Pride Month (June) celebrates the LGBTQ+ community and recognizes their culture, and long history of fighting for equality. At our recent Ock Poets meeting at Abingdon Library, we read some poems by Mary Jean Chan. Chan was born in Hong Kong and teaches at Brookes University in Oxford, and co-edited the Penguin Book 100 Queer Poems.

In Oxford at the weekend there was a Pride festival, and in previous years there has been an event in Abingdon. Perhaps there will be one. In any case, colourful flags flutter in solidarity on the County Hall roof in Abingdon,

and above Abingdon School.

Charity shop windows also have colourful displays during Pride Month.

At Sue Ryder, some staff wear a rainbow badge. The badge means ‘I’m someone you can talk to about LGBTQ+ identities.’

The Abingdon Cycling Festival took place today, Sunday, the 4th of June, with over 20 rides starting from a sunny Market Place.

From 9:00 to 11:30 in the morning, participants signed up and embarked on an array of rides.

Organized by the Abingdon Freewheeling cycling club, the festival returned this year after a three-year gap. The club’s mission is to encourage the local community to participate in cycling, regardless of ability.

Most rides ended at the Loose Cannon Brewery, where riders were treated to refreshments and musical entertainment.

The festival rides ranged from sporty runs

to off-road challenges;

and from social group rides and family-friendly jaunts to the latest developments in cycling with an E-bike ride.

It looked a great day.

On 10th June, at St Helen’s Church.  Abingdon & District Musical Society will be performing two symphonic pieces from Smetena’s Ma Vlast, and all of Brahm’s German Requiem.

Every year (except for Covid), the drama festival is at the Unicorn Theatre. Different acting groups perform plays from Tuesday to Friday, after which an adjudicator will critique the performances. The adjudicator selects three plays for the Saturday Gala Night.

Music at the Unicorn continues to bring acts to the Unicorn Theatre. There are two concerts in June: Bossa Gringo and Moonrakers.

Last week, Abingdon Library had a special Bee Day. Following that, David Busby will talk on Bees at Abingdon Library next Tuesday.

On Bank Holiday Monday, a series of walks were organised by The Friends of Abingdon Civic Society. Five were guided, and there were ten themed trail leaflets.

The Friends had their AGM last Wednesday at the same time as the Town Council cinema meeting. In the last year, the Friends have organised Heritage Open Day, and walk days like today. They also have a project to produce a photographic archive of the town. They were active in looking at planning applications and notifying both the town and district council of concerns. They are involved in the Conservation Area Appraisal for the Albert Park area, and the Abingdon neighborhood plan. They also act as a pressure group on major issues and have worked with local residents to press the District Council to resolve problems over the derelict Upper Reaches hotel site.

Most of the Monday Market was also on the Market Place despite it being a bank holiday.