1st April
The inmates of the workhouse were given an excellent entertainment last Thursday evening, arranged by Mr H. Kitto, of Oxford.

The Alexandra Day Committee have decided to hold a fair and fete in the Abingdon Market Place this year, in aid of the Oxford Eye Hospital, and St. Helen’s Nursing Home Sanatorium Comforts Fund.

The Abingdon Special Constables during the war numbering about 50, were presented last week with the long service medals, Lt.-Colonel Poulton, the Chief Constable of Berks, made the presentation and was accompanied by the Mayor.

At St. Michael’s Church, on Sunday morning before High Mass, the dedication of the new oak choir stalls took place, when there was a large congregation. A portion of the seats were in commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the church, and the other portion in memory of the late Mr Owen Challenor Pryce, who was killed in the war, the only son of Mr Charles Alfred Pryce, the Clerk to the Borough Magistrates, whom that portion of the costs were defrayed. The late Mr Pryce was a member of the choir, and a large laurel wreath was placed where he usually sat in the choir.

At the Borough Police Court, Harry Harvey, Wilsham Road, Abingdon was fined 5s (25p in today’s money and with inflation about £10) for riding a bicycle without a light, on the 14th, in Marcham Road.

8th April
There was a contest for the vacancy representing the Western Division of Abingdon on Berkshire County Council, at the elevation of T Skurray, to the Aldermans Bench. The candidates were Mr W. M. Grundy, headmaster of Roysse School, Abingdon, and Mr Selby Cornish, a retired farmer, Park Crescent, Abingdon. The poll took place on Tuesday, at the Council School from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. The result of the poll was Grundy, 588; Cornish 318.

In connection with a circular from the head office of the British Legion appealing to religious bodies for support, a special service for this object was held on Sunday evening last at the Congregational Church, when a spirited address was given on the aims of the British Legion by the minister. Several solos were effectively rendered by Mr David Smith.

The Coroner (Mr Bromley Challenor) held an inquest on Saturday on the death of the female child, aged 7 weeks, of Edward Mulford, farm labourer. The mother’s evidence was that the child slept with its parents, and was fed from the breast. On Thursday when picking the child up she found it was dead. The medical evidence was that the deceased died from heart failure attributed to acute indigestion

15th April
The net proceeds of the recent sale of work in connection with the Abingdon Trinity Wesleyan Church realised (net) £225 17s 1d.

The Abingdon Branch of the British Legion opened their new club room at The Barley Mow, Lombard Street, on Thursday evening last, with a capital smoking concert.

The Abingdon Branch of Farmers’ Union held a meeting on Wednesday evening last week at the Lion Hotel when Mr H. Pullen presided. The question of wages was discussed in reference to the Conciliation Board and it was decided to pay 30s for a 50 hour week, the same agreed upon in Oxfordshire, pending the statement by the Conciliation Board.

The second of a series of Sunday evening concerts at the Abingdon Cinema, Stert Street, took place on Sunday last, when there was a large audience. The Oxford Electra Orchestra gave several excellent selections, and the vocalist was Miss Bertha Steventon, of Oxford, whose excellent soprano voice was highly appreciated. The proceeds after payment of expenses were devoted to the Abingdon Cottage Hospital.

At the Abingdon Borough Court on Wednesday last, Frederick Bird (23), a discharged soldier, and Rose Neal (19) were charged with absconding from the Abingdon Workhouse on March 21st, wearing apparel belonging to the Union. They were apprehended the day previous at St. Albans. The Master of the Union stated that the male prisoner was of good behaviour, and was a discharged soldier, having been wounded and gassed, but the female prisoner did not bear a good character and the witness thought she was the cause of the trouble. She had also been in the Mission Home at Oxford. The value of the clothes was stated to be £3 and £2 10s respectively. The Bench discharged the male prisoner putting into consideration his war service, and bound the girl over on probation for three years on her own recognizance of £5 bail.

22nd April
The Easter services at St. Helen’s, St, Michael’s, and St. Nicolas’ were well attended on Sunday, and at St. Helen’s the Mayor and Corporation attended the morning service. The edifices were very appropriately decorated. The offertories throughout the day at each Church were given as an Easter offering to the Vicar. The sum of £66 was collected at St. Helen’s and £37 at St. Michael’s.

On Tuesday, before the Deputy Mayor and Councillor H. T Clarke, William James Lawson, of 12, Cemetery Road, Abingdon, was summoned to the Police Court for assaulting his wife on Saturday, April 8th, in Park Road. After conflicting evidence, the defendant was cautioned and the case dismissed. James Castello, employed at the Didcot Military Stores Depot, was charged with stealing the station clock, valued £5, at Abingdon Railway Station on Sunday evening, the property of the G.W.R. Co. The accused was remanded till Tuesday next on his own recognizances of £10 bail.

29th April
The funeral of Mr Percy B. Trinder, of 2, Spring Road Abingdon, took place at the Abingdon Cemetery on Saturday afternoon, in the presence of numerous relatives and friends. The deceased died on the Wednesday previous at the early age of 33 years from pneumonia after about a week’s illness. During the war, he served with the Royal Garrison Artillery in Salonica, and contracted malaria fever, from which he never completely recovered. He was educated at the Abingdon Council School and there gained a scholarship from the Oxford Technical School. The deceased has since his army discharge been carrying on a coal business and leaves a widow and two children.

Thank you for the extracts to the Faringdon Advertiser and Vale of the White Horse Gazette on the British Newspaper Archive.

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