The Abingdon Blog

The Abingdon Blog is a photo record of events and places in Abingdon, Oxfordshire, started on January 1st 2006.

Saturday, 23 May 2009

Two MPs and a Boxing Match

Last night there was a lot going on...

David Cameron, MP for Witney, and leader of the Conservative Party, was at Larkmead School in Abingdon talking to people as part of his Euro and County Council election tour. (Thanks to Elizabeth for this picture).

Dr Evan Harris, MP for Abingdon, was at a showing of the film 'The Age of Stupid', followed by a discussion about issues raised by the film. (Thanks to Martin for this picture)

There was also boxing at the Guildhall. Very popular this prooved.

It began with a few younger boxers and worked its way up. This young lad from Abingdon Town Amateur Boxing Club went on to gain the best performance of the evening award.

There were about 15 bouts in all.

Evan Harris came to watch the boxing after the politics was over.

The boxing club is raising funds for a new gym on Caldecott Rec. For more info see the Boxing Club Website.

Friday, 22 May 2009

Summer Starts Here


There are new banners on the Market Place to promote the outdoor pool. It opens tomorrow (Saturday 23rd May).

And Salters start steaming to Oxford tomorrow. The First boat leaves at 11:15 from Nags Head Island.

See Whats On in Abingdon .

Thursday, 21 May 2009

Tate Abingdon

Three more Venues in Abingdon from Oxfordshire Artweeks...

First to St Ethelwolds House where there is an exhibition by the East St Helens Street Group...

It includes pottery, painting, and photography.

This was my wife's favourite picture.

Second exhibition was in the O6 gallery at John Mason School where the work was by their Artist in Residence, Lucy Baxandall...

She likes making pictures with lots of little houses - lots of individual worlds within a bigger world.

And making objects from recycled paper. This is something very deep. Its about memory - a Core Sample of the strata in our own minds going deep down to the most compressed earliest memories.

Lastly to Larkmead School to see the work of their Artist in Residence, Catherine Lucktaylor...

Some of these look a bit spooky. Her work is about folklore in her West African and British homelands

with pictures of iconic black women.

The last two exhibitions are only during school hours and you need to sign in at reception.

Wednesday, 20 May 2009

New Look Restaurant


The McDonalds in Abingdon has been given a brand new look. Exactly what it says on the sign.

Tuesday, 19 May 2009

Tudor Abingdon 1485-1603 in 2009


This is how Tudor Abingdon may have looked - as depicted by a diorama model at the County Hall Museum.

A new exhibition about Tudor Abingdon has just opened in the museum.

There are a number of Tudor mannequins with Tudor-style cloths, and a variety of artifacts and manuscripts dating from that time - many from Abingdon.

There are even two lots of stocks. One lot look authentic. But there are some more recently made stocks for fun use.

Monday, 18 May 2009

Alencon to Abingdon


There was a delay before they were 'liberated' in Alencon. A rain belt was obstructing the flight path from France into England.

But at 09.30 on Saturday 16th May 2009 this anxious group in Abingdon got the news...

"We have Lift-Off! Birds liberated at 09.30 in a S.W.Wind. A fast race is expected so be on your guard."

The first Abingdon pigeon was clocked back at 13.40.

A great effort but it did not win. Those with the wind behind them, all the way to their home, do have an advantage. It's average speed that matters.

All safe home, and the younger birds are then let out.

The birds fly in large circles, never getting out of sight of the coop, until their need to eat overcomes their desire to fly.

(Thanks to Alan and Jill for letting us watch their birds.)

Sunday, 17 May 2009

Artweeks - 1

Artweeks in the South of Oxfordshire runs from 16th to 25th . We visited two venues on the first day. More may well follow.

This is Therese Penny in front of a portrait of her Father. Her works are displayed in a converted Water Tower in Marcham near Abingdon. See Artweeks for the details.

Next we went to All Saints Church, Abingdon - currently celebrating their 50th Anniversary. At one end the Abingdon & District Camera Club has an exhibition.

Elsewhere there were a variety of works - many by church members. Here are sketches done by one member of the Church.

There were also works by various youth groups like this Egyptian Scene...