Abingdon Artists - Spring 2010 Exhibition

The exhibition is at St. Ethelwold's House, 30 East St Helen Street, from today until Saturday 27th March. Entry is from 10am to 5pm each day and is free.

When I got there to look round, The chair of Abingdon Artists was showing round the chair of the Vale of White Horse District Council.

They were standing beside a distinctive picture of St Helen's Wharf by John Stephen.

There are a varied selection of work in various media from several of the town's talented artists, both amateur and professional. Artwork is available to purchase, along with greeting cards and there is a raffle to win an original painting.

Easter Experience

Almost 300 primary-school children visited Trinity Church in Abingdon, to take part in “Experience Easter”. The church was transformed into scenes from Jerusalem during Holy Week.

Among the activities, the children wrote their hopes & dreams on palm crosses, dried each others’ hands as symbolism of caring and shaped plasticine figures to decorate the Garden of Gethsemane. “

Thanks to Rosemary for sending me these pictures.

One Project nears completion, Two Begin

Bill wrote to ask whether the new paving in the High Street has been done without a spirit-level. It does seem uneven.

The road itself will be resurfaced over three nights from Wednesday 24th to Friday 26th March inclusive from 19:00 to 05:00.

Another two big town centre projects are now about to go ahead.

Work is to start at the Old Gaol. A notice has been issued to restrict parking on Bridge Street when work begins.

On Monday the Heritage Lottery Fund decided to release the funds for the County Hall Museum development to go ahead. Work will start in the autumn. This was despite a material change to the project ... the original lift to the Sessions Hall which local English Heritage officers worked to help design, got turned down by the national English Heritage committee. So the project had to be changed at the last minute and a cheaper platform lift just to the basement introduced.

The project includes some much needed maintenance work. The roof is leaking, as is the cellar, and the electrics need doing... So about half of the project is a half century maintenance program, but we will see some definite improvements to the environment of the Sessions Hall and basement and MG room so better public displays and access will be possible.

(Thanks to My Daily Postcard for the 1905 postcard).

St Patrick's Day

The Kings Head and Bell are running an Irish theme this week. Raffle tickets have been given away with every pint of Guinness. Three well known Irish poets (Bernard O'Donoghue, Tom Paulin and Mick Henry) performed in the King Charles Room as part of the Abingdon Arts Festival

- people were listening from down both stairwells it was so popular, and there is an Irish menu tonight.

New Stert Street Shops

Coming soon in place of Sandman will be 'Fine Guitars' - selling guitars and sheet music and accessories.

Dream Doors, just a few doors away, specialise in kitchen makeovers.

Mothering Sunday

Thanks to John for this picture of the Mothering Sunday service at St Michael's.

Canon Norman Brown led the service.

French Market

On Saturday there was a Normandy Market. It was not as large as some of the original French Markets from a couple of years back which used to fill the Market Place.

During the Market, the England flag continued to fly over Stroll In. England's final match in the Six Nations Rugby next weekend is against France.