Author Archives: Backstreeter

Closing Down M&Co and Peacocks

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Closing Down
Going into town today people will have noticed that two major clothing shops in Abingdon have closing down sales. M&Co announced in August that they were shutting 47 stores. M&Co will be closing their Abingdon, Market Place, store in about four weeks time.
Closing Down
The Edinburgh Woollen Mill Group, which includes Peacocks, called in the administrator yesterday. The Abingdon shop now has Closing Down Sale signs.

Both retailers have found the past seven months very difficult. They had to shut their stores in March due to the pandemic. M&Co reopened in June, and Peacocks in August – later than most shops.

Abingdon Share a Poem – Autumn

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Yesterday the Abingdon Share a Poem group met via zoom and read poems on the theme of Autumn.
Remembrance
Before lockdown, these meetings took place in the Hearth Room at St Ethelwold’s House, and we each paid £5 towards the hire of the room. Now the meeting are free and St Ethelwold’s House is not getting the income.

Most poems were by established poets, but some people read their own poems, and they were very enjoyable.
Remembrance
Pauline, who leads the group, read a poem she had written about Venus – the planet, seen early one morning. Justin read a poem about swallows preparing to leave. David read one on roasting chestnuts.
Remembrance
The garden at St Ethelwold’s is looking autumnal, but a lot of flowers still remain,
Remembrance
and there are vegetables ready to be dug.
Remembrance
After two poems on blackberry picking (Blackberry-Picking by Seamus Heaney and Blackberrying by Sylvia Plath), we got talking about the farm, on Milton Heights, where Pauline’s daughter had picked a lot of cherries this year. That reminded me I took two pictures through the hedge at that farm: one of blossoms in the spring, and one a few days ago, at the same location. It doesn’t look like the plums will be picked this year.

We will Remember them – in a different way than usual

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Remembrance
Abingdon-on-Thames Town Council will be looking at a smaller Remembrance Day ceremony this year because of Covid-19, or possibly no ceremony at the war memorial. It may or may not involve a road closure.

For those people who are back at church, or are watching church on live-stream, the ceremony can take place as usual. Remembrance happens at 11am on Sunday when some people are at church, every year.

For others, not at main event, it can be commemorated at home. They can watch the national event at the cenotaph, or even local events streamed from their local war memorial.

Poppy selling is going to be different with fewer places selling poppies. Fewer volunteers will be selling them. Due to Covid-19 many elderly volunteers will be unable to help. The Royal British Legion provide a download and print Remembrance Poppy to display at home and show your support for the Armed Forces community. They will ask people to get batches of poppies and distribute them.

Whatever happens Remembrance Day, on Sunday 8th November 2020, will be different.

Abingdon Michaelmas Fair – on this Monday

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Not Fair
Today is the Monday when the Abingdon Michaelmas Fair would normally begin. The window in the Charter Day Centre still has a poster from a previous year.
Not Fair
There were no fair rides set up on Sunday, and no fair service. The Monday Market was on the Market Place and no fair rides.

As Monday evening came I would normally expect to hear young excited voices going to the fair. But not this year.
Not Fair
Normally on this Monday, above the Market Place, against the sky, Meteorite would battle with Body Count to be the loudest and brightest ride – whirling with their bright lights between St Nicolas Church and the County Hall.
Not Fair
Normally on this Monday, the traffic down Ock Street would stop for the fair. The only cars at this point would be dodgems.
Not Fair
Normally on this Monday, the staff from Dorindos would be outside giving away samples and selling takeaways to the crowds.
Not Fair
From this viewing point, I would normally see shooting galleries, stalls selling candy floss and chips. Further along would be some children’s rides. Crowds of people would be moving: some one way, some the other.

The fair was cancelled this year because of Covid-19, and the danger of such crowds.
Not Fair
The spirit of the fair was still there in a small way. Some people walked from the Market Place, along High Street and Ock Street and helped to carry a tradition. These two people were enjoying Reeves Fish and Chips, sitting on the wall that would be normally crowded on this Monday.
Not Fair
This ride may look like it came from the Nursery Shop. I can still imagine the sound of the Wurlitzer and the Galloping Horses at Abingdon Michaelmas Fair – on this Monday.