Author Archives: Backstreeter

Mr Hemmings Day of Dance

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Mr Hemmings Day of Dance
Mr Hemmings Day of Dance took place on Saturday, and attracted ten different teams, and so was one of the biggest ever – even bigger than the World Cup quarter finals. Les Badcock, the leader of the Mr Hemmings Traditional Abingdon Morris Dancers, does a lot of the organising, and helped put together this big event.
Mr Hemmings Day of Dance
It took place on the same day as the Yeah Baby charity music festival, so there was a lot happening in town. and it was hot, hot, hot and the dancers were glad to find a bit of shade at the Abbey Gateway.
Mr Hemmings Day of Dance
The troop in green are The Oyster Girls, a clog dancing side all the way from the Isle of Wight. They crossed the sea to be here. Many thanks to them.
Mr Hemmings Day of Dance
Dancers also found a cool shady area under the old County Hall. Pictured here are Masons Apron, a group originally from the Masons Arms in Headington, who have migrated to Long Hanborough over time.
Mr Hemmings Day of Dance
Mr Hemmings Traditional Abingdon Morris Dancers was formed in 1978, with local men who had previously danced with the Abingdon Traditional Morris Dancers.

In the last two years the Mr Hemmings group has opened up to women.
Mr Hemmings Day of Dance
Another group on the day were the Garston Gallopers from East Garston in the valley of the race horse – a sport followed by Royalty.
Mr Hemmings Day of Dance
Other groups included Bampton, Lepton Morris, Three Horse Shoes Morris, Ashnah American Tribal Style Belly Dancing, Mabel Gubbins: Rapper sword dancers and Stroud Morris. Stroud Morris are pictured above in the green and red jester tights – the green is for the hills, and the red for the famous red Stroud cloth.

P.S I have just requested my internet host to add a SSL certificate onto this site in moving with the times. The internet host will have to migrate it to a different server to make that work. If there are any problems in the migration the blog will move temporarily to twitter @abingdonblog.

The 10th and final Yeah Baby Free Music Festival

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The 10th and final Yeah Baby Free Music Festival was on the Market Place this morning and afternoon. It was also Mr Hemmings Day of Dance (report later) and England beat Sweden 2-0 in the world cup quarter finals to reach a semi final match against Croatia or Russia. One of the Yeah Baby singers sang Three Lions before the game. We are still dreaming (video above).
Yeah Baby
On Friday there had been a non school uniform day in many schools in Abingdon to raise money for Yeah Baby. They paid £1 each for the privilege and got entered in the draw on the Market Place.
Yeah Baby
The Abingdon-on-Thames Fire Service were there to show their support.
Yeah Baby
Round the Market Place were stalls including beer, cakes and a balloon race.
Yeah Baby
There were bands and children’s entertainers on the main stage.
Yeah Baby
Those who would like to support the event but were unable make it because of the morris dancing or football can donate £5 by texting BABY to 70456.

All the money goes to Helen & Douglas House, Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC), and the Amber Phillpott Trust – a trust set up to research a cure for leukemia with the help of Birmingham University. Amber Phillpott was the daughter of musician James who organises the event with friend Leon.

Dry Grass

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Dormant Grass
The grass here in Abingdon is turning pale. The circle pictured above is at Penlon Place, with Our Lady and St Edmund church behind. Part of grass’s natural life cycle involves becoming dormant when the roots can no longer get moisture or nutrients . The grass will turn green again when there is rain but there is no telling when that will be.
Dormant Grass
There is also a lot of yellow dust on the pavements around the civic car park, and council offices in Abingdon. The trees above have fronds of paired leaves – probably some sort of ash, and blossoms that fall as yellow dust.

Yeah Baby 10

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Yeah Baby 10
As part of Yeah Baby 10 on 7th July, author Tom Moorhouse will be talking about his books at 2.30pm at Mostly Books. Tom’s books ‘The River Singers’, ‘The Rising’ and ‘Trickster’ are for 10+ readers whilst his books about The Adventures of Mr Toad are for younger readers. A selection of Tom’s books will be available to purchase on the day. Suggested donation for the talk – £3 in support of ‘Yeah Baby’
Yeah Baby 10
Yeah Baby runs from 11am – 6pm on the Market Place then from 7pm til late at the Brewery Tap. This is the 10th Yeah Baby Free Pop Festival on the Market Place in Abingdon. All the money goes to Helen & Douglas House, Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC), and the Amber Phillpott Trust – a trust set up to research a cure for leukemia with the help of Birmingham University. Amber Phillpott was the daughter of musician James who organises the event with friend Leon.
Yeah Baby 10
It should be a sunny day if the last three weeks are anything to go. At 3.00pm the world cup quarter final game between England and Sweden kicks off. I don’t know whether anybody will arranging a big screen on the Market Place. But there are plenty of pubs roundabout with large screens. Sweden needed a big deflection to beat Switzerland, and England needed a penalty shoot out to beat Columbia. What will separate them on the day?