The Town Crier, Penny Clover, was on the Market Place, announcing that the Abingdon Beer Festival is on this weekend in the Abbey Buildings.

Entry is free, and the festival is open on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Cider, Wine, Food and music from local bands also feature during the festival.

On the Market Place representing Abingdon Rotary was David Pope. He told me that the most important letter in the word altruism was not I but U. Doing things for others motivates Rotarians. Not I but You.

Penny and David were there in a non-political capacity, but both, as active members of the local community, have decided to stand as candidates for the town council.

Seeing some people open-air preaching on the Market Place was also interesting. I spoke to one, and he said he had been a Hindu but converted to Christianity ten years ago. In the past, England sent missionaries over to India, and now we have missionaries of Indian descent preaching in England. They come from a church in Heddington whose members are mostly of Indian descent.

Another important Abingdon event at the moment is Carousel by Abingdon Operatic. There are tickets for the last show this evening.

The Easter Eggstravaganza attracted crowds to Abingdon Market Place today. There was live music on the stage.

The Abingdon Traditional Morris Dancers performed on the Market Place.

Among the stalls, there were a few selling chocolate and Easter Eggs, and there was a Easter Egg Hunt.

The crochet post box topper included the Easter bunny and eggs, and there was a larger Easter bunny walking around as part of the Eggstravaganza.

P.S.
What do you call an extravaganza with lots of eggs? An eggstravaganza
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What do you call an egg from outer space? An egg-straterrestrial
How does an egg keep fit? Through eggs-ercise
How do you see inside an egg? Eggs-ray vision

The town flag is at half mast as a mark of respect. The Town Council website has announced that Councillor Ulrike Rowbottom has passed away. She was elected in 2019 as a councillor for Dunmore Ward and continued her work until her death. Sympathies to her friends and family.

Smoke was seen from a mobility scooter in Poundland, and the fire alarm was raised. Fire engines, police cars, and ambulances arrived, and the area was cordoned off over lunchtime while the situation was assessed and made safe.

The traffic lights over Abingdon Bridge have been removed so that part of the work has been completed ahead of schedule. The car park is closed, and the pontoon remains for bridge maintenance.

Nicola tells me there is a piano recital fundraising event at St Michael and All Angels’ Church, Abingdon, on Saturday, 25th March 2023, at 7 pm. Locally brought up professional conductor Guy-Bernard Davis will be at the church to play beautiful music by Beethoven, Brahms and Rachmaninov.

Here is a second reminder of the Abingdon Clubs and Societies Day. This event is usually held every two years, but this will be the first since 2019 (if my memory serves me right). There will be stalls for many of Abingdon’s clubs and societies.

The community board in Abingdon Library has a display for Dear Brutus by the Studio Theatre Club. The play was written by J.M Barrie ten years after he wrote Peter Pan.