Monthly Archives: April 2013

Community Shop Returns in the old Gas Board Showroom

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Community Shop
The community shop is back after a year off – due to the redevelopment of the Abbey Shopping Centre. Community groups will soon be able to promote themselves in the community shop with exhibitions, and / or activities, and anything that makes the town vibrant.

May and September are already fairly booked up but if your community group would like to use the shop email Hester ( hester@hand-abingdon.net ). Both Hester and Heather (pictured above) have worked on this venture. Together they represent The Friends of Abingdon and the Choose Abingdon Partnership.
Community Shop
The shop was until recently a toy shop and, Hester reminds me, it was once the old Gas Board Showroom.

It must have been where we bought our first oven in 1986 – a Flavia Festival with oven, 4 gas rings, and grill above.

Put the flags out! Spring has sprung in Abingdon.

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Put the flags out
Flags have been posted all around the town centre.

Unlike 2012 there is no obvious reason for such an exuberant celebration. But Spring has finally sprung. Maybe that is enough.
Put the flags out
The difference from the flags used in 2012 is that there are many green Abingdon flags among the Union Jacks. So it could be another way to promote the town.
Put the flags out
There will also be a rerun of Music in the Park. Like 2012, the jubilee year, armbands can be purchased for £5 for adults and £2 for 5-17 year old. Under 5s go free.

On the bill are: Prisoners of Katrina, Green Onions (Blues Brothers Tribute Band) and Abingdon Town Band performing the Proms with a grand firework finale. There will also be two individual artists – Michael Buble/Bruno Mars tribute act and Elkie who will be covering popular songs.

If you want to be there, don’t be disappointed, get one sooner rather than later.

A short tribute to Penny McDougall

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Penny McDougall
A fuller tribute is printed in this week’s Herald.

Yesterday was the funeral at St Helen’s Church of Penny McDougall – an Abingdon-on-Thames town councillor, who died unexpectedly just over a week ago. These pictures were at last year’s bun throwing.
Penny McDougall
Penny was described as a dedicated mum, and grandmother, who for two years became a councillor and dedicated some of her great energies to improving Abingdon – in which role she was described as a breath of fresh air.

At the funeral her youngest son read a poem which his mum had chosen …

…Tomorrow is not promised to anyone,
young or old alike,
And today may be the last chance
you get to hold your loved one tight.

So if you’re waiting for tomorrow,
why not do it today?
For if tomorrow never comes,
you’ll surely regret the day,

That you didn’t take that extra time
for a smile, a hug, or a kiss
and you were too busy to grant someone,
what turned out to be their one last wish…

Author Unknown