Author Archives: Backstreeter

South Indian Hours


Over twenty years ago, at Abingdon Museum, there was an exhibition of work by the Abingdon artist, poet and writer Oswald Couldrey, bringing together many of his paintings of Abingdon alongside work produced during the years he spent in India as a teacher and the principal of Rajamundry College of Art in Andra Pradesh.

A new exhibition opens on Saturday 10 January 2026, this time concentrating on Couldrey’s paintings from his years in South India from 1909-19. These are shown in the Sessions Gallery, and include scenes of everyday life, religion, buildings and landscapes observed during his time there. The painting are delightful for their composition, simplicity and light.

The exhibition also has background information about his life and time in India, examples of his writing, and pictures of him as a schoolboy at Roysse School (now Abingdon School).

Couldrey’s Abingdon paintings, from the 1930s, will be on display upstairs in the attic. These now familiar views have been reproduced as posters and postcards since the original exhibition.

The exhibition opens on 10 January and runs until 29 March.

Rainy Thursday Under Yellow Warning


A yellow weather warning was in effect across parts of the UK today, including southern England, linked to Storm Goretti. This led to the cancellation of some events, with heavy rain arriving in the early evening and overflowing gutters.

Had the temperature been lower and the precipitation fallen as snow, it could have been spectacular. As it was roads turn splashy, and reflected the lights.

The street Christmas lights remain on, although the Market Place lights have now been switched off, it being a couple of days after Twelfth Night. The wind has not been particularly strong so far, though conditions are unsettled and it could change.

Repair spaces in Abingdon


Abingdon is a place where broken things are put right. For some time the town has hosted Repair Cafés and cycle workshops, run by the Carbon Cutters, helping people mend rather than discard.

Last Saturday the Community Space in Unit 25 Bury Street was busy throughout the day. Sewing machines hummed as clothes were patched and altered. Small appliances were opened up on tables, tools were sharpened, and there were people there to adjust new bicycles bought at Christmas. People came and went with items that might otherwise have ended up in the bin, and the volunteers were busy.

From this Saturday there is a new repair space opening up. Along Ferry Walk (off Wilsham Road), beside the Make Space sea container, a shed has appeared on a small fenced patch of ground.

The Shed Space launches this Saturday. Help is being sought to assemble and paint the workshop. You can then find out what is planned next.

Snow Queen in Abingdon


Last night was the coldest of the year, with temperatures falling to between –5 and –10°C. Snow was falling when many of us woke in Abingdon this morning. It settled on roads and pavements.

Some shop windows still carry their seasonal snowy displays and for once have been matched by the conditions outside.

Town council staff were out gritting paths across the Market Place and in the town council parks.

They were also busy updating the notice boards with the latest posters.

One of the events being advertised is The Snow Queen. For a few hours at least, Abingdon seemed to be under her spell.