Ride and Stride around Abingdon

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Ride and Stride took place today across Oxfordshire. The event sees people riding, walking or using mobility aids to visit churches and raise money through sponsorship.

These two ladies have visited all the open churches in Abingdon. Philippa, driving the chair, said it is great fun and that they meet so many nice people going round. She suggested more people should have a go next year. Ride and Stride usually takes place on the second Saturday in September.

I also saw Robin with his special tandem, going round with his children. They have already raised over £1,300. Half the money will go to their own church, St Helen’s, and the other half to the Oxfordshire Historic Churches Trust, who organise Ride and Stride.

In early October Robin and children and others will be taking part in another cycle challenge, this time on behalf of the Newman Trust, which gave Robin’s daughter such a good time when she stayed with them for six days recently. Robin said the care was ‘out of this world.’

Motorhomes and cricket share the Abingdon Vale Cricket Ground at the end of the season

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There are regular motorhome rallies at the Abingdon Vale Cricket Ground. The East Wessex Group of the Motor Caravanners’ Club held a rally there at the end of August, and this week members of the West Wessex Group are there. A large group met together on camping chairs for their initial briefing.

The rally description highlights a couple of attractions for members: the ground is within walking distance of the town centre and close to the Thames Path.

There is another attraction this week that isn’t mentioned. Members can watch cricket from their motorhomes, with the final two matches of the season taking place while they are there.

This evening the Abingdon Vale midweek team were playing Weybridge Vandals in a 16-overs-a-side match starting at 5pm. One thing I hadn’t seen before was that the teams didn’t change ends between overs. That helped keep the 16-over match moving along as the light was fading. It was the penultimate game of the cricket season.

The final game is tomorrow, Saturday, when the annual President’s XI vs Chairman’s XI will be played.

70 anglers line up for Thames Festival fishing competition

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The three-day Thames Festival has seen 70 anglers from around the country fishing at Abingdon, Culham and Appleford. The annual competition has now been running for 14 years, with anglers this year competing for a £1,200 top prize.

Abingdon Town Council allows the anglers to use its water, which has meant a line of anglers along the Thames opposite Wilsham Road over the past three days.

The competition must show what a good fishing river the Thames is around Abingdon.

VWHDC gets a stay of execution – for now

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Plans to reorganise local government in Oxfordshire and West Berkshire have been put on hold while the government reviews the legal position following new legal advice.

In July, the government announced that Oxfordshire and West Berkshire would eventually be replaced by three new unitary councils, with the existing county, city and district councils disappearing. The three-council arrangement was based on a proposal submitted by Oxford City Council. Abingdon would become part of the Ridgeway Unitary Council covering VWHDC (Vale of White Horse District Council), South Oxfordshire and West Berkshire.

Oxfordshire and West Berkshire is now among 14 areas where reorganisation has been paused. In four other areas the government’s decisions have been withdrawn following legal challenges by councils.

Local Government Secretary Angela Rayner said she wanted to test whether the proposals meet the priorities of the new administration and new Prime Minister, alongside ensuring the process complies with the law.

For residents in Abingdon, the immediate effect is that the Vale of White Horse District Council will continue for a little longer.

The pause could provide an opportunity for greater scrutiny of the decision. Tim Bearder, leader of Oxfordshire County Council, said it provided an opportunity to examine the ‘underpinning advice, considerations and evidence’ behind the previous Secretary of State’s decision.

Oxford City Council, which proposed the three-council arrangement, has expressed disappointment at the pause.