Abbey Millstream Through the Year: August 2026


Alongside the Millstream, the Thames Path runs for a short stretch. The Millstream path is also part of National Cycle Network Route 5 and is well used by local joggers, walkers and people out exercising their dogs. So, despite being a backwater, the Millstream is beside a busy route.

As I walked along the Millstream today, there didn’t seem to be quite as much wildlife as apparent as in July. There were, however, quite a few young moorhens.

Some of the young ducks could be adult-sized now, making them difficult to distinguish from female mallards. These two could be youngsters, but I am not sure.

There are plenty of ducks. They tend to wander around in smaller groups, but come together when someone arrives with food.

It was the last day of August, and I walked along the Millstream early in the morning. The swimming pool was open and there were people making the most of the early Bank Holiday. There was early morning sunshine, lighting up the trees and the water.

The early light looked particularly good filtered through the tree leaves.

There were still some flowers to be seen, although the display was less spectacular than in the earlier months. The season is changing, with burrs and other seed-bearing fruits noticeable.

I walked along the Millstream early in the day and returned later as the sun was setting. August is over and there are only four months left of the year.

The schools will soon be back, bringing a change in pace to Abingdon and its traffic. For some, this will mean taking the next big step in life: starting a new school, college, university, job or something entirely different.

And the Millstream carries on flowing as slowly as ever – even more slowly with the build up of reeds and fallen trees.

Abingdon United celebrates 80 years


Abingdon United Football Club celebrated its 80th anniversary today, bringing together football, music, memorabilia and family entertainment at the Northcourt ground.

The club’s story began in 1946, after the end of the Second World War, when a group of ex-servicemen established a new football club in Abingdon. Abingdon United entered the North Berks League Division One for the 1946–47 season.

On the pitch, Abingdon United Ladies were in action against Keynsham Town in an match which United won 3–2.

There was a funfair and food van in one corner of the ground and an inflatable room inside.

Inside the clubhouse, an exhibition brought together old Abingdon United memorabilia, newspaper cuttings and football programmes.

Music was also part of the celebrations, with local band Hazey Rock playing in the Northcourt Bar.

Rain and Puddles


We had heavy rain today. We had 10.75 mm of rain, and about half of that fell between 1:30 and 1:45 pm. That may not sound remarkable until you consider that we had just 0.2 mm throughout the whole of July.

The Local Excellence Market went ahead. But the Goldwing Treffen club didn’t go ahead with the 5 pm multinational ride-through Abingdon. There were still some people who turned up to watch, and they cheered when a delivery motorcycle went past.

Otherwise, we got something unheard-of for this summer: puddles.

Goldwings give Abingdon spectacular parade


Abingdon was given an unexpected display this evening when a procession of brightly lit Honda Goldwing motorcycles made its way through the town centre.  We first became aware of them when we heard a succession of motorcycle horns outside in West St Helen Street. Stepping outside, we saw the procession of brightly lit motorcycles.

They continued round the one way system before gathering at the Market Place.

There they were welcomed by the Mayor of Abingdon, Councillor Andrew Skinner.

The riders are taking part in the ‘British Treffen‘, the annual international gathering of the Goldwing Owners Club of Great Britain, which is being held in Abingdon this weekend. The event is based at the rugby club, with 240 motorcycles and 400 riders and passengers.

‘Treffen’ is German for a gathering or meeting. Goldwing clubs across Europe hold their own Treffen events, with British riders travelling to European gatherings and overseas riders coming to the British Treffen which moves to a different location each year.

There will be another motorcycle parade in Abingdon on Saturday at around 5pm, for 20 minutes, when the overseas riders will parade through the town carrying European flags to show where they come from, and the British riders will follow the Union Jack.

But for tonight it was ‘Welcome to the Honda Goldwing Light Parade Abingdon 2026.’