No Antique Shop But...

Abingdon does not have an antique shop - I know of - but it does have the Sue Ryder Charity Shop. The current manageress has established a line in furniture. This chair, one from a set of four, the others are stored elsewhere, is a Louis XV. There was a rather interesting rocking chair next to it this morning but when I returned to take a second look it was gone.

New Discount Shop

Where Dawsons used to be, a new discount shop has opened up today. Most things are priced at £1, with a few things a bit more. They say they will be here after Christmas.

The big question is will Woolworths. Here are the Abbey Brass playing carols outside: "Oh Come all ye faithful!".

Extravaganza - young ones

Somebody commented they wanted a picture of the 'beavers, brownies, etc'. I didn't get any very good ones this year. The best I could do are ...

Rush Common children and teachers

Ed, the magician, from the Abingdon's Got Talent Winners.

Jay, the harpest - another winner. She performed at St Nics Church later in the evening.

And this group, next to Paul Burkett - also an Abingdon's got talent winner.

The Abingdon Herald got better. Out on Wednesday.

Christmas Extravaganza - Continued

The Christmas Extravaganza Evening had a Victorian Theme.

There were a lot of chimney sweeps about. Dick Van Dyke could have walked about unnoticed. These two Dick Van Dyke look-a-likes normally work at Abingdon Flowers but were present at the Gift Centre.

Here are the young ladies at The finishing touch

Mark at Mostly Books

Peter Wiblin from West End Newsagents. He is on the front page of the Abingdon Herald today, with an article about the precinct, under the headline "Traders' fears for revamp"

The sub title is 'Clock ticks away on £2m plans' The date when something should have happened is approaching.

Since this picture was taken 24 hours ago Woolworths, at the end of the precinct, has gone into administration.

Christmas Extravaganza - The Lights

The lights were turned on by the Abingdon's Got Talent winners.

Best Shop front competition went to the finishing touch.

Father Christmas was there.

And Punch & Judy.

Helen and Douglas House won the fancy dress shop competition.

This shot of the fireworks was taken by Elizabeth Drury on the roof of the County Hall.

And this was taken by me from down below.

Petrol Pumps to be Scrapped

The BP Garage on the Vineyard is getting new fuel tanks fitted.

During the refitt, there are only two petrol stations operating in Abingdon. Gone are the days, of a few years ago, when Abingdon had six (the two on the Drayton Road and the one on Lodge Hill are gone for good).

These E.T style petrol pumps are likely to be scrapped.

Time to say a last 'goodbye':

"Ouch."

"Ouch."

Colmar - an interesting few days

One for the twin town followers...

Colmar Book Fair has been on for the last couple of days. The theme this year is "la nuit" - the night. A couple of visitors went to represent the Abingdon and District Twin Town Society. They took local produce for visitors to the fair to sample.

This year's twin towns Mayors conference was also to be in Colmar, but it had to been called off late in the day because Colmar is without a Mayor. A temporary administration is in place.

The first picture shows the elected Mayor of Colmar after his win in March. He won by 50% to 49% in March.

The second picture shows the Mayor leaving office in October after the administration of Alsace annulled the election. A judicial challenge has been made against the election result and the elections will be re-run on 30th Nov & 7th Dec.

So lots happening in Colmar. All to be found on the internet.

Charity Christmas Cards

I've started early this year getting charity cards from the Bear Room in the Guildhall. They have cards for sale from forty or fifty different charities.

The Scouts and Guides are operating the Christmas post service again this year. The service covers Abingdon, Radley, Shippon and Dalton Barracks, and there are post-boxes in 16 locations including the one in the Bear Room. Its 15p a card.

A possible card for next year is this one designed by Maurice, who works at the Guildhall. He would love for it to become a Macmillan Cancer Care Card. Its on display on the mantlepiece of the Bear Room.

Charter Centre Changes

In the Charter Day Centre for the elderly, Father Christmas was there this morning for the Charity Fayre. Its likely to be their last Christmas Fayre at the centre.

The Charter Day Centre for elderly people is preparing to move. They need more space, and are swapping places with the learning disability centre who need less space.

A display at the Christmas Fayre shows their new premises at the Abbey Centre with stage 1 and stage 2 designs.

Stage 1) Both groups will use the same building.
Stage 2) Both move to newly adapted buildings.

One worry for elderly people is that the Abbey Centre is away from the shops and the doctors. A shuttle service will ferry people between Abbey Centre and town centre.

New Market Today

There is a new market on the Market Place today. Traditionally Market Day is Monday in Abingdon. But this Market is on a Friday.

The Farmers Market will be held from now on, on the third Friday of Every Month. There are a few more stalls than when they were at Old Station Yard on Monday.

A lot of working people would have preferred a Saturday, but Friday is a day when it is probably easier to get enough stall holders to make it workable,

and at the same people, shopping for the weekend, can make it worthwhile.

Half a Ring Road

This view is from Larkmead Bridge, looking back along Copenhagen Drive towards the Abingdon Business Park. The bridge was build when the north Abingdon peripheral road was completed.

Abingdon still needs a South Peripheral road. Abingdon has half a ring road.

New Park Equipment

New piece of play equipment at Caldecott Recreation Ground.

And a complete refit at Ladygrove Meadow, off Chaunterell Drive, including a similar new climbing frame, and three other items.

That old thing like a clothes drier is gone, replaced by a Springy Bobbly (no idea what the catalogue calls it but thats the name came to mind).

(The opening has been put back for this area though as the matting was put down by the contractor when the ground was wet and may have to wait until the spring to do properly.)

And on the subject of new park equipment there is an addition at the Albert Park - no mistaking what that is.

Champion Fund Raiser

Andrew, on the left, is a young fund raiser who stages the annual Play2Give football tournament . He is ably assisted by Maxine in the center.

Andrew was treated for a brain tumour and since then has become a champion fund raiser for the Oxford Children's Hospital. Each year he and friends also select a second good cause, and this year it was the Abingdon Town Amateur Boxing Club Gym Fund.

After the presentation to the hospital, Alison, on the right, another champion fund raiser, was there to receive the money on behalf of the boxing club.
......

One event missed on Saturday was a remarkable queue on Stert Street. The Mostly Books Blog has the details.

New Cycle Racks

New cycle racks were installed last week at three bus stops on the Oxford Road in Abingdon.

Post Office Branch Move

Notices have appeared in the windows of Abingdon Central Post Office to say they will be moving to Saint Helens House.

I asked at the counter and was told that is the name of the new Co-op building. (The move has been rumoured for some time.)

Thong Rangers

The Didcot Thong Rangers came through town pulling a black truck. They were on a 16.3 miles trek around Abingdon, and villages, collecting money for breast cancer research.

Full Moon / River

The windows of Fellows Court are reflected at Saint Helens Wharf, as is the full moon. The River Thames is also full.

The Thames The Thames

The Mayor can be seen here cutting the tape for a new exhibition at Abingdon County Hall Museum.

The exhibition comprises the paintings of Bill Pike, pictured here with his paintings and the Mayor.

The other part of the exhibition has black and white photographs of the River Thames by Henry Taunt. Not a ripple to be seen back in those days.

Here Elizabeth Drury, Abingdon historian, photographer and co-author of the book 'Abingdon Past and Present', talks to Graham Diprose, photographer and co-author of the book 'The River Thames Revisited - in the Footsteps of Henry Taunt'. Both books show photographs comparing past and present.

One of Henry Taunt's modern day relatives was there at the opening. He has a boat on the Thames, moored in Abingdon.

Look for the Light

Three pictures from my better half, who is doing an Art Foundation Course at Abingdon and Witney College...

The swan is drifting away...

One thing the tutor told the students was that when taking photographs they should look for the light. There is not so much around these November days.

To Be Seen down Saxton Road

Pigeons in November

These pigeons were on the railings of Wilsham Road. The once smart black paint on this section of railings is peeling.

Pigeons are creatures of habit and will congregate at the same place at the same time if they learn that food will be available at that moment. They get scared off by people with cameras trying to get too close.

I did read on the internet that, on Armistice day, the Allied forces had in their service approximately 320,000 pigeons for communication.

Silver Anniversary for Brass Band

Leading the Remembrance Day Parade were The Abingdon Town Band with Steve Rich in front.

Steve has been leading and conducting the band for twenty five years.

At the start of December there will be, what has been called, A Golden and Silver Celebration Concert. That is golden for fifty years of The Abingdon Operatic Society, and silver for the twenty five years Steve has led the Brass Band.

Just a flash back to 2006, where the band entertained the crowds when Princess Anne came to town.

Remembrance Day

There were a lot of people there for the Remembrance Day Service round the War Memorial. Every year there seem more people. The last post was played on the bugle, two minutes of silence followed, then a glider flew past, before the wreathes were laid at the War Memorial.

Afterwards, as the troops and uniformed organisations marched past, there was a loud cheer for the Soldiers. Many could be going back to Afghanistan and Iraq next year.

As well as the active soldiers, who continue to serve in wars, were the honoured veterans.

Somebody was telling me that a decade or so ago there used to be a gap in front of Smarts, the fish and chip shop, during the remembrance service. The area had been reserved for World War I soldiers but of those who had survived there were fewer and fewer, and so other people have filled in that area since.


They shall grow not old,
As we that are left grow old:
Age shall not weary them,
Nor the years condemn,
At the going down of the sun
And in the morning
We will remember them.

--Laurence Binyon (1869 to 1943)

Scout Fireworks

It was raining, and I was being careful of the camera, and so these firework photos may look a bit like modern art as a consequence.

There was a good crowd despite the rain. The display is hosted by the scouts who are raising funds for a new scout hut roof. Alison Rooke the chair of VWHDC (Vale of White Horse District Council) led the countdown to the display.

Is everybody wet!!!

Yeahhh!! You bet!

Happy Birthday The Bookstore

Happy Birthday to the Bookstore who celebrate ten years today.

Local children's author, David Melling, was there among all the balloons, doing a picture. I think there were three different book signings.

Martin Clunes at Mostly Books

Martin Clunes was in town signing copies of his book - A Dog's Life. Here he is with Mark from Mostly Books.

(Harry has a canine perspective on his doggy bloggy, and the full story is now on the Mostly Books blog.)

How doth the little Busy Bee?

"How doth the little busy bee
Improve each shining hour,
And gather honey all the day
From every opening flower"!

At the end of January 2008 the Busy Bee newsagents closed because trade was not that good down West Saint Helen Street.

The Co-op building is nearing completion, and things are stirring inside the nearby Busy Bee. Not newspapers this time. There could be a clue in the verse above.

Ladbrokes Relocating

The premises was the Venue bar and more recently it has been vacant, and soon it will be a betting and gaming office.

Ladbrokes are relocating to Bath Street. There is currently a Ladbrokes in Stert Street and another in Ock street. (What I don't know is which is moving. )

Fireworks on November 5th

There were no large public firework displays advertised on November 5th. (There are two on Saturday: one at Dalton Barracks, and one near Long Furlong Community Centre.)

There are some new Christmas Lights on the Market Place that look a bit like fireworks.

The Millenium needle does look like a Roman Candle, and there were plenty of distant explosions in the night sky.

Waitrose could have been one huge bonfire - using a long exposure.

And HSBC may well have been on fire. One of the fire engines stayed for a couple of hours.

Temporary Footpath Closure

The footpath over one side of the Drayton Road has been closed for a few days.

A new road junction is being created.

This is where the Esso Service Station and Cross Roads Garage once stood. The planned housing on the site were probably put back by the aftermath of the floods last year.

The side view of the same development, taken from near the River Ock, shows that the floor level should be above any future flooding.

Bahá'í Faith

In the front room of St Ethelwold's, on East St Helen Street, there has been a display about the Bahá'í Faith.

Transformations

The last few days have seen a variety of contractors coming to play their part in the transformation of this shop on the Market Place. In the last twenty four hours the sign 'COFFEE REPUBLIC' has gone up.

It was once an Estate Agent's.

Kitchen and Bathroom Transformations have just moved in to one of the front units at Coxeters. They were previously round the corner but have expanded.

It was Oxford Beds.

Co-op Building - October progress

This is the view down Lombard Street. The four-storey block fits well into the street scene.

The pavement has been laid, and the shop windows are being put in, and it will soon be time to knock out the brieze blocks that have kept it secure while it was windowless. But lets hope it still turns out to be a Co-op. There are doubts because we also have a Somerfield in Abingdon...

From the Scotsman on 21 October 2008 'THE Co-operative's £1.6 billion takeover of Somerfield has been given the green light by competition watchdogs in a move cementing its place as the UK's fifth-biggest supermarket chain. But the Co-op will have to offload at least 126 stores to address competition concerns in local grocery markets, the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) said.'