Author Archives: Backstreeter

Abingdon goes into lockdown for a second time

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What is open
In March there was a country-wide lockdown, because of the sudden increase in Covid-19 cases. A few businesses remained open because they were considered to be essential – those selling food and groceries, or pharmacies.

This time round, in the second country-wide lockdown – because of the Covid-19 second wave, more businesses have been allowed to stay open. WH Smith, as a newsagent, have stayed open, while The Bookstore next door have had to close because they only sell books. That seems a little unfair.
What is open
Opticians are open. Hairdressers are closed. All the Charity shops are closed. Timpsons, and Lewis Baker, as hardware shops, are open. Estate Agents and banks are open. Jewellers, clothes shops, and phone shops, and shops selling Christmas gifts and decorations are closed.
What is open
As to the evening economy, takeaways are open, but pubs and restaurant and gyms are closed.

Schools and playgrounds have stayed open. Church services and gyms; the library and museum have closed. It has not counted that their hygiene and distancing were excellent.

Town Council – 4th November 2020

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Town Council - 4th November 2020
There was a meeting of Abingdon-on-Thames Town Council on Wednesday evening using Microsoft Teams. I was the only member of the public to attend having requested an id beforehand by email. Councillors and officers appeared in equal size boxes and could be seen more clearly than from the public gallery. Each person also had a name and so could all be identified. The meeting went fairly smoothly. (I hope I am entitled to share a screenshot of people voting. See above.)

I read the minutes of the various committees beforehand, as they appear on the Town Council website. Most of the minutes were agreed without discussion. When it came to the Guildhall, which appears to have had heating problems in the old rooms, the Guildhall Committee Chairman noted that they would be coming back to discuss the Guildhall later, in the confidential meeting.

From a report from the Vale of White Horse District Council a consultation has been launched for residents to give their views on some proposed changes to parking arrangements in the district council’s off-street car parks. The following changes are being proposed:
– phasing out residential permits for West St Helen St and Rye Farm car parks
– adding electric charging bays to car parks, and making only electric cars parking there legally enforceable and finable
– removing the parking for lorries in the Rye Farm car park
– formalising the parking bays in Hales Meadow car park – for coaches etc.
To find about more about the proposals and to take part in the consultation visit www.whitehorsedc.gov.uk/parking. The consultation is open until Thursday 19 November.

From a report from Oxfordshire County Council we learned of progress on the Lodge Hill interchange onto the A34. Land has been purchased. Initial design work is underway. The Target start is currently July 2021.

The Town Council has some policies and a half dozen of these came up for review, and Councillors voted them through unanimously without any comment.

There was a good discussion on a Motion proposed by Cllr Andy Foulsham and seconded by Cllr Alex Greenaway:
“This Council acknowledges that the absence of free school meals over school holidays is a real issue for some residents of Abingdon. We thank businesses, including Willow Shakes, Annies Tea Rooms and The Barns Cafe and organisations such as the Abingdon Food Bank, the Community Fridge and the SOFEA Larder at Abingdon Carousel that have helped by providing food for local children who are usually in receipt of free school meals over half term. In the absence of a scheme from UK government or Oxfordshire County Council to provide food to families in receipt of free school meals over the Christmas holidays, we commit to working with councillor colleagues from the Vale of White Horse District Council & Oxfordshire County Council to meet the need for such meals over Christmas in the belief that no child should go hungry.”

The motion was passed unanimously with a number of councillors volunteering their time to help coordinate efforts and help where volunteers needed help. The museum will also close during the 2nd lockdown and some staff would be available to help. This was heartwarming.

It was recommended to council that a report on long term planning is adopted as the basis for building on previous work and developing a five year plan process, before putting together a five year plan. The council is eighteen months into its four year term.

Looking back at the minutes, that were not discussed, the following items caught my attention…

New Noticed Boards have not had top priority in these strange times. The two new ones should be installed soon but an officer said ‘the social distancing rule made installation difficult.’ Also ‘Members were informed that despite several reminders the company asked to design a round notice board for the Market Place had not produced a proposal.’

All benches in St Helen’s Wharf have now been replaced with recycled wood look-alike plastic.

There have been problems along part of Wilsham Road with fishermen blocking the pathway and endangering the public while fishing. Records could not be found regarding the rights to fish along Wilsham Road. The Amenities Committee resolved that the area of Wilsham Road which is railed and has a walkway should not be used for fishing purposes, and signage provided.

At the museum a 3D ‘virtual tour’ tour has been produced. See https://www.abingdon.gov.uk/partners/abingdon-county-hall-museum. There is a youtube channel and more social media activity. The ‘Museum Crafting Crew’ Facebook page was established during lockdown and successfully carried out eight virtual children’s craft events. The museum took part in this year’s Heritage Open Day (HOD) on Saturday 19th September.

The museum was offered some of the stones from the Covid 19 snake displayed originally at the fire station. The museum collections officer welcomes being able to add to the collection something contemporary from lockdown.

The museum received a visit from two researchers from Portsmouth University who looked at the Ichthyosaur skeleton and discounted the previous identification as Ophthalmosaurus and suggested that it might even be a new species. They also corrected the arrangement of the bones in the case.

The Bob Frampton prize (single use plastic) results are show at https://www.abingdon.gov.uk/abingdon-news/abingdon-county-hall-museum/bob-frampton-prize-2020-winners .

Abingdon Museum Friends gave £1000 towards the cost of making the museum safe to reopen.

The Green Scrutiny Committee has noted the use of plastic bags at the Monday Market. Anyone going to the Fruit and Veg stall will know that stall holders have a tendency to put things into plastic bags before you even ask. So the Town Council will provide 1000 reusable branded cotton bags at a nominal price.

The Town Council has covered the cost of providing security at the Monday Market and Farmers’ Market, as required in the Covid-19 risk assessments.

There will be no big Christmas light event this year. The town centre Christmas lights be switched on sooner. They have already been installed so thats could be at anytime.

Autumn leaves at St Helen’s Wharf

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St Helens Wharf
The Plane tree canopies at St Helen’s Wharf give shade during hot summer days.

The leaves fall during late October and November.
St Helens Wharf
On some days, leaves carpet the pavement, half cover the road, and float and sink in the River Thames.
St Helens Wharf
Then a worker from the council gathers all those leaves into several blue plastic bags to be taken away. Autumn leaves continue to fall.

Abingdon 100 years ago – November 1920

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Abingdon 100 years ago
6th November

The tercentenary of the Sailing of the Mayflower, with the Pilgrim Fathers, to America, which has been celebrated this year, has led to an interesting discussion as to whether the pillars in the Abingdon Congregational Schoolroom are the masts of that historic ship. Dr Rendel Harris inspected them, and while withholding any decided opinion, he is investigating the question. The schoolroom was originally the Meeting House which dates from 1700. The Mayflower was broken up in, or about, 1658.

It was thought probable that there might have been an election this year and candidates were ready for nomination but at the last moment decided to withdraw. The four retiring councillors have therefore been elected, viz,, the Mayor (Councillor R. W. Langford), Councillor H. T. Clarke, J.P., Councillor C. Rippon, M.A, (Oxen), and Councillor Walter Thatcher.

The funeral took place in the Abingdon Cemetery on Wednesday afternoon last week of Mr George Westcott, landlord of the Bee Hive Inn, Stert Street, Abingdon, who died in the Sutherland Hospital, Reading, the previous Saturday, having a short time ago been removed from Peppard Sanatorium. Deceased was 49 years of age and for some years served in the Coldstream Guards, and as a reservist in the South African War. In the late war he rejoined his regiment and was subsequently transferred to the Suffolks as R.S.M. The funeral was conducted with military honours, the firing party being from the 4th Royal Berks. Deceased belonged to the Lodge of R.A.O.B. (Royal Antediluvian Order of Buffaloes). The floral tributes were numerous.

The first of a winter series of whist drives in connection with the Abingdon Bowling Club took place at the Roysse Rooms on Thursday evening last week, when upwards of 150 were present, the captain of the club (Mr Johnson) acted as M.C.

Abingdon 100 years ago
13th November
(Picture shows a project to relieve the number of unemployed by putting men to work on improvements to the Abingdon Road in Oxford)

At the Council meeting on Tuesday, Councillor W. B. Langford, of the firm of Messrs Langford and Sons, coal, corn and seed merchants, Stert Street, Abingdon, was unanimously re-elected to the Mayoralty on the proposition of Councillor A. E. Preston, seconded by Councillor Alec W. Morland.

The Abingdon Town Council have decided, after experiments, to light the Abingdon Corn Exchange with five electric 26 1/3 reflector lamps, similar to those in use at Newbury Town Hall.

The Borough Surveyor of Abingdon has issued a report to the Town Council on the water supply, which is short in the reservoir at Wootton, and advises the Corporation to look for a supply from some other source.

An entertainment and bazaar in aid of the Abingdon Church Memorial Hall and the Home and Foreign Missions was held in the Abingdon Corn Exchange on Thursday and Friday last, opened by Lady Norman. The stalls were well filled with the efforts of a working party with articles of needlework, aud also by other useful and fancy articles. There were good attendances and the results are expected to be very satisfactory.

In a billiard contest between members of the Abingdon Police and the Y.M C.A. last week the former were victorious – the total points being: Police 583, Y-M-C.A., 494

The Abingdon Bowling Club held its annual meeting in the Roysse Room on Thursday evening in last week, the president Alderman E Preston presiding. The balance sheet showed £4 4s 8d balance on the right side in the current account, and £32 6s 5d on the capital account. In view of heavier costs in the future, the annual subscription was raised from 10s to £1. The officers were re-elected, and a hearty vote of thanks given to the president for the great interest he took in the welfare of the club.

At the County Bench, William T. Hisney, Lodden Hill Farm Reading, was summoned for driving a motor car to the danger of the public on the Marcham road, on September 24th. It was stated that three cyclists had to get into the ditch to avoid being run down. Defendant was fined £5, and was to pay £1 expenses in each case.

Abingdon 100 years ago
20th November

Armistice Day was observed in Abingdon with the two minutes silence. At St. Helen’s Church tower the tenor bell was tolled 227 times, representing the number of Abingdon men who fell in the war. A large floral tribute was placed at the temporary memorial, by the Abingdon Corporation. The Comrades placed a laurel wreath, and at the end of the two minutes silence sounded the Last Post.

An Armistice Service was held at the Abingdon Congregational Church on Sunday evening when the Rev. Gill preached on the subject of ‘the Unknown Hero.’ The Last Post was sounded at the close of the service

Abingdon 100 years ago
27th November

Two Memorial Tablets are to be erected in St Helen’s Church, Abingdon, one being for men who fell in the war. A vestry meeting was held on Thursday last to obtain sanction to apply for faculties for the same.

The sum of £15 was raised by the Abingdon Wesleyan Rummage Sale last week, in aid of Children’s Homes and the Church Memorial Hall.

The Rev. J. P. Morris, of Lewes Baptist Chapel, has, it is stated, accepted the pastorate of Abingdon Baptist Chapel, and will commence his ministry on New Year Sunday.

Thank you for the extracts to the Faringdon Advertiser and Vale of the White Horse Gazette on the British Newspaper Archive, and Oxford Journal Illustrated for the pictures.