It is set up on Sunday. It runs on Monday. Road changes are needed because it takes place on the Market Place and High Street.

The iron bridge direction for example is reversed.

The Drayton Road traffic appeared to be feeling the effects, but there are many factors can cause problems here.

The Big Draw

The Big Draw is a national event held in 1000 UK venues during October, from scout huts to national museums and underneath Abingdon County Hall.

The Abingdon event yesterday was run by artists from John Mason School, Abingdon. The children made and coloured cardboard buildings.

This years winners...

This years winners at the Oxford Preservation Trust's Environmental Awards were mostly from the City of Oxford but did include a couple from Oxford's closest neighbour town Abingdon...

"...Local councils were also recognised in Abingdon Town Council and the improvements to their Market Place..."

"Certificates were also awarded for ... public artwork on Penlon Place in Abingdon..." They must mean this bronzed apron draped across a stone bench,

this pair of boots, and sack of barley. They appear to have been idly left behind by workers of Abingdon's former industries.

Tithe Farm / Ladygrove Update

Work has begun at the playpark behind Chaunterell Way. The first two pieces of play equipment are taking shape.

Not far away the bridge over the Ock at the end of Mill Lane has been repaired and re-opened. It had been damaged by vandals, and closed for almost a month, but now has a new non-slip ramp.

St Helen's Church Steeple

The steeple provided a fixed point before the days of GPS and Sat Navs. I for one can still easily imagine the sun going round the earth.

It goes down behind the clouds.

and reappears

then goes down for good. Its an illusion I know. It is easy to forget that we are not the centre and we are the ones turning, around and around like a fairground ride.

Abingdon Michaelmas Street Fair - 3 of 3

On a night when the Stock Markets - as shown in this Stert Street stockbroker's window - were in chaos ... the fair continued

Shooting galleries

Amusements

On the Market Place the rides carried on as though nothing was wrong ...

On Monday it had been difficult to move at this point on Ock Street. But by Tuesday, despite the good weather, it was getting very quiet by 10 pm .

And after midnight, the Fair just vanished.

Abingdon Michaelmas Street Fair - 2 of 3

Despite threats of rain the weather kept dry. It was a squeeze getting along Ock Street with all the crowds. Just a few pictures of some of the rides.

Jungle Fever with the County Hall alongside

The swing roundabout near Vauxhall Belingers.

Superbowl

Dodgems

Storm. This is one of the two highest rides. Its a giant rotating arm with a little cage at each end.

Finally Chaos.

Tribute

Abingdon Michaelmas Street Fair - 1 of 3

The fair used to be set up on Sunday afternoon but nowadays it begins first thing Sunday Morning, and is almost complete by mid afternoon.

People walk the length of Ock Street to see what is on offer. Here are a couple of visitors from the Middle East with their Abingdon hosts. "Abingdon isn't like this normally!!!"

Here are Private Blonde and friend in front of the Ask Restaurant.

The fair does mean there will be no traffic queues on Ock Street for a couple of days.

Crazy Croc helps enforce the car free street.

The fair is all smack bang in the middle of a residential street. Not all residents love it. Some move away for a couple of days.

Only one ride gets going on the setup day - Sunday, and thats the galloping horses after the Fair Blessing Service. Its the only ride that is ever for free.

New Shop, Old Pavement

Faulkner Photography have been kitting out the new studio on Lombard Street. This was once the Crystals shop, and for a short while the Acupunture Centre.

The footfall down this way will improve once the Co-op opposite opens.

That orange cone has been there since the time of the West Saint Helen Street Hole. Further down, near the ambulance car, there is a white square painted to say "we are aware" round another rickety pavement.

There was a lot of work patching the road in the aftermath of the Hole. But not yet the pavements.

New Abingdon School Sports Hall

Abingdon School has opened a new £9m sports hall today. This is the view of the development from Bath Street taken a couple of months ago.

The school website has the inside pictures. Martin Keown the ex Arsenal footballer was there to help open it.

The Brits are Here

Here we see Lois Humphreys (Mayor of Abingdon, Virginia) watching as Pat Lonergan ( Mayor of Abingdon, England) logs onto the newly launched free internet with his PDA. Can I thank the Bristol Herald Courier for the pictures. Pat is quoted as telling that newspaper "We too have a Bristol."

46 visitors from Abingdon, England have gone across to celebrate the 230th Anniversary of Abingdon, Virginia. Here they can be seen arriving. Three town councillors, including Pat, are among them. There is also a Freeman.

Mist and Mellow Fruitfulness

Last Sunday morning there was a mist at 9:30 am at Caldecott Rec and the man painting the lines could not be sure that it would lift for the kick off at 10:30.

Elsewhere fruit and vegetables, tins, jars of marmalade and chutney, and packets of pasta were brought forward to lay round the platform at the front of Trinity Church.

Revd Dr Peter Doll from St Michaels, and Revd Richard Bittleston from Trinity held a joint Harvest Celebration. Like Thanksgiving in America, Harvest is a time to give thanks.

Coming of Age

Last night, there was a new TV Comedy programme set in Abingdon.

The new programme called 'Coming of Age', written by 19 year old Abingdon student Tim Dawson, showed a lot of potential - although rather crude.