Author Archives: Backstreeter

Snowflakes on Walls and Stars Beneath Our Feet

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Rain is falling on Abingdon High Street, reflecting the lights.

Overhead, white and blue Christmas lights make icy patterns. Bar windows have a warmer glow. The festive lights brighten what would have been a bleak evening 21 days before Christmas.

Most of the lights in Abingdon town centre are provided by Abingdon-on-Thames Town Council. The candles around the Market Place have been here for almost twenty years, but this year they have been fitted with orange flames.

The modern Christmas tree sculpture, made of a frame with white and blue LED lights, was added last year.

What is new this year is the projection of turning white snowflakes against what is usually a featureless brick wall beside the junction at the bottom of Stratton Way.

Not that projections are new to Abingdon. The other provider of lights is the Bury Street Shopping Centre who do their own. They project stars onto the precinct  pavement.

The lights make Abingdon a little brighter. With just 33 days until Twelfth Night, there’s time to enjoy.

Abingdon Church Twinning Quiz with DNAPQ

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Abingdon’s Church Twinning Group hosted a quiz night at the Conduit Centre, part of Trinity Church. Ten teams participated in the event, which raised funds to support the upcoming visits from guests from the twin towns.

Next year, 2025, will be the groups 25th anniversary since Jenny Goode established the movement to connect Abingdon’s churches with churches in the twin towns in Italy, France, Belgium, and Germany. The group will welcome visitors from the twin towns churches again next year.

The quiz was expertly hosted by Richard Kirby, a familiar face to many as the enthusiastic organiser of the popular “Definitely Not a Pub Quiz” (DNAPQ) events for Abingdon Rotary Club. With a large screen displaying film clips and visual questions, Richard kept the audience engaged and entertained.

During covid, Richard ran monthly, free zoom online versions of DNAPQ for the community. Richard is hosting a FREE online Christmas quiz on Wednesday, December 18th. Opens at 7:20 pm for a 7:30 pm start. Register your team by December 11th via email to dnapquiz@gmail.com with a team name. You can also join an existing team (mention this in your email).


One raffle prize at the quiz was a box of chocolates.

In which twin town are Guylain chocolates made?

Medieval Burials and Roman Relics Under Abingdon Car Park

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A team of archaeologists from Thames Valley Archaeological Services have dug six trenches and uncovered Medieval and Roman artifacts, including pottery, human remains, and a wall linked to a bell tower from the former Abbey, during improvement works at Abingdon’s Cattle Market car park.

These walls and the cemetery site will be preserved and have led to a small delay. The archaeological ditches have been covered over and part of the car park has re-opened in the run up to Christmas. The project will now be completed in March 2025.

The car park project, funded by Thames Water, aims to enhance usability and sustainability through resurfacing, improved lighting, and a rain garden.

Councillor Mark Coleman, Vale of White Horse District Council Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Environmental Services and Waste, said: ‘It’s exciting to discover more about the fascinating history of Abingdon and the Abbey.’

Thanks to the Thames Valley Archaeological Services for the first picture.

Is Taping a Banana to a Wall Art?

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Step into a certain local hair salon on Stert Street, and you’ll find more than just stylish haircuts. There’s a work of contemporary art: a banana, suspended mid-wall by a strip of duct tape.

The inspiration came from the world-famous duct-taped banana by Maurizio Cattelan, which sold for $6.24 million at a Sotheby’s auction in New York last Wednesday.

While the Abingdon version might not get such a price tag, it’s priceless for sparking laughter and conversation among customers.