Author Archives: Backstreeter

Now for some summer rain

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Much needed rain
The long hot summer cooled in the last 36 hours, and this evening hailstones fell, followed by a shower that caused ground water to collect in the usual places. That included the bus lay by on High Street, in Abingdon;
Much needed rain
the end of the Abbey Close near that pointed thing celebrating the millennium;
Much needed rain
and a trolley park in the Waitrose carpark.
Much needed rain
Over recent weeks the countryside has seen a contrast between the oaten grass and green plants with deeper roots. But two trees are suffering a premature autumn at the recently rebuilt Abbey Meadow play area. Perhaps their roots have not had a chance to get established.

More rain is forecast.

Summer Reading Challenge

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Summer Reading Challenge
Children have been converging on Abingdon Library for this year’s summer reading challenge. This year’s challenge is called Mischief Makers and features Dennis the Menace and other characters from the Beano. There are books to read, a treasure map to solve, and lots of stickers.
Summer Reading Challenge
If you are over 12 and too old for that challenge then you can take part in the adult challenge and recommend two books on a postcard and be entered for the prize draw. This is just one of many cards on display at the library.
Summer Reading Challenge
I am currently reading Empire of the Sun by J G Ballard – from the library. It follows Jim whose life, with his parents in the European quarter of Shanghai, is shattered by the second world war. They are separated and the book follows Jim’s struggle to survive. He begins by scavenging food from the houses in the street where he lived. When that supply runs out he tries to hand himself to the Japanese, seeking the relative safety of an internment camp … An epic!

August 1918 – one hundred years ago

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Taken from the Faringdon Advertiser and Vale of the White Horse Gazette. © Successor rightsholder unknown. All Rights Reserved.
WWI

3rd August 1918

The death is announced of Mr John Busby King, aged 70 the late senior partner in the firm of Messrs King and Adkin, auctioneers, Abingdon,- now Messrs Adkin, Belcher and Bowen.

Alexandra Day was celebrated in Abingdon on Saturday last. The proceeds were devoted to Abingdon Cottage Hospital, Abingdon Red Cross Hospital and Sanatorium Comforts Fund, the North Berks Nursing Association, the Radcliffe Infirmary, and the Oxford Eye Hospital. The summary of receipts shows : Stalls, etc.. £169 0s 0 1⁄2d.; rose sales and collections, £134 3s 11 2⁄3d.; concert, show and amusements, £89 8s 9 1⁄4d.; donations, £9 10s.; sale of programmes and sundry items, £5 14s 2 1⁄4d

10th August 1918

Sapper T. Giddings, 10 Mayotts’s Road, Abingdon, reported missing on March 22nd, is officially reported to have died in Germany.

2nd Lieut. P. L. Howard, Royal Berks, of Caldecott Road, reported missing, has been officially reported by the War Office as being a prisoner of war.in Germany.

Bowling Competition. The fifth annual competition by the Abingdon Bowling Club for the President’s (Mr A Preston) Challenge Bowl came off on the Albert Park Green on Thursday. Mr W. Tombs, the holder both in 1915 and 1916, became again the winner of the Challenge Bowl.

On Sunday, St Helen’ Church, Abingdon, observed National Remembrance Day with special services combining both St. Michael’s and St. Nicolas’ Churches. There were large congregations, and at the morning service the Mayor and Corporation attended. The special War Litany was said after the sermon and the National Anthem sung before and after the service. The offertories were for the Prisoners of War Fund and amounted to £32 18s 7d.
WWI
17th August 1918

The Bishop of Reading, who resides at the Abbey House, Abingdon, was 90 years old on August 4th.

The Military Cross has been awarded to the Rev. H. Cole, former Curate of Abingdon.

Pte. Harry Crook, Worcester Regt., son of Mr George Crook, of West St. Helen Street, Abingdon, is reported to have been gassed.

During a bombing raid over the German lines on July 30th, Lieut. Kenneth Vivian King, R.A.F., son of Mr G. E. King, Veterinary Surgeon, The Vineyard, Abingdon, is reported to have been killed. Twelve aeroplanes, it appears, took part the raid ever the German Divisional Headquarters, and were heavily engaged, the enemy aircraft not being observed in consequence of a thick mist, until they got to close quarters. Lieut. King’s machine, with two others, was brought down in the British lines, and both Lieut. King and the observer were killed. Deceased, who was 21 years of age, was formerly assistant to his father in the veterinary profession.

24th August 1918

In the Thames Lock Gardens annual competitions Mr A. Baldwin, Abingdon Look-keeper, has again secured the first prize in section 2, which extends from Iffley Look to Roebuck Ferry.

L.Cpl, Reginald Cottrell, son of and Mrs Cottrell, of Ock Street, Abingdon, posted missing on May 27ih, has now sent to say that he is prisoner of war, and is well.

Pte. H. Bond, of Bury Street, Abingdon, is reported as having died of wounds in France July 24th. He joined the Fusiliers when they were billeted in Abingdon, and was transferred to the Royal Sussex, serving in Egypt for 12 months. He had only been in France few weeks.

Taken from https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk.

Hiroshima Day

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Thankyou for Sally for this ..

The Abingdon Peace Group had our usual vigil at the War Memorial from 7.45-8.15am, and were joined , as last year, by a young man who comes from Hiroshima and who in fact will be back there this week with his wife and son, visiting his family.

We also had a little ceremony in the Abbey Meadow in the afternoon to dedicate the Peace Tree, a Japanese cherry which we planted many years ago but which had to be replaced recently. We read a “postcard from Hiroshima” which reported on a 50-day pilgrimage taking place now, from the island of Okinawa to Hiroshima. We also heard a poem written by one of our members, Mavis Howard, after a visit to the Luneberger Heath and the death camp at Belsen, reflecting on the deaths there and in the firestorm at Dresden.