A two minute silence is held to mark Armistice Day when after four years of fighting in World War I, the end of the war was marked on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month.

At Eleven O’Clock this morning the Town Crier rang his bell and traffic came to a halt for a two minute silence at Abingdon war memorial.

There were a group of pupils from Thameside School along with their Deputy Head. Over a hundred people had gathered around the war memorial – far more than the much smaller gathering you would have seen ten years ago. People were there to remember those killed in two World Wars and the British servicemen killed or injured since 1945.

Alongside the Mayor, Councillor Alice Badcock, is Stan Bradford who served in WW2.

Thanks to Elizabeth for the last two pictures.

The Abingdon Army Cadets have been in the town centre selling poppies again today. Remembrance Sunday is the 13th November.

There was a first frost on Thursday. Leaves have been falling steadily.

It is November the 5th and there is a chance to take part in a Firewalk at the Nags Head. Money raised goes to Blue Skye Thinking.

Also on tonight is the scouts’ fireworks, and tomorrow is Dalton Barracks fireworks and funfair. They normally also have a big bonfire.

I was reading in the library this morning Ron Chung’s recollections of life in Abingdon (a photocopied pamphlet in the local studies section called ‘Where are they now – The Slums and Courts of Abingdon’). He remembers “November 5th we wanted a ‘Bonfire’ so I asked the farmer to dump all the collected rubbish from the shops to be dumped in the ‘Reck’ for this which he carried out provided we kept it tidy and a great fire we had. (Remember all this was collected by horse and cart).”

NO LORRIES

Here is the St Helen’s Clock at 2 minutes before 8 this morning.

Here is the clock again at 2 minutes before 9 – after the hands had been moved forward eleven hours.

Putting the clock back an hour at St Helen’s Church involves moving the hands forward eleven hours. Here is the movie…

There is a Hallowe’en Haunt trail you can follow round the town centre with the chance of a prize of £100 to spend at town centre shops. The event is run by The Town Centre BID.

Walking round Abingdon this evening I was made to feel the fear by one or two of the shop window displays.

EEEHHH!

YIIEEEE!