Author Archives: Backstreeter

Parking suspensions for Abingdon Michaelmas Fair

9 Replies


Parking suspension signs have appeared along the route of the Abingdon Michaelmas Fair. This year, parking suspensions have also been extended to East St Helen Street and West St Helen Street, where residents have always been allowed to park during the fair in previous years since they are not on the fair route.

Vehicles parked in suspended areas may be removed, and owners charged a recovery fee. According to a letter to residents from Abingdon-on-Thames Town Council, residents can park in West St Helen Street Car Park from 8am to 10am and 4pm to 6pm, but not from 10am to 4pm without paying.

The fair will take place on 9 and 10 October 2023. The parking suspensions will be in place from 08.00 on Sunday, 8 October, until 9am on Wednesday, 11 October.

Abingdon Naturalists AGM

2 Replies

Thank you to Tony for this report.

Richard Lewington, world-famous illustrator of butterflies and bugs of all sorts, is also President of the Abingdon Naturalists Society, and he gave a talk on Wednesday titled: “50 years as a Wildlife Illustrator … in 30 minutes”.

He spoke of his early years as a child wandering through the fields of North Abingdon, collecting birds’ eggs (now strictly forbidden) and sketching the insects he found. Later, when he became famous, he illustrated many field guides to butterflies, moths, damselflies and dragonflies, caterpillars, oak trees and other insects. He also designed British Royal mail stamps, and during his work, he met many important people like Sir David Attenborough. He showed a picture of his daughter Alex, next to an oak tree on the village green, planted from an acorn when she was born 33 years ago, and one of his granddaughter Florence, with an oak tree, planted from an acorn from Alex’s tree, when she was born 9 months ago. Abingdon Naturalists are lucky to have such a distinguished president. Steve Stevens was re-elected chairman at the meeting.

More about the Society at https://www.abnats.org.uk

More about Richard at https://www.richardlewington.co.uk/

River Ock – September 2023

2 Replies


This morning there was a Little Egret in the River Ock by the Brewery development. They are identifiable by their white bodies, black beaks and legs and yellow feet. They are smaller than the Great White Egret, which is almost the size of a heron.

This robin was near Meadowside, where a fallen tree acts as a perch. There are lots of berries at the moment, so the birds are well-fed at this time of year.

This is the point where one path leaves the main path as the main path follows the lower stream, and the secondary path follows the looping upper stream.

This is the halfway point of the Ock Valley Walk, where there is an overflow weir from the upper to the lower stream and where there is a wide pool. A lot of the time during the summer there is no water coming over.

The sun and shade gives a striped and mottle effect here where the path rises to that weir bridge.

Further along, some bracket fungus growing in semi circular shelves from a tree trunk.
Further out of town, this is the view from the bridge by Mill Road looking back over the fields towards the Ladygrove estate.

In remembrance of to Peter Green, who did a lot of work to help make the Ock Valley Walk what it is today.

Abingdon 100 Years Ago – September 1923

4 Replies


Abingdon Town Band Wins Prize at Oxford Contest

The recently formed Abingdon Town Band won the third prize in one of the classes at the Oxford and District Brass Band Association’s first annual contest, held at the Worcester College sports field on Saturday. The contest was a great success, and the enthusiasm it generated is sure to stir the bandsmen to fresh achievements. The adjudicator’s criticisms of the various bands should prove very helpful to the members and enable them to remedy the defects in evidence on Saturday.

Boys Punished for Stealing Apples

At the county bench on Saturday, three boys were brought for stealing a quantity of growing apples from the vicarage garden. The parents’ plea was that “Boys will be boys”, but the magistrates treated this as theft and ordered them to receive five strokes each with the birch. This punishment is a reminder that theft is a serious crime, and it is hoped that it will act as a deterrent to others.

Vicar to Conduct Mission in Newcastle

The Vicar of Abingdon, the Rev. A.H. Kennedy, will be conducting a mission from September 28th to October 8th at Gosforth, Newcastle-on-Tyne.

Canon Cooper to Visit Abingdon

Canon Cooper, recorder of Prestwick, Manchester, will be visiting Abingdon on behalf of a “Teaching Mission” of the Church from November 3rd to 11th. Canon Cooper had to postpone his visit to Abingdon last year.

Clergy Staff Changes

The Parish Magazine for this month announces that the Rev. J.G. Denniston, who has been temporarily on the St. Helen’s Church staff of clergy, is leaving to take up the vicarate of Shabbington, near Thame, Oxfordshire. Dr. Phillips, who was unable to join the staff a year ago as intended, has recovered from his illness and hopes to take up Mr. Denniston’s work in October.

Angling Society Competition

The Abingdon Angling Society held its first roving competition for the “Daniel Gardner” Challenge Cup on Saturday. 79 members entered the competition, which was held from Nuneham railway bridge to Appleford Bridge. Mr. H. Fathers won the competition with a bag of eight roach weighing 5lbs. 1oz. Mr. Geo. Porter was second with nine roach weighing 3lbs. 3oz.

Death of Former Town Councillor

Mr. William Fletcher Gadd, aged 69, of East St. Helen Street, Abingdon, died on Saturday last. He had been ailing for some time, and the cause of death was pneumonia and heart failure. Deceased was by profession a pharmacist chemist and a member of the firm of Messrs. Evans, Gadd and Co., chemists’ manufacturers, Exeter, from which he had retired for some time. He had resided in Abingdon for a considerable number of years and was a native of Oxford. He was a member of the Abingdon Town Council for several years, from which he retired in 1919. He had been a Guardian for Abingdon Union for a number of years, and one of the Church School managers, and also an old Freemason, belonging to the Abbey Lodge. In politics he was an ardent Conservative and was amicable and painstaking in all his public and private duties. The funeral took place on Tuesday afternoon in the Abingdon Cemetery, the first portion of the service being held in St. Helen’s Church.

Boy Injured in Cycling Accident

Reginald Ingram, a boy from 48 East St. Helen Street, Abingdon, was injured in a cycling accident on Saturday morning. While riding his bicycle in Stert Street, he ran over a dog that ran by his side. Ingram was thrown over the handlebars and landed on his head, sustaining concussion of the brain. He was taken to Abingdon Cottage Hospital and detained for observation. He is now progressing very satisfactorily.

Abingdon Town Band Elects Officers

The Abingdon Town Band held its annual general meeting last week and elected the following officers:

Bandmaster: Mr. F. Stoppe
Deputy bandmaster: Mr. R.G. Lee
Secretary: Mr. W. Brogden
Treasurer: Mr. G. Winterbourne
Committee members: Messrs. T. Enston, C. Cox, H. Higgs, F. Strange, and F. Lewis

Abingdon Football Teams Win Big

Abingdon Town Football Club’s first team lost 4-0 to Stokenchurch in the Reading and District League (senior division) last Saturday, having gone in with an under strength team. However, the town’s Pavlova team won their first match of the league, defeating Reading Biscuit Factory 5-0 at home.

On the Abingdon Town ground, the local ‘A’ team defeated the R.A.O.C. Reserves, Didcot, 4-0 in the 1st division of the North Berks League. The Abingdon Town Minors also won their match, defeating Culham Athletic F.C. 3-1 on the Town ground prior to the ‘A’ team’s match.

Pavlova Cricket Team Wins Cup!

The Pavlova cricket team has won the Oxford cricket cup in their second season of inclusion. The team has shown consistent form throughout the season and has made a name for themselves as genuine sportsmen.

Horse Bolts in High Street

An exciting incident occurred on Tuesday in the High Street when a horse-drawn cart bolted from the park. The cart was promptly and efficiently stopped by PS Painter, who is to be congratulated on his quick thinking and bravery.

Abingdon Cattle Market Fortunate in Location

The Abingdon cattle market is fortunate to be located a few miles outside the restricted area covered by the outbreak of foot and mouth disease in Buckinghamshire. This should bring an increase in demand, although it does restrict the area from which stock can be forwarded.

Oxford Shopping Carnival

The Oxford Shopping Carnival is expected to be a great success, judging by the enthusiasm displayed by local traders. The carnival will feature various competitions, window displays, a baby show, carnival processions, and a display of fireworks. The celebrated band of the 43rd Oxon and Bucks Light Infantry will also be performing.

Young Helpers League, Dr. Barnardo’s Homes

On Saturday 8th September, members of the Young Helpers League and their friends enjoyed a pleasant afternoon in the gardens of St. Helens Mill. The event was a great success, with the sunshine and shade helping to create a perfect atmosphere. There were prizes for the members with the largest box collections.

North Berks Agricultural Society Show

The North Berks Agricultural Society Show, which was held at the Abbey Ground on Saturday, can be classified as a success, despite the large decrease in the number of entries. The quality of the stock was exceptional in some instances, and the judges made favourable comments on the prize sheep. The president of the society, Mr. E.A. Strauss, MP, observed in his after-dinner speech that the decline in entries could be accounted for in many ways. He suggested that the geographical position of Abingdon in the county may have been a factor, as Faringdon, which is the centre of the hunting country, had a record number of entries for its show last year.

Thanks to Oxford Chronicle and Reading Gazette on the British Newspaper Archive. The picture of St Giles Fair and adverts mostly are from the Oxfordshire Weekly News. The Dr Casells advert is from the North Wilts Herald.