On the Market Place this morning I went to help Duncan Brown, the Mayor, as he raised money for charity. People were throwing wet sponges at him in the stocks and missing a lot of the time.
But when I got to deputise look what happened!!!
Still it turned out alright in the end.
The Town Crier was seen on Sky News on Saturday announcing an event that was about to happen at the Guildhall. Behind him were the stalls of a Health & Beauty promotion put on by Abingdon businesses.
Gym trainers from Feelgood Fitness were there. They are the fitness centre with the Statue of Liberty at the front.
Abingdon has two successful chiropractoring clinics. On the Market Place was a stall from McTimoney the Chiropractors. They have a large clinic and training facility on the Fairacres Estate.
Forresters, the hair stylists, were there and so was Steve King who helped set up the event with the Chamber of Commerce.
The Mayor, Duncan Brown, is seen here with one of the practitioners from the Natural Health Clinic – usually to be found down West St Helen Street.
There were a lot of Eco stalls on the Market Place today. It was a chance for everybody to play with a worm on the BBOWT stall tray. Worms make great compost. The central tray includes some of the starting ingredients, including dry bread, that can make compost. The BBOWT volunteer said bread is OK to use for compost so long as the bin is out of the way of rats.
Among all the familiar groups there was a new group called ‘Friends of Radley Lakes’. As you can see it is the old familiar ‘Save Radley Lakes’ reborn. Their aims are to work with the Northmoor Trust in caring for Radley Lakes. That includes things like fundraising for special projects, litter picks, controlling Himalayan Balsam…
Meanwhile some visiting Morris Dancers were passing through Abingdon and the Abingdon Traditional Morris Dancers joined them for some dances under the County Hall. I caught up with the Mayor of Ock Street, and the Mayor of Abingdon afterwards. Apparently I did not get all my facts completely right a couple of days ago. But I was speculating – a rare slip. It is more a case that the two groups are starting to have some more friendly exchanges. Best way to start any process…
Ex Mayor, Peter Green, was having a tough time making himself heard – trying to announce the Eco Day on the Market Place – because the Bells of St Nics kept ringing for weddings.
Eleanor Dangerfield was in charge of the Green Gym Stall. Like the newly formed Friends of Radley Lakes the Green Gym are known to wage war on Himalayan Balsam. Come to think of it… So did Peter Green who used to lead teams of volunteers destroying Himalayan Balsam on the Ock Valley Walk. He led the way.
We got some of this strangely shaped Caciocavallo cheese at the Italian Market in town today. The London-based market travels around the UK throughout the year bringing a taste of Italy to the provinces, and this is the second year it has been to Abingdon.
We also bought a mix of olives, stuffed vine leaves and artichokes from this stall. Food on sale is produced in Italy and represents many different Italian regions. Only the bread is baked in London.
Costa had a display of balloons round their tables that complemented the Tricolor Market Stalls.
This final picture was taken inside Jessops.