Author Archives: Backstreeter

Platinum Meadow Jubilee Festival to start one day late (on Thursday) but it will be free.


Preparations are going ahead for the Meadow Jubilee Festival. Today, the grass was cut.

Last Friday, there were a group of people with campervans on the land.

By Sunday, they had gone, and a dozen red kites swooped around the area.

Today the grass was cut, and a marquee was being erected.

Looking at the town council website, ‘ The planned concert on Wednesday had to be cancelled as the site could not be prepared in time due to travellers having taken up residence the week before.’

Events will be free to anybody attending. Anybody who has bought a ticket can get a refund. More details at https://www.abingdon.gov.uk/platinum-jubilee-2022.

Cygnet Count


I saw two swans with eight cygnets this afternoon somewhere in Abingdon.

On Friday I saw two swans with three cygnets, elsewhere. That makes eleven cygnets in Abingdon. There are probably more.

Open the Pool protest, Chess Tournament, Tractor Wedding etc.


In previous years, this last weekend in May would have been the day the Open Air Pool opened. Not this year. This year it is only planned to open for six weeks over the school holidays. Three years ago, £1.3m was invested in redeveloping the pool, and it is a big surprise that the pool is not being used more now it is brand new. The Oxford Mail photographer also arrived to get a group picture of the protesters who want it open for longer.

There was a ‘Queens Gambit’ chess tournament in the Roysse Room today organised by Abingdon Passion Play.

The groom arrived on his tractor for a wedding ceremony today, and took his bride away in unusual style.

I made a video featuring all these events and more. It also included people in East St Helen Street putting back the bunting that got knocked down by a lorry last Tuesday. There is even a look inside the Abbey Cinema foyer where Top Gun Maverick is being promoted.

Chinese Brush Painting at 35 Ock Street

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On one railing outside Abingdon Baptist Church, on Ock Street, is a banner to say the Chinese Brush Painting group have been exhibiting at 35 Ock Street. They also had a demonstration today.

The exhibition will be there until about Wednesday.

On the other railing is a banner for the Oxfordshire Drama Network Drama Festival. This involves 2 one-act plays per evening Wednesday-Friday. They are judged by an adjudicator who usually re-directs a short scene. 3 plays from the week are called back by the adjudicator for the Saturday Gala night on 18th June.

18th June is also the day of the election of the Mayor of Ock Street. Due to a family wedding, I will, unfortunately, miss it this year. I would be very grateful if somebody could send a few pictures to backstreet60@gmail.com.