St Michael’s Church was full of colourful stalls for the Autumn Fair. I was suprised on entering how many stalls and people there were, and had to ask “Is it always as big as this?”

There was a raffle with about twenty prizes including a Miele vacuum cleaner. There were charity stalls and games and entertainment and food; also there were craft stalls with people who had paid for a table. Money raised goes towards the church’s operating costs and for HOST Abingdon supporting Syrian refugee families settling in our area.

As people sat over soup and a ploughman’s lunch a man told us a little about the HOST Abingdon project. They want Abingdon to be a place of sanctuary for a few of those who have lost everything – asylum seekers and refugees.

The annual Michaelmas Fair is Abingdon’s oldest tradition, and best attended event.

A number of local restaurants set up camp on their doorsteps to take full advantage, including Dorindo’s Mexican Restaurant.

There were no gaps between the stalls and rides along the full length of the fair, which stretches  from the Market Place to the double mini roundabout off Drayton Road – more than half a mile.

The Town Council website says ‘It is the longest street fair in Europe.’

The Vale of White Horse District Council presented 3 and 4 Regiments Royal Logistics Corps with the freedom of the Vale from 2016.

The regiments exercised this freedom with a parade through Abingdon on Saturday 1 October 2016, and were accompanied by the The Band of the Royal Logistic Corps.

Oxfordshire’s Lord-Lieutenant, Tim Stevenson, inspected the troops as the Queen’s representative. And Councillor Mike Badcock was there as Chairman of the Vale of White Horse District Council. The regiments already had the freedom of the Town of Abingdon, and now have the freedom of the Vale.

3 and 4 Logistic Support Regiments are based at Dalton Barracks in Abingdon, Oxfordshire. The Regiments are responsible for a variety of logistical support roles, that primarily involve supply and transport and combat support.

The parade began at 10:50 from Ock Street Fire Station. The troops were inspected at the Market Place, and then went to the Roysse Room for refreshments.

Thanks to Mike for this event, and Martin Hartley for the pictures …

World-renowned polar explorer Pen Hadow will be visiting Abingdon on Thursday 6th October to give a public lecture at the Amey Theatre. This is the start of a series of adventure and exploration themed public talks in Abingdon with the simple of aim of giving the local community the chance to hear some remarkable people. There are two events lined up at the Amey Theatre this Autumn; the first is Pen’s talk followed by a second talk from Everest mountaineer Stephen Venables at the end of the November.

All the information on Pen’s talk can be seen on the website www.horizonlectures.co.uk/ or facebook page www.facebook.com/horizonlectures

Mike will be on the marketplace next Saturday afternoon (once the Freedom Parade is complete).