Monthly Archives: March 2014

Abingdon Clubs and Societies Day – Part 2

Abingdon Clubs and Societies Day
Abingdon Drama Club, in their 70th anniversary year, were delighted to be presented with a package  of press cuttings and programmes from a predecessor, The Guild of Abbey Players – including a front page Oxford Journal Illustrated feature on Drama in Abingdon from 1917.
Abingdon Clubs and Societies Day
The Ox and Bucks Woodcarvers are also looking back to those years a century ago and are about to embark on a new carving with five tableau representing scenes from WWI. They were asking people to vote for the scenes they wanted on the tableau.
Abingdon Clubs and Societies Day
Helen Eccleston  of Abingdon Music Centre is back as director after having a baby. Another teacher is now conducting the Community Orchestra. So I guess Helen will be doing a lot, but not quite so much as before.
Abingdon Clubs and Societies Day
The Friends of Abbey Meadows Outdoor Pool know the pool is oversubscribed in hot weather and under used when the temperature plummets. They want to get better attendance when the weather is not so enticing by asking that water is kept a comfortable 22deg C, that the pool and surrounds are kept tidy, and by publicising that swimming is free to under 16s.
Abingdon Clubs and Societies Day
The Friends of Radley Lakes were recently presented with an award for their work in protecting the environment. They first fought to save the lakes and now work with the Earth Trust to manage Thrupp Lake.

Part 3 to follow.

Abingdon Clubs and Societies Day – Part 1

In the Guildhall today there was the biannual Abingdon Clubs and Societies Day.
Abingdon Clubs and Societies Day
The Town Crier, Penny Clover, announced there were 57 clubs and societies taking part. One person who happened along said, “This is amazing. I didn’t know it was on.

Somebody else said “We have so many clubs and societies because we don’t have a cinema.

At their 14th March meeting, HLF rejected The Guildhall phase two redevelopment which included the 100 seat cinema .
Abingdon Clubs and Societies Day
The ABCD Film Society have just finished their current annual programme. They meet every Thursday at the Resource Wellbeing Centre, Audlett Drive. Members vote and post comments about the films they watch, and this year ALL QUIET ON THE WESTERN FRONT was a favorite.
Abingdon Clubs and Societies Day
The Abingdon Army Cadets were there recruiting young people looking for action, excitement and adventure,
Abingdon Clubs and Societies Day
as were the Path Finders Canoe Club . Pathfinders Youth Canoe Club exists to provide kayaking and canoeing opportunities for young people from 11 to 18 years.
Abingdon Clubs and Societies Day
Abingdon Xtra were there interviewing stall holders including the Abingdon Wine Circle who meet at Preston Road Community Centre. The wine circle gives members the chance to try wines which may be too expensive, or they are not sure about, in a very social setting.
Abingdon Clubs and Societies Day
Abingdon Bowling Club, who celebrated their centenary last year, have open days, for new people to try bowling, on Friday May 16th from 5:00pm, and Saturday May 17th from 10:00am.

Part 2 tomorrow.

Marina Park – without wellies

Marina Park
This is the first time that I have been down to the Marina Park for quite some time.
Marina Park
I see on the Marina web site that “Abingdon Marina is the only off river marina with floating pontoons upstream of Reading” and that “we are only 4 days hard cruising from the tidal reaches of the Thames.”
Marina Park
There is a tree down in the park, and the paths are a little slippy. But after much of the winter under water it is now walkable without wellies.

It is one of the locations I usually get pictures of the Head of the River Rowing, which this year is on April 6th. There are 4 divisions with a maximum of 90 boats in each …
Division 1 – 09.30
Division 2 – 11.45
Division 3 – 14.00
Division 4 – 16.15

Pothole Money

Pothole Money
Many of the potholes along the access road / footpath to St Helen’s Mill have been decorated with green paint – an indication that they are about to be resurfaced.
Pothole Money
Signs have also sprung up along Preston Road saying that it will closed for 4 days approx in mid April for resurfacing. I gather that the works won’t be during the rush hour, but during the day.

These repairs may have been already planned, or it could be that Abingdon is benefitting from some of the £4.7m (reported in this morning’s Abingdon Herald) that Oxfordshire County Council have received, unexpectedly from central government, to repair potholes.