Abingdon Monday Market moves for the fairs before returning to Market Place

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Abingdon Monday Market relocated to Abingdon United FC on Northcourt Road during the Michaelmas and Runaway Fairs. It was the first time the market had tried this alternative location.

Pictured are the Isla Jane Bakery and Fresh Grimsby Fish stalls, in an image taken from a video by Harriet Matthews.

The Monday Market was back on Abingdon Market Place yesterday, Monday, under blue skies. The liquidambar trees are turning their autumn colours.

Among the stalls back on the Market Place was the Isla Jane Bakery (the market part of the Nash Bakery from Bicester).

The Isla Jane Bakery visits 22 markets a week across Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Bedfordshire, Northamptonshire and Wiltshire.

The bakery has a regular stall in Abingdon every Monday, alongside visits to towns including Witney, Carterton, Banbury, Kidlington, Buckingham, Aylesbury, Daventry and Leighton Buzzard throughout the rest of the week.

Cyclists take to the runway for charity

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A charity cycle ride around the former RAF Abingdon airfield, now Dalton Barracks, raised £1,400 (and counting) for the Newman Trust on Saturday 17th October.

Organised by Robin Day, the ride took participants along the airfield’s perimeter track and down the main runway ten times. Robin rode a specially adapted bike on loan from Charlotte’s Tandems with Andrew and Helena.

Although the weather was cold, with a northerly headwind making progress harder along the perimeter track, the cyclists enjoyed a much faster ride southbound down the runway.

The Newman Holiday Trust provide respite holidays for children with disabilities and has provided holidays for Robin’s daughter, Helena.

https://justgiving.com/page/robinday2026

Abingdon Marathon takes a new route through the town

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The Abingdon Marathon started at 9am at Tilsley Park, with a revised route for this year’s race. Runners went around Radley Lakes before following the Sustrans cycle route through the Abbey Grounds. It was a cool morning. Pictured are the leading runners going by the Millstream

The leading female runner at that stage, Emma Cowper, went on to win the women’s race.

Runners made their way along Abbey Close.

They then passed through the Abbey Gateway, where the Town Crier was ringing his bell and members of his family were also cheering.

In previous years, the route took runners past R&R and across the Market Place.

They continued along High Street rather than turning down East St Helen Street.

There were a lot of supporters along the High Street.

Near County Hall, a group of supporters from Mind were cheering on runners. The marathon raised around £20,000 for charities last year, and a similar amount is expected this year, with funds going to around 20 local charities.

Runners continued down West St Helen Street and along St Helen Wharf. The church bells were ringing for the Sunday service.

The route then headed out through the surrounding villages, with runners completing two circuits.

There were further changes to the return route through Abingdon, which avoided most of Dunmore Road. I was told by one Marshall that closing the road can be expensive, so the revised course made greater use of quieter roads and footpaths, offering a more scenic route while removing a road closure cost.

The runners followed the River Stert. The results on https://sites.chronotrack.com/event/94541/results show that Stephen Stuart Bumstead – 1158 – finishes in 3:35:45 but did not mention that he was pushing a double buggy.

The route continuing along Sellwood Road, where a young drummer encouraged runners with drumming and bashing of the cymbal.

Marshals were out in large numbers along the route, directing runners and helping to manage traffic. There must have been hundreds of marshals and organisers involved – making the event run smoothly.

The final stretch included some of the new cycle and pedestrian routes through the recent housing developments. This gave runners a more scenic route back towards Tilsley Park.

The first runner back at Tilsley Park was Matthew Lock from Witney. He finished in 2 hours, 28 minutes and 16 seconds, a couple of minutes ahead of the next runner.

Several drones could be seen overhead, with one tracking the runners as they ran their final lap of the track. Thanks to technology, the commentator was able to identify the incoming runners by name.

A total of 1,057 runners started the marathon. The commentator announced that 249 of those were running their first marathon. He also said it’s the 42nd running of the Abingdon Marathon. I see from https://sites.chronotrack.com/event/94541/results that 1,022 from 1,057 runners finished. That’s amazing! What dedication!

Trinity Church celebrates Black History Month

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Trinity Church in Abingdon celebrated Black History Month today with a programme of talks, storytelling, music and conversation.

The event featured a talk by Mr Bevan Powell MBE on the history of Black History Month.

This was followed by absorbing storytelling from Mr Joseph Kingsley Nyinah.

There was also a conversation with the Rt Hon Lord Boateng, who many people of my age will remember as Paul Boateng, a Labour Cabinet minister and Britain’s first Black Cabinet minister.

He made the point that no one political party has a monopoly on advancing racial justice.

One example is the repeal in 1981 of the so-called ‘sus’ law, a provision of the Vagrancy Act 1824 that gave police powers to arrest people suspected of intending to commit certain offences. It was used disproportionately against Black men and contributed to tensions between Black communities and the police.

The provision was repealed under Margaret Thatcher’s Conservative government, following a campaign involving Black community activists and politicians from across the political spectrum, including Lord Boateng himself.

Lord Boateng went on to argue that political campaigning is just as important as what politicians do once in office in bringing about positive change in society. Reflecting on the current political climate, in which many people have become disenchanted with politics, he said Christians should be campaigning for their core values: peace, justice and care for creation.

The programme also included a musical performance by three members of the Methodist Zimbabwe Fellowship Choir.

The event was introduced by the Revd Georgina Bondzi-Simpson, minister of Trinity and All Saints Church, with a short service led by the Revd Sonia Hicks.

Afterwards, many of those attending went through to the church hall to enjoy African and Caribbean food, including jerk chicken, fried plantain, salt fish fritters and sea bass in coconut cream. There were plenty of other dishes, too, many of which I was trying for the first time and couldn’t name.

Guests included the Mayor of Abingdon, Cllr Andrew Skinner, and his wife, along with Cllr Rawda Jehanli, last year’s Mayor.