The Abbey Fields housing development is much closer to the A34 than previous estates, and a long and, in places, high fence has been installed to reduce noise from the 70 mph dual carriageway.

The Town Council is currently exploring ways to use developer money to enhance the town through public art. One suggestion being looked at is improved town entry signs.

It made me wonder whether this long stretch of fencing could be used more imaginatively.

Rather than leaving it as a canvas for tags and self-promotion for graffiti artists, could it  become a space for celebrating Abingdon itself with history, landmarks, and riverside views.

The Mayor of Abingdon, Cllr Rawda Jehanli, opened the Abingdon Artists Spring Exhibition at St Helen’s Church. In her remarks, the Mayor said that Abingdon has many talented artists. Many of them were present for the preview – each exhibiting up to three artworks.

Livio Lobo is pictured with his three works: Fruit of the Wine – Cheers, Fabulous Flowers Abingdon and Boxing Day MG Meet in Abingdon.

When the exhibition opened to the public on Monday, one of the first works to be sold was Fabulous Flowers Abingdon. It was bought by Gary, the owner of the Fabulous Flowers shop, who has a collection of paintings of his shop – a popular subject for artists.

One artist missed at this exhibition is Dougie Simpson, a well-known Abingdon artist who died in December 2025. A painting of Venice by Dougie was on display at the exhibition. A gathering of artists in Dougie’s honour will take place on Saturday, when they will draw and paint together.

The exhibition runs until Saturday.

At present, two new painting are displayed side by side in the Attic of Abingdon County Hall Museum. Both now belong to the museum. One was a gift from Sint-Niklaas to the Abingdon Church Twinning Group who, after displaying it themselves at churches, donated it to the museum. That is Study of St Helen’s Church and St Helen’s Wharf by George Vicat Cole.

The other, Near Abingdon, a watercolour by Arthur Claude Strachan, was purchased from a bequest from Peter Clare. Peter worked for the UK Atomic Energy Authority at Harwell and later for a scientific institute in Cambridge, before returning to Abingdon to work in the family business, Touchwood Sports, on the High Street. Alongside his professional life, and in retirement, Peter became involved in many local organisations, and was treasurer of the Abingdon Museum Friends and CPRE Oxfordshire for many years.

(CPRE Oxfordshire have an obituary to peter in their Autumn 2021 magazine.)

Thirty-nine flags line the lamp posts of Saxton Road and its side courts – mostly Union Jacks, with a few St George’s Crosses. Only one lamp post has been missed.

Today many of them are wet, clinging to their posts. I could wait for better weather to capture them as I saw them yesterday, when they made a fine display.

There are also the usual flag displays in back gardens, proudly shown along the road. So there are a lot more than thirty nine.