Last in The Series

John has sent the 'Last in The Series'

Here Canon Barton is outside St Michael's church blessing the new Paschal Candle. (Here he points to the Omega in saying "Christ the Alpha and Omega..")

The Revd. Richard Bittlestone is also here as the Trinity Church candle is also blessed and dedicated for the year ahead. The procession proceeds into the dark church lit only by candles and the Easter Vigil service was begun as Richard sang the ancient "Exultet" which rejoices in the resurrection.

St Nics at St Mics

It is end of term and there now follow two weeks of holiday for school children in Abingdon.

St Nicolas School were there in numbers at St Michael's Church for an end of term Easter service. The donkey was a part of the Easter Story they heard about.

(Thanks again to John - St Michael's Special Correspondent)

Sadly Missed

From the Town Council website...

'Councillor Audrey Tamplin, former Mayor of Abingdon, died on Tuesday 30 March 2010 after a short illness. Councillor Patricia Hobby, Mayor of Abingdon said “we are shocked by this unexpected loss and our thoughts are with her husband John and the family. Audrey will be sadly missed by all who knew her.."

... the town flag, as is customary, is being flown at half-mast'

Flotsam and jetsam

Apparently "There's a simple mnemonic that helps distinguish flotsam from jetsam.

Flotsam (or floatsome) are those items which are floating as a consequence of the action of the sea.

Jetsam are those which have been jettisoned by a ship's crew (although that may float too of course)."

(First picture downstream from Abingdon Lock. Second picture the weir pools. The level of the River Thames has been quite high of recent days.)

Festival within a Festival

The Brewery Tap had a Music Festival and a Beer Festival at the same time. It was part of the Abingdon 2010 Arts Festival.

Taking part were the SWINGTIME Big Band - conducted by George Haslam.

The trumpet player in the back row also doubled as the singer.

Palm Sunday 2010

Thanks to John for pictures of Palm Sunday at St Michael's. It is traditional to parade on Palm Sunday. At Trinity, nearby, we were not so daring, and the children and some adults paraded round inside the church while a hymn was sung, but St Michael's Church paraded from the Albert Park back to their church building.

The colour used throughout Lent is purple, and during the week before Easter the crucifix is covered at some churches.

Music From The Movies

This was one of the last shows in the Abingdon Arts Festival. Wesley Smith was introducing songs from the Movies played by the joint Abingdon Concert Band and Bicester Concert Band. Both bands have the same conductor so such a collaboration does not seem too unusual.

With fifteen minutes to go the place was already packed. It was a sell out and this is about the nearest seat I could find. You can just about make out Wesley seated to the left of the stage.