Author Archives: Backstreeter

Summer Reading Challenge at Abingdon Library

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Have you joined the Summer Reading Challenge yet? There’s still time! It’s free to join the library, get your Story Garden booklet, and take part.

From now until 6 September, students aged 4 to 11 can take part in this year’s challenge, called Story Garden. All you need to do is read six library books — any kind you like: stories, facts, picture books, joke books, audiobooks or e‑books. Every book gets you a sticker for your booklet, and when you finish, you’ll earn a medal, a certificate, and a chance to win a prize!

Why does an elephant use her trunk as a bookmark?
Because she nose where she stopped reading!

There’s also a Mini Challenge for under-4s, with their own sticker folder.

At Abingdon Library, older readers aged 11 and up — including local secondary school students, town councillors, and other volunteers — are helping at the desk, handing out booklets and stickers and cheering readers on.

The Summer Reading Challenge runs in libraries all over the UK. Last year, nearly 600,000 children took part.

And if you’re over 11, you can still join the library and read books for your own enjoyment — you won’t need stickers.

Albert Park Through the Year: July 2025

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Shaded paths and large areas of grass make Albert Park a welcome green space in Abingdon.

With the school summer holidays underway, the Albert Park has become a gathering place for families and friends. I took the photo above at the start of the holidays, when a large group had gathered in the shade of the trees for a picnic and some were playing volleyball.

The weather throughout most of July has been dry, with just a little rain. The grass has looked parched at times, and some trees have shown signs of stress.

Wildflowers have been fewer than in earlier months. However, there are lots of these yellow dandelion-like flowers towards the bottom of the park (Hawksweed or Hawksbit?).

White yarrow is still holding its own near the bowling green hedge. Jackdaws, magpies, and crows can still be seen strutting and prodding the ground for food, as well as wood pigeons which are more often perched in the trees.

Birdsong has been less noticeable this month, as many smaller birds go quiet during their summer moult.

Among the trees, the Golden Rain Tree has been in bloom with its yellow flowers.

The Japanese Pagoda Tree has also flowered.

Most of the bushes and trees have turned their energy toward producing fruit, nuts, or seeds. The smoke bush has seed plumes which create a smoky haze.

P.S. I’ve done my best to identify the trees, flowers, and shrubs pictured — but let me know if I’ve got any of them wrong.

Boundary Stone Puzzles

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Paul has sent me pictures of two boundary stones recently. Here’s what we know. It’s a puzzle.

The first stone is on the Drayton Road, wedged between a wall and a bush, almost hidden behind a streetlight. The inscription faces a brick wall just a few inches away, and many of the letters have worn away with time.
The text appears to read something like:

?0 YARDS FROM
THE BRIDGE
?LONG THE???
HENCE IN ?
??RAIGHT ???
?? JUNCTION OF
?HE OCK RIVER
WITH THE LARK
??LL STREAM

With a bit of guesswork, it may originally have read:

“?0 YARDS FROM
THE BRIDGE
ALONG THE [PATH?]
HENCE IN A
STRAIGHT LINE
TO THE JUNCTION OF
THE OCK RIVER
WITH THE LARK
HILL STREAM”

This suggests a boundary line to the bridge on Drayton Road and then to a place where the River Ock meets the Lark Mill Stream. 
The second stone is on the Faringdon Road, directly opposite the entrance to Larkmead School. Paul cleared back some of the vegetation to reveal it properly. This one appears to have a carved cross at the top — likely the Abingdon Borough cross — and below that, some worn letters. One line may read MEN, possibly part of the word PARLIAMENTARY, and beneath that UNDA, which might be part of the word BOUNDARY.

Both stones appear to mark out old administrative or land boundaries.

Abingdon Signs Domestic Abuse Charter

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Today in the Roysse Room, Abingdon Town Council hosted what the Mayor, Cllr Rawda Jehanli, described as “such a special day for Abingdon” — the signing of the Abingdon-on-Thames Domestic Abuse Charter. It was also announced that the charity Reducing the Risk will work with the town to make Abingdon the first official Torchbearer Town in a new initiative to tackle domestic abuse.

Domestic abuse is more widespread than many realise, affecting 1 in 4 women and 1 in 6 men at some point in their lives. That would equate to 3400 women and 2200 men in Abingdon. While it may involve physical violence, which is more easily recognised, it also includes emotional abuse, coercive control, financial abuse and dominating behaviour. The charter focuses on prevention through education and awareness, as well as developing and promoting support for those experiencing abuse.

The event featured moving personal stories from survivors, highlighting the lasting impact abuse can have. A local lawyer offered insights into the legal challenges victims often face, and The Abingdon Bridge, a charity supporting young people, spoke about the effect early exposure to abuse can have on young lives.

The charter was formally signed by the Mayor, the Town Clerk, and representatives from The Abingdon Bridge and Reducing the Risk.

Cllr Gwyneth Lewis, who first championed this cause during her time as Mayor, led the meeting and is seen holding the charter alongside the current Mayor.

Gwyneth Lewis carried out important studies in women’s health and identified domestic abuse as a major issue. Since returning to Abingdon, she has worked to make this a local priority — both during her mayoral year and beyond.

Representatives from Reducing the Risk explained how Abingdon, as a Torchbearer Town, will develop approaches to Prevention, Provision (or support), and Protection in tackling domestic abuse. The work done here will  be evaluated with the aim of sharing successful initiatives with other towns across Oxfordshire and beyond.