Author Archives: Backstreeter

Abingdon Lions in January and February 2021 – their 40th Year

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Fund raising in more difficult in these times. In 2019 the Lions made over £4,000 taking round their Santa Sledge. The Virtual Santa in 2020 made £195.
Lions in January and February
The Lions donated £170 to The Stonehill Community Garden to help them set up a 7,000-litre water tank to allow them to use rainwater alone for their garden. Some of the lions volunteer with garden, and they have donated items before.
Lions in January and February
The Lions donated items for the Abingdon Foodbank. The foodbank said in February that demand at the Foodbank is still high and they were  looking for: tinned meat to make hot meals (mince, stew, meatballs), instant coffee, and also plain couscous.
Lions in January and February
The Lions kicked off their Easter fund raiser, knitted Easter Chicks with cream eggs. They have had nearly 200 chicks donated so far, some with cream eggs. Tesco Extra Abingdon has also kindly donated some cream eggs. Covid has meant that they have had to try new ways of selling them, and are currently use facebook to sell them at £2 each.

Other items they donated included:
• £50 for Kennington Playgroup to help them buy a fog cleaning machine.
• £314 for a powerful blender for a family that needs it due to a medical condition.
• A promise the support a family to buy a car safety harness, once covid allows.

Lidl from above

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Thankyou to Daniel for these pictures of the new Fairacres Phase 2 and Lidl store as viewed from the air.
Lidl from the air
When the construction of Fairacres Phase 2 began I was considering visiting the revamped Hilton Garden Inn (on the left) to get some pictures from the top floor. I gave up on that idea because of the pandemic. However Daniel’s view is even better with his drone.
Lidl from the air
This views shows Fairacres in the centre, and Miele to its left, with the 50 acres of  Abingdon Business Park behind, and behind that the houses of north Abingdon.

Careers Week and Open Day from Abingdon and Witney College

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Abingdon and Witney College
As part of National Careers Week 2021, Abingdon and Witney College‘s careers team is offering out its services to the wider public as well as the College‘s students. They are  running a FREE drop-in service during lunchtime (12 – 2pm) and later in the afternoon (4 – 5pm) everyday between 1st – 5th March. See https://www.abingdon-witney.ac.uk/national-careers-week-2021 for more information. There are also webinars that can be watched at anytime.
Abingdon and Witney College
Earlier in February they had a Virtual Open Day for anybody interested in courses at the college. Since the open day was virtual the webinars can still be viewed by visiting https://www.abingdon-witney.ac.uk/college-guide/past-events/february-virtual-open-week-2021-start. They use Microsoft Teams.
Abingdon and Witney College
I walked round the college this morning and took pictures of the trees in blossom.
Abingdon and Witney College
There did not appear to be a lot of cars or students about. The college is closed for face-to-face learning except to vulnerable students and the young people of key workers, where appropriate. It is open to all students for remote / online learning. The college are reviewing the latest government advice before telling students about any face-to-face reopening.

Swift Ditch bridge rebuilt

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Swift Ditch
Yesterday, I got a message and two pictures from Michael to say ‘The Swift Ditch Bridge near the old lock is being repaired. It is closed until about March 5th. That means you cannot get from Abingdon Lock to the path by the railway line that leads to Culham.’Swift Ditch
The warning notice was still up there today.
Swift Ditch
The bridge had however been put back together and there were no barriers, today. Some people were walking across.
Swift Ditch
Swift ditch leaves the River Thames above Abingdon Lock and rejoins the River Thames near Culham Bridge.
Swift Ditch
Work is continuing at Abindon Lock on ‘Reconstructing of tail layby and canoe portage’. Progress has been held up by the weather.
Swift Ditch
I will see Michael tomorrow on Zoom at the Abingdon Share a Poem group where the topic is Rivers. One poem I may read is this one by Oswald Couldrey. I found it in the book Local Colour – an anthology of local poems from 1951. Oswald worked and travelled, painted and wrote, in India and surrounding countries from 1909-1919, and must also have known Myanmar (then known as Burma).