Author Archives: Backstreeter

Liquidambar trees

3 Replies

Liquid Amber
The Liquidambar trees on the Market Place are turning red.
Liquid Amber
These regular trees have behaved well so far on the Market Place and The Square in Abingdon, and each year give a flaming red autumn show.
Liquid Amber
Peter Green had something to do with their selection when he was on Abingdon Town Council. When he suggested Liquidambar a lot of people said what are they? At the time there was a choice between them and the better known London Plane.
Liquid Amber
There are Plane trees at St Helen’s Wharf, alongside the River Thames, just as there are along the longer embankment in London.
Liquid Amber
The Plane trees along Conduit Road were pollarded earlier in the year and have already grown back to what can be seen in the picture. They are hardy urban trees that can be cut back and then grow again.

Festive Bingo Prizes

Leave a reply

Festive Bingo Prizes
Pete sent me these pictures of some of the festive prizes to be won at the Preston Road Community Centre Bingo. Door open at 7 pm every Tuesday evening. Eyes Down at 8 pm.
Festive Bingo Prizes
The first games are for non cash prizes, and then after the break, and a raffle, there are cash prizes including the Preston Road Jackpot which ends about 10 pm.

Pete is the longest serving Bingo helper. His devotion to helping at bingo is beaten by his devotion to Oxford United. They are playing this Tuesday and so somebody else will be substituting for Pete this week. Pete sells tickets, checks the winning cards and gives out the prizes during the game, and then helps stack tables and chairs at the end of the evening.

5,000 motorcyclists took part in a “ride of respect”

Leave a reply

ride of respect
5,000 motorcyclists took part in a “ride of respect” in honour PC Andrew Harper. His widow led the ride with her brother on PC Harper’s bike, and can be seen biking over Abingdon Bridge, nearest the camera.
ride of respect
Crowds had gathered on the route through Abingdon from about midday. The first bikes rode through at about 12:30.
ride of respect
Motor Cyclists came from many places. One flew the Flag of Gibraltar.
ride of respect
There were not just motor cycles. At one place in the convoy there were a variety of three wheeled vehicles including a boat.
ride of respect
The Mayor of Abingdon was there with his chain and motorcycle gear to applaud the convoy.
ride of respect
Police Motorcyclists were taking part, helping to marshall the event, and be part of the ride.
ride of respect
People applauded the riders who came through in batches of about 500. The last group through were at about 4 pm. It was amazing and my selection of pictures does not do it justice.

Here is a short video showing riders coming through Abingdon.

Start of this year’s annual Poppy Appeal in Abingdon

Leave a reply

Poppy Appeal
Today marked the start of this year’s annual Poppy Appeal in Abingdon and at 10 am poppy bikers delivered a giant poppy to the Market Place.
Poppy Appeal
It was raining and a piper was playing at 11 am as people emerged from the rugby semi final match which England won.
Poppy Appeal
There was a group of poppy stalls on the Market Place. Clare who organises the Abingdon poppy collection on behalf of the Royal British Legion (RBL) had personally put 16,000 paper poppies and 600 crosses in boxes this year. Scouts were running a cake stall with cakes decorated with poppies and biscuits with scout fleur-de-lis. There was also a stall with craft poppies.
Poppy Appeal
Sea Cadets had a treasure hunt, and trays of poppies to be sold.
Poppy Appeal
The army cadets were selling poppies from trays round town.
Poppy Appeal
The Sue Ryder shop has a display of poppies in the window.

It is two weeks until Remembrance Sunday on 10 November 2019. Poppies will be on sale until then. The funds raised helps the work of the Royal British Legion in supporting service men and women who are still alive and whose lives have been changed by war.