Barton Fields in April

Barton Fields in April
I am visiting Barton Fields for a picture report every month this year.
Barton Fields in April
It was another bright sunny day. There have been many such days since the Lockdown began. The fine weather encourages us to enjoy nature.

During the lockdown there are more people than usual visiting the area as part of their exercise allowance.
Barton Fields in April
The Thames Path leaves Barton Fields by a wooden bridge before meandering round a fishing lake towards the River Thames. More people than usual seem to be smiling or saying hello as we pass at a distance. Somebody said recently that it could best described as ‘physical distancing’ rather than ‘social distancing’.
Barton Fields in April
There are smaller paths that go through Barton Fields allowing more ways to avoid other people physically.
Barton Fields in April
Today was St George’s Day. England’s National Flower is the rose and the path passes close to these rose like flowers – possibly apples.
Barton Fields in April
There are Hawthorn Bushes / May Trees seen here next to last year’s hay.
Barton Fields in April
Cutting the meadow with scythes, and piling tbe hay, encourages wild flowers to take hold. There are many Cowslips growing among the short April grass.
Barton Fields in April
There are many other wildflowers dotted about. I think these are bugles.

Jeanette Halliday

Jeanette Halliday
Very sad news of the death of Jeanette Halliday on April 17th 2020, after being ill since Christmas.

Jeanette was the Mayor of Abingdon from 1998-9, and continued to serve on Abingdon-on-Thames Town Council until she died. She has been on the Town Council for about twenty years in total, and was the Chair of the planning committee on the current council. Her husband Jim is another long serving and dedicated councillor.

Jeanette was very good at talking to people and taking up their concerns and getting things done. She was independently minded and full of humour.

Many people will remember her as a driving instructor in Abingdon back in the 1980-90s. More recently she ran a holistic therapy clinic.

We will have to wait until the Pandemic restrictions are lifted for a Thanksgiving Service for everybody who knew her. Current rules allow a small private service. Our thoughts are with Jim and her family.

There is a fuller obituary on the Town Council web site at https://abingdon.gov.uk/abingdon-news/abingdon-thames-town-council/councillor-jeanette-halliday

Abingdon Concert Band – Together while apart

Thankyou to Neil for this …
AbiMeds
Abingdon Concert Band have been finding ways to keep playing during the Coronavirus lockdown. They’ve just put together a video of everyone playing their parts for Do You Hear the People Sing? from Les Miserables which can be found on YouTube here: https://youtu.be/cmyzaXcMTm8.

The band has around 55 players, 29 of which are playing in the video. They are planning to keep doing these videos until lockdown ends to make sure they can all still play when rehearsals start again. They hope you enjoy their first isolation performance.

AbiMeds – Abingdon Community Medicine Delivery

Thanks to Hester for this …
AbiMeds
AbiMeds are delivering 3 days a week and in the first week did 216 deliveries and had excellent feedback.
AbiMeds
The Mayor of Abingdon-on-Thames Cllr Charlie Birks has done some stints.

What is AbiMeds?

AbiMeds is a free community prescription delivery service set up by the AbiMeds Team and volunteers from Abingdon’s Freewheeling cycling group.

Where does AbiMeds deliver?

Volunteers deliver in Abingdon, Culham, Sutton Courtenay, Drayton, Marcham, Shippon, Wootton and Radley.

Who can use AbiMeds?

AbiMeds is for anybody with prescriptions at Boots and Jhoots, not just those shielding, self isolating or supporting vulnerable people. Its main aim is to cut down the queues at pharmacies, reducing the risk of infection to both customers and pharmacy staff. (Avicenna have their own delivery scheme.)

Volunteers and carers who are already helping people with prescriptions may wish to continue, or may prefer to spend less time on this and in the queues, leaving more time for other forms of support.

How to Use AbiMeds – Phone 01865 818351 between 09.00-16.00 any day except Sunday.

Deliveries

Deliveries will be on 3 days in the week –  Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.

AbiMeds will collect and sort the prescription packages from the pharmacies. They have worked closely with the pharmacies to ensure security of the prescriptions.

IMPORTANT – PLEASE NOTE

AbiMeds cannot deal with money: if you pay for your prescriptions, please arrange with your pharmacy to pay in advance. If that is not possible, sadly AbiMeds cannot help you. But they can direct you to other groups who can.

AbiMeds cannot take messages or do call-backs: if you cannot get through, or the phone goes to voicemail, please try again later.

If there are any difficulties with accessing your property, please tell AbiMeds when you ring so that arrangements can be made.