Author Archives: Backstreeter

St Michael’s Christmas Fair

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St Michael’s Church was open today, with Union Jack bunting outside, for the annual Christmas Fair. The nave, aisles and church hall were filled with a mix of stalls: bric-a-brac and books,

alongside arts and crafts, raffles and have a go stalls, homemade cakes, and refreshments.

Sunlight through the south transept window lit the area where visitors gathered to chat over coffee.

The handbell ringers performed Christmas Carols near the altar.

The craft table was busy with children and adults making Christmas decorations. They included a lady with a “Fleece Navidad” jumper – a woolly pun on Feliz Navidad.

No Father Paul this year, but the fair still had a warm community feel with mulled wine and bacon butties. It was the first Christmas Fair of the season in Abingdon, beating the rush.

Inaugural Poppy Ball in Abingdon

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The inaugural Poppy Ball took place this evening at the Hilton Hotel, Abingdon.

Organised by Clare Oldfield on behalf of the Abingdon Royal British Legion Club, the event brought together local musical talent and community spirit in support of the Poppy Appeal.

On arrival guests saw a vintage military jeep and a rare 1945 ambulance — of only around 20 known to exist.

Guests were welcomed by re-enactors from The Redline Home Guard, a historical group dedicated to honouring the men of Berkshire and Oxfordshire who volunteered to defend Britain during the Second World War.

Inside the ballroom, tables were decorated with poppy arrangements created by the Abingdon Flower Club.

Music was provided by Abingdon SwingTime, a 20-piece swing orchestra.

Their music had guests on the dance floor twirling around and doing under arm turns.

A raffle with prizes donated by local businesses, together with a secret auction for a specially donated picture, helped raise funds for the Poppy Appeal.

The Abingdon Monk Finds a Woodland Home

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While exploring Abingdon’s green spaces, I also discovered where the Abingdon Monk has been retired. The wooden monk once stood on the roundabout near Fairacres and Tesco. After toppling over once, it was propped back up with a splint,

but when it fell again it was found to be too rotten to repair. There was a split running from head to side.

Abingdon-on-Thames Town Council has now given the monk a new purpose as a bug hotel, placed among the naturally decaying tree trunks at Boxhill Wood. The sculpture was originally created for a Britain in Bloom project, commissioned by Abingdon Town Council and sponsored by the Abbey Press. People used to dress it up for festive and other occasions.

There has been talk of a replacement. Other towns have their own wooden monks (including one in Cirencester), but for now there is no Abingdon monk.

Healthy Abingdon – New “Green Spaces” Website Pages

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Healthy Abingdon — the group behind the annual HealthFest on the Market Place — have added a new section to their website all about Green Spaces in Abingdon. The aim is to encourage people to enjoy local parks and open areas to boost both physical and mental wellbeing.

Today I visited Boxhill Woods by the River Stert.

There are currently 13 green spaces featured on the site. Each one includes a map, directions, a short description, photos, and links to health walks that connect them. More spaces will be added soon.

The organisers say: “We still have more to do, but are giving you a chance to see what we’ve done so far and to share your comments or ideas to help us improve.”

The project is funded by Active Oxfordshire, who aim to make it easier for people to discover and enjoy local green areas.

You can explore the new pages at: https://www.healthyabingdon.org.uk/green-spaces