W H Smith in Bury Street has now been rebranded as TG Jones.
The name may have changed, but the shop continues to sell books, stationery, and cards.
The W H Smith high street business was taken over by Modella Capital. On July 1st they began rebranding stores under the new name.
‘TG Jones’ has a similar look, with its blue background, two initials and traditional British surname. William Henry Smith was a real person. TG Jones is an alias.
We are into another hot spell in Abingdon, and the grass in the Abbey Gardens has faded to the same sandy colour as the path.
The Indian Bean Tree, with its oversized leaves and exotic flowers, has just finished its brief flowering. The trees are still green and contrast to the dry grass below.
Canna lilies are beginning to flower, rising above the snapdragons in the formal beds.
In the wilder corners on both sides near the hotel, there’s a drift of taller plants and flowers that insects clearly prefer to the formal beds.
Oxfordshire County Council is currently consulting on two proposed on-street parking schemes in Abingdon: one for the North Central area, which includes the Fitzharris and Workhouse Estates, and one for the Ock Street area. These proposals follow feedback from an informal consultation with residents in November 2024. The current consultation is open until 1st August 2025.
The schemes aim to address all-day parking by non-residents and congestion caused by school traffic, which can make parking and access difficult for those living in the areas.
Under the proposals:
Residents in these areas would need to buy permits, as is already the case in central Abingdon. In the central Abingdon scheme, permit income helps cover enforcement costs, including the employment of traffic wardens. I would expect a similar model in the new zones.
You can view and respond to the consultations here:
Against Breast Cancer’s annual community fundraising event formerly Splash of Pink and now after a public vote Paint Abingdon Pink will be on Abingdon Market Place on Saturday 12th July from 10:00 to 16:00.
There will be live music by groups thanks to The Skittle Alley, performances from Abingdon belly dancers, arts and crafts, Star Trek characters, and a barbecue. Stalls from many local groups and societies will add to the atmosphere.
Some Shop windows are already painted pink in preparation. This example is one of the Masons pink windows
and here is another pink touch.
A special highlight will be the creation of a communal artwork, inviting members of the public to take part in remembering and celebrating loved ones lost to cancer. As well as raising funds the event will raise awareness in support of life-saving breast cancer research.