This picture of the County Hall in Abingdon on Thames was taken at 11 pm on 31st January 2020. Britain has just left the European Union.

There is a fine drizzle. Sami’s queue continues unchanged. There is a phut phut where somebody has launched a small rocket but no bang or shower of sparks. We are entering a new era but unlike new year there is no tradition for leaving the EU.

Having walked around the town centre and failed to find any signs of celebration, I check the time. No bells were rung. There was no dancing in or outside the pubs. Some people watched a face on a large screen explaining the significance of this day.

Flight Lieutenant Mike Randles was in the RAF during WWII and took part in reconnaissance flights over Germany, France, Italy and Norway. Over Norway he took pictures, while balancing in precarious positions in the hold of a plane, to try to identify where Germany was manufacturing heavy water – used in nuclear fission and of use in building an atomic bomb.

In a service last Sunday at St Nicolas Church, Abingdon, a window was dedicated to Mike and Barbara Randles. The Organ then played the 633 squadron theme.

Outside St Nics, a notice was being put up to advertise the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity.

This week starts with a Church in Abingdon (CiA) joint service on Sunday 19th January 2020, 3 pm, at Christ Church, Northcourt Road, led by Revd Paul Smith with refreshments and an exhibition of CiA task groups after the service.

Then midday prayers Monday 20th – Friday 24th January, at 12 noon led by various people at St Nicolas Church.

Finally there is the CiA Inter-church quiz on Friday 24 January 2020, 7.30 pm, at St Michael’s Church, Park Road.

There have already been individuals out litter picking at places such as Lodge Hill, and next Saturday will be the first Abingdon group litter pick of 2020.

Share a poem is tomorrow (8th January). The Topic (voluntary) is New Year & New Beginnings. Pauline Sykes has been leading this group for many many years.

Abingdon Drama Club present Snow White from Jan 10th to Jan 18th at the Unicorn Theatre. Kennington Amateur Dramatic Society are performing Cinderella from Jan 24th to Feb 1st at Kennington Village Centre.

The Berkshire Family History Society ask ‘Was Your Ancestor a Gypsy?’

The Abingdon Carbon Cutters talk about Low Carbon Travel. And Abingdon Library have a Language Cafe where you can either ‘improve your spoken English with friendly people’ or ‘Have a conversation in another language.’

Roger Thomas will be looking at some of the discoveries made in recent years as part of the archaeological surveys that happen before new housing is built.

The Abingdon Mummers were performing their traditional Christmas Mummers play this evening around drinking places in Abingdon including:

• Punch Bowl, 
• Broad Face, 
• Kings Head & Bell, 
• Old Anchor, 
• Tipsy Mercer, 
• and the Conservative Club.

After the Conservative Club the players headed for the last performance of the evening at the Brewery Tap.

The play tells the battle between King George and the Bold Slasher. First King George is killed and has to be revived by the doctor.

(That is after Bailey the dog tried her best.)

Then the Bold Slasher is killed. On this occasion the intervention of the doctor fails, and Mrs Finney is called in to revive Bold Slasher.

The play is all about light and dark, life and death,

Father Christmas comes in to lead the singing of We wish you a Merry Christmas.

A collection tin was then handed round for BeFreeYC (befreeyc.org.uk) which helps young carers in Oxfordshire.