From our garden we can see some of the steeple of St Helen’s Church.
Clink here to hear a sample of St Helen’s bells recorded this morning when the bells were calling parishioners to church.
When the bells were hung in 2006, according to my 2006 blog , the intention was “to make them quieter for the houses down below because of the way the bells are hung in relation to the louvre opening, but that the sound should travel further.”
Abingdon’s Got Talent was great fun as always. Here are two sisters performing Sisters.
There was a good crowd to see the 19 performances – I am not sure why the number of entries was down on last year but it meant that the heats and final were all rolled into one.
My son was supposed to be performing and had set out to write a rap about a notorious female hanging in the Old Gaol but it proved too ambitious. He was replaced by a very good ballet dancer, and there was a band called ‘No Fear.’
The compere was excellent as were many of the acts and the judges …
this year were … The Mayor, Mike Badcock … The Leader of Abingdon Town Band, Steve Rich … Local BBC News Reader, Geraldine Peers … Retired School Drama Teacher and Amateur Dramatic Impresario, Eileen Bagshaw … and BBC Script writer / Editor, Paul Mayhew Archer.
The winner in the under 18s category was this young lady, singing and playing the guitar.
The winner in the over 18s category was a very good Irish Dancer. He started dancing at a very early age …
“Michael Flatley, eat your heart out!”
Today was armed forces day and last post was played by Alison Rich.
Our MP, Mayor, Deputy Mayor, Deputy Lord Lieutenant, and Chair of the Vale were there as part of the ceremony. (Thanks to David for the first picture. )
The Colonel and troops from Dalton Barracks raised the Armed Forces Flag.
Various other towns celebrated Armed Forces Day in a bigger way today, but Abingdon’s chance comes next Saturday with Armed Forces Open Day at Dalton Barracks.
A new advert had just appeared on the Market Place advertising Armed Forces Open Day, a week today.
It dwarves the Abingdon’s Got Talent behind, but is not as big as the ‘All shops still open’ sign behind.