Abingdon Library – 50th Birthday

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The library mice have their own way of celebrating birthdays. For the 30th, they celebrated with crumbs from the children’s party and a chunk of cocktail cheese.

For the 50th, the few cupcakes had been eaten and every crumb swept away and there was no after work party because of cutbacks.

But one of the mice noticed a child’s drawing of a mouse balancing books and wishing the library a Happy 50th Birthday.

‘That’s how we should celebrate,’ it said.

‘Let’s find ALL the books with fifty in the title,’ suggested another mouse.

They headed for the large James Patterson section.

‘I’m sure I saw one here once,’ said the mouse. ‘It was called Fifty-Fifty.’

Another, very squeaky mouse asked, ‘What about E. L. James?’

Nobody was listening. She ran off.

Meanwhile, a mouse with a more authoritative voice called the others over to the returns trolley. A cheese-coloured cover had caught her eye. The book was called The Periodic Table: A Field Guide to the Elements.

If you’d seen how quickly they pushed it onto the floor, you might have thought it really was a field guide to cheese. The chemistry book fell open at a page that said:

‘Sodium – Atomic Number 11. Special Trick: Reacts violently with water.’

‘I don’t like that.’

They turned the page.

‘Magnesium – Atomic Number 12. Special Trick: Burns with a brilliant white flame.’

‘Oh dear! Oh dear!’

Their little hearts beating faster, they turned the pages until they found what they had been looking for.

‘Tin – Atomic Number 50. Special Trick: Good for holding food.’

‘Perfect!’ they said as one.

They left the book where it lay and ran past the very squeaky mouse, who was still staring at the spine of GREY – the only E. L. James title on the shelves.

The mice disappeared through the secret tunnel to Poundland. Being library mice, they knew how to open tins and hide the evidence. The spaghetti in cheese sauce went down well, but the tinned sponge pudding was even better.

They agreed it made a thoroughly satisfying ending.

Wildlife and Climate Change on Display at Abingdon Museum

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There are a couple of new exhibitions at Abingdon County Hall Museum. Upstairs, in the attic, is a travelling exhibition about Warneford Hospital and the history of Mental Health treatment. In the Sessions Hall is an exhibition called ‘Wild Life – Abingdon in a Changing Climate’ which runs from 3 October to 23 December 2026.

The wildlife exhibition features large photographs taken by local photographers, most showing wildlife in the area. A few have a more obvious connection with climate change, including pictures of algae blooms and cracked earth.

One of the most remarkable items is a folder containing cuttings from John Killick’s contributions to the Oxford Times. He used to photograph and describe different plants found in Oxfordshire, and the collection runs to over 800 examples.

There are also films to watch. One, made by the Green Gym, shows wildlife recorded during their conservation exercises. Another, by Anonymous, called ‘By the River’ follows wildlife through the seasons in Abingdon. A speaker at the other end of the exhibition plays bird song recorded in Abingdon.

The exhibition includes paintings and other mixed-media portrayals of nature by Abingdon artists, including some younger ones. There is also information about the work of local wildlife groups, including how they monitor areas for wildlife, such as the River Ock. The exhibition has been created in collaboration with local groups including One Planet Abingdon, Abingdon Carbon Cutters, the Abingdon Naturalists Society, Abingdon Camera Club and the Green Gym.

The Museum is run by Abingdon Town Council.

Town Council Meeting – 7th October 2026

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The Town Council meeting began with a minute’s silence during which members remembered former Abingdon Mayor Councillor Nigel Trippett. He served as Mayor from 1980–1981. To commemorate the 80th birthday of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother, he led a special Bun Throwing celebration before travelling to Clarence House to present the Queen Mother with one of Abingdon’s buns.

The current Mayor, Cllr Andrew Skinner, then spoke about his engagements and gave special mention to the volunteers’ day that he had started. It had been a success, and ARCh (Assisted Reading for Children) said they had got volunteers. The Mayor asked the council whether they would like to run such a day every year. He said it meets a different need from the Clubs and Societies Day. The council voted to hold a volunteers’ day annually.

Cllr Tom Greenaway, who is also a County Councillor, gave a report on what is happening at the County Council:
* Annual gully inspections and clearing have revealed a large backlog of maintenance which are being progressed.
* The temporary Oxford congestion charge has ended, and the traffic filters trial is now operating following the reopening of Botley Road. Botley Road is currently the only route into Oxford that does not pass through a permit point, making it the main unrestricted entry route for visitors from outside Oxfordshire.
* Oxfordshire’s SEND (Special Educational Needs) reform plan has been accepted by the Government. This brings in a grant that should help reduce the SEND deficit.
* Temporary traffic lights at the top of Lodge Hill have been removed after a trial. The County Council had allowed two roadworks to overlap in an attempt to reduce the disruption caused by the Oxford Road roundabout works.
* Cllr Greenaway encouraged residents to follow Cllr Nathan Ley’s newsletter for updates on local and national government matters: https://cllrdrnathanley.substack.com/p/abingdon-councillor-newsletter-september

There was also a report from the VWHDC District Council:
* Local Government Reorganisation (LGR) paused.
* Changes to planning decisions: Vale councillors have amended the council’s constitution to comply with new Government planning regulations. Councillors will now only decide in committee the larger developments; other developments will be decided by officers.
* The Vale has begun an initial scoping consultation for the second Joint Local Plan.
* New parking ticket machines are being installed in all 13 Vale car parks.
* Work to get the Chilton Close trash screen functioning properly is almost complete. This should alleviate flooding.

The Town Council then went through the minutes from the different Town Council committees.

Community Committee

The committee agreed some grants and partial grants, namely full grants for Abingdon Church Twinning and Trinity Learning, and partial grants for Abingdon Youth Club, Racial Equality Group, Spartans Elite ABC CIC, and Play2Give. Other grants were referred up to the Finance Committee because they were for larger amounts and might benefit from CIL funding grants (developer funding).

The council also part‑funds a PCSO and wanted to have regular talks with the local police inspector to discuss what the police focus on.

Environment Committee

The committee approved a ban on disposable plastic carrier bags for traders in the town marketplace and at Town Council‑supported events, effective 1 October 2026.

There was new play equipment at Boxhill and Caldecott playparks, and more is on the way, including a Ninja Fitness Trail and adult fitness equipment at Chilton Close, and a MUGA wall at Boxhill.

Bus shelter improvements: replacement of the shelter at Radley Road / Swinburne Road was prioritised.

In terms of public art, there was talk of progressing town entry signs and a proposed St Edmund’s statue in principle.

The Biodiversity competition involving use of school grounds and allotments were presented at the end of September.

Finance Committee

As well as looking at the council finances and progressing work on council properties (LED lights for the magistrates’ court and solar panels at the cemetery works depot), the committee decided four of the five grants sent to it from the Community Committee and gave funding to: Friends of St Edmund’s School, Northcourt Centre, North East Abingdon Community Association (NEACA), and Hadland Road Community Association from CIL funding.

St Etherwold’s £20,000 grant application was referred to Full Council for consideration of CIL funding.

It was at this point that the St Ethelwold’s grant for work on the riverside wall (of their community garden) was discussed. It needs repairing and access improvements. St Ethelwold’s have already raised £40K, and £20K from the council would help secure further grants. This was the second most discussed item during the meeting. The CIL money allocated for grants from the north Abingdon developments is down to £37K, and £10K of that is for the Abbey buildings, so using £20K would only leave £7K. After discussion it was decided to give St Ethelwolds £10K. Soon such larger grants from the town council will vanish.

Planning Committee

The committee described some of its extensive work. The change to planning regulations will still mean the Town Council can give its view on planning applications to the Vale officer making the decision, and officers still values local input so long as it is specific.

The council then went into its longest discussion about the terms of reference for a new working party called the Community Safety & Inclusion Working Party. It had been set up after a resolution in a previous council. Its purpose is to help make Abingdon a place where all communities feel safe, welcome, and able to participate fully in town life.

However, some of the councillors thought its aim was too broad and open‑ended and that it should pick two or three things to focus on; otherwise it did not have the resources to succeed. There are only 8 months until the next town council elections. A debate went back and forth for some time without reaching agreement. The working party will go away and come back to the Community Committee, to which it will report, with updated terms of reference.

Caring for the Planet: A Local Perspective from Trinity

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Last Sunday at Trinity Church in Abingdon, the service was led by Philip Nalpanis of A Rocha UK, a Christian environmental charity that supports churches in caring for the environment.

Philip explored some of the biblical reasons why Christians should care about the environment. He also echoed Pope Francis’s words that destroying the environment is a sin.

Although Philip does not come from Abingdon, he had heard of the Abingdon Carbon Cutters, and had some some practical (One Planet Abingdon type) ways of expressing care for the environment:
* Reduce consumption and buy only what is needed.
* Repair things rather than replacing them.
* Borrow or share tools and equipment.
* Support environmental groups and take part in local conservation projects.
* Campaign for stronger environmental policies, including writing to MPs.
* Pray regularly for the environment and talk openly about environmental issues.

Trinity has already been awarded a Bronze Eco Church Award under A Rocha’s scheme. All Saints Church is on a similar journey, while Our Lady and St Edmund often have posters highlighting their environmental campaigns. Different churches in Abingdon are finding their own ways to care for the planet.