What’s On in Abingdon – This Bank Holiday Weekend

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With half term under way and hot weather forecast, the Splash Pad area in Abbey Meadows received a pressure wash today in preparation for busy days ahead. The open-air pool has not yet reopened, but nearby Hinksey Outdoor Pool is already open for swimmers.

AbiBinIt Community Litter Pick: Marcham Road
Saturday 23rd May, 10am–12pm
At MG Heritage Park on Marcham Road.

AbiBinIt’s latest community litter pick takes place around the Marcham Road area. Litter pickers and equipment will be provided, and newcomers are very welcome. Children should be accompanied by a responsible adult, and suitable clothing and footwear are recommended.

The group says: “If you’ve never litter picked with us then make May your month to change that.”

Abingdon Freewheeling Annual Cycling Festival
Saturday 24th May, 9.30am–12.30pm
Starting from Abingdon Market Place.

Abingdon Freewheeling will be hosting its annual cycling festival, with a range of rides leaving at different times during the morning.

The rides will finish at Loose Cannon Brewing Co. for drinks and food. The festival aims to encourage cycling in the community, and all are welcome. No booking is required, although spaces on rides are limited.

Come for a Bank Holiday Walk
Sunday 25th May, 10am–1pm

A chance to explore Abingdon and the surrounding area on foot, either through one of five guided walks or by following a self-guided trail.

Trail leaflets will be available on the day, with around a dozen different walks covering a range of interests and ages.

(Also the day of the Harwell Feast)

Parking Restrictions v Obstruction

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There were loud toots from a Co-op lorry in West St Helen Street yesterday evening, trying to get a driver back to their car.

The lorry had to stop because on one side there were parked residents’ cars, and on the other  was a car parked where cars do not normally park – on a single yellow line with a restriction of no waiting 8am–6pm Monday to Saturday. Only a few weeks ago, new double yellow lines were introduced along this street, but not this particular section.

For a while, traffic built up behind the lorry, until the driver reversed and other drivers behind adjusted their positions. This allowed cars to mount the kerb to get round the lorry.

A few minutes later, with help from a Co-op employee on foot, the lorry was able to squeeze through without a scrape.

Single yellow lines with time restrictions can give the impression that parking is acceptable, but if parked cause an obstruction that could be a police matter.

P.S. It may have been an emergency situation.

 

Old Speckled Hen to become a Damm Beer

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Greene King has sold the Old Speckled Hen brand to Damm UK, the British arm of Spanish brewer Estrella Damm. Brewing is expected to eventually move from Bury St Edmunds to Bedford as a result. It will also mean a change to the Greene King distribution centre in Abingdon where the lorries currently wear the Old Speckled Hen livery.

For the national press, this is a business story. For Abingdon, it is part of the afterlife of two of the town’s best-known names: Morland and MG.

Old Speckled Hen was first brewed in Abingdon in 1979 by Morland Brewery to celebrate 50 years of the MG factory being based in the town. The original logo had a chain connecting MG with the town crest. The Old Speckled Hen was not a bird but an “MG Featherlight Saloon” with cellulosed fabric stretched over a wooden frame, which became an MG factory runaround. Identified by its mottled appearance, it was pointed out in the Abingdon accent by the phrase, “There gus the owd speckl’d un”.

The beer created to commemorate MG’s presence in Abingdon became a multi-national success after the factory closed.

This timeline tells the story:

1979 — Old Speckled Hen first brewed in Abingdon by Morland
1980 — MG factory closes
1999/2000 — Greene King acquires Morland (their interest in Morland was driven in part by the success of Old Speckled Hen beer). Brewing leaves Abingdon for Bury St Edmunds
2026 — Greene King sells the brand to Damm, with brewing expected to move to Bedford

Greene King kept the MG octagon and Morland name on the beer.  Damm appears keen to market Old Speckled Hen as an “iconic British ale brand with a rich heritage”. The acquisition appears to cover the Old Speckled Hen family of beers and not the Morland brand, so I don’t know whether the Morland branding will continue on the beer.

Abbey Buildings Pop-up Exhibition

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It was a surprise to find the Abbey Buildings open on Saturday.

In the Long Gallery there was a black-and-white photography exhibition accompanied by a slideshow and atmospheric music. In the Undercroft, visitors could experience a Gong Bath, where people relaxed on mats while listening to gongs and other percussion.

In the Lower Hall there was a ballet and movement workshop. Outside in the garden, a carver was at work and explained that he both practises and teaches carving for therapeutic purposes. Also in the garden were quilts and colouring books.

The open day came as a surprise because I had thought work on the Abbey Buildings refurbishment was due to begin.

The photography exhibition, The Seekers, was a free exhibition by Samantha J Ratcliff, produced as part of her MA in Photography. The project explored the stories of eight people who had found ways to reorient their lives through approaches such as alternative therapies or a closer connection with nature in response to stress. It took place in the Abbey Buildings because it was seen as a place of sanctuary.