Christmas Craft Fair

This craft fair was organised by Abingdon Town Council.

Peter Green opened the event with his Town Criers bell. Children were saying he looks a bit like Father Christmas - except in green.

The real Father Christmas was there with The Abingdon Lions. He will be out and about round Abingdon between 6 PM and 8 PM on the following busy schedule...

Mon 7th : Sellwood Road / South Avenue
Tue 8th : Appleford Drive
Wed 9th : Mill Road
Thu 10th : Preston Road
Fri 11th : Audlett Drive

Mon 14th : Peachcroft Northwest
Tue 15th : Peachcroft Southeast
Wed 16th : Hanson Road / Langley Road
Thu 17th : Boulter Drive / Alexander Close

Not sure why he does not do the town centre. That is one thing I miss living here - the approach of the sleigh bells.

Many stalls had Christmas goodies.

On the Added Ingredients Stall there was somebody cooking up and letting people sample hot sauces.

Members from the Abingdon Concert Band were playing carols this week. I do have a video - to be shown tomorrow.

Christmas Extravaganza Evening

Next to Father Christmas is Kate Garraway who turned on the Christmas Lights this year.

There was a good turn out for the parade and switch on.

The theme for the shop fancy dress was Pantomime and the following shops were dressed up...

The Book Store

Dorothy Perkins. Lesley legge in the middle was not in the competition.

The Finishing Touch

The Nursery Shop

Oxfam

Lewis Baker were the winners.

And winner of best shop front was The Finishing Touch.

The evening ended with fireworks.

Early Morning Walk

It rained later in the day but there was mist at first.

Just a few other dog walkers were doing the round of the park.

The big leylandii clearance happened earlier this year. Prince Albert can now be seen from all sides.

Trinity Church viewed from across Abingdon School Playing Field. The school carpark was full with staff cars and a couple of minibuses. No cars parked on the road anymore since the new regime of clamping introduced earlier this year.

Extravaganza Thursday

The Christmas Extravaganza is on this Thursday. Kate Garraway, formerly of Fitzharrys School in Abingdon, will be turning on the Christmas lights at 7pm. They were delivered last night - all ready for their late night installation. Very cold it was too. The windscreen of my car was frosted both on the inside and the outside by morning.

Disability Access Awards

Just before the launch of the Abingdon Partnership, there was an awards ceremony for businesses in Abingdon Town Centre that had done well in a recent Disability Access assessment. High Street and Stert Street were the first shopping areas to be assessed.

I could not picture all the recipients but here are a few...

The 90p shop.

Helen and Douglas House and Mostly Books.

Prices the stationer.

After that pre-event came the Launch of the Abingdon Partnership to which a lot of local businessmen were expected.

On the display board is one of the ideas the partnership have already been looking at: the improvement of the Stratton Road end of Bath Street. Unfortunately I could not stay for that event as I had a School Governor meeting to attend - so look forward to reports of how it went.

Upping The Pavements

This is how far the project to lay new pavements and tidy up the streets had got to last week - just outside Ask.

This week it has gone a little further and reached Smarts. So the new pavements have moved from Ock Street, gone round The Square, and are about to move up along the High Street.

However traders up Bath Street - straight ahead on this picture - are asking why not us, since Bath Street is not part of the current project to upgrade the pavements.

Advent Sunday

Today they will be lighting the first candle of the Advent Crown in Churches round Abingdon. Yesterday I took this video of some members of Abbey Brass, conducted by Chris Macklow, performing Oh Little Town of Bethlehem. I cut it just before the last note - sorry!

While doing this I was asked by one of the ladies from The Riverside Playgroup if I knew how to get into contact with Santa Claus because they are hoping he can make an appearance on 17th December. Let Joyce know if you have any useful contacts on 01235 524833. And ask him if he has been CRB checked.