Author Archives: Backstreeter

Work Starts on West St Helen Street Building

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Work has begun to take down the end wall of the scaffolded building near the top of West St Helen Street.

The scaffold was erected in October 2024 after widening cracks led the district council’s Building Control team to act on safety grounds.

The situation has affected many people. Pedestrian access has been restricted, which has been particularly difficult for disabled and elderly people. It has also closed off rear access and parking for some residents and blocked the rear access to the Grapes pub (currently under refurbishment). Residents of the flats above moved out, and Pappy’s Jamaican restaurant was forced to vacate the building.

No timescale for completion has been announced, although Pappy’s put up a ‘Coming Soon’ banner a few weeks ago.

Appeal to Save Abingdon Royal British Legion Club

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The Abingdon Royal British Legion Club has launched a £20,000 crowdfunding campaign to avoid closure and secure its future. Run by volunteers, the club has supported veterans, service families and the wider community for decades but now faces rising costs and falling footfall. Funds will cover essential running costs, repairs and improvements.

While operating independently under licence from the Royal British Legion, the club does not receive financial support from the national charity. Funds raised locally through the annual Poppy Appeal are sent directly to the charity’s national operations.

Donations can be made directly via the crowdfunding page: https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/save-abingdon-royal-british-legion-club.

Sunshine and Smiles at Abingdon Healthfest

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Abingdon Market Place hosted a highly successful Healthfest, organised by Healthy Abingdon. The annual event brought together more than 20 local groups dedicated to improving health and wellbeing. Helped by some sunshine and an interactive programme, it drew a steady stream of visitors from 10 am to 2 pm.

The Mayor of Abingdon, Cllr Rawda Jehanli, toured the stalls and met organisers. Here she joins Dance Creative, who run ‘Dance for Life’, seated dance classes every Tuesday morning at Trinity Church’s Conduit Centre – a gentle, sociable way to stay active that is great fun.

Abingdon Surgery highlighted some of the many services they offer to their patients.

Abingdon Town Amateur Boxing Club invited young people to try their hand at the sport of boxing.

Abingdon Parkrun volunteers, fresh from that morning’s event with 455 participants, were on hand to explain how to get involved.

Visitors also enjoyed live music from Abingdon’s own ‘André Rieu,’ Ben Heaney. Ben runs age and dementia friendly Moving Music events in the area. His was one of many talented services promoted through Age UK Oxfordshire.

There were some exciting hands-on opportunities. SCAS (South Central Ambulance Service) had an ambulance and were teaching first aid, from practising CPR and the use of an AED (defibrillator), to applying a tourniquet on a nasty looking wound.

The Muse Art School invited people to have a go at making a papier-mâché pear, to give a flavour of their creative classes in Abingdon.

Alongside the demonstrations were stalls from The Abingdon Bridge (TAB), Reducing the Risk, Abingdon Green Gym, Active Communities, UCARE (urology cancer research), Friends of Abbey Meadow Outdoor Pool, Oxfordshire Mind, Abingdon Good Neighbours, Healthwatch Oxfordshire, Dementia Friendly Abingdon, Kennington Memory Club, Mumby’s Live-in Care, Scottish Country Dancing, and Bellevie Care.

Making Apple Juice at St Ethelwold’s House

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This week, the Abingdon Carbon Cutters have been pressing apple juice at St Ethelwold’s House.

The process begins by washing the apples, cutting out any damaged parts, and chopping them. This is the most sociable part, with groups working together and chatting.

Next, the apples are put through a ‘scratter,’ which crushes them into a pulp.

The pulp is then transferred to a press, wrapped in muslin and squeezed, with the juice running out into buckets. The leftover pulp is collected for composting.

Finally, the juice is strained as it is poured into bottles – which are donated by visitors, just like the apples.

Bottles are £2 each. Fresh, unpasteurised juice was available straight from the press, while pasteurised juice, which keeps longer, could be purchased later.

While I was there two visitors brought their own fruit, and kept it separate throughout the process.