Before the names of the Abingdonians who died in WWI could be carved on the stone war memorial
their names had already been carved on wooden memorial tablets now on display near the font in St Helen’s Church. The names on the wooden memorials have the full first names, not just initials.
Between the larger WWI tablets is a WWII tablet
Thanks to Mike for pointing this out.
The Abingdon Traditional Morris Dancers were dancing outside St Helen’s Church before the Abingdon Town Council Mayor Making. They were led by the Mayor of Ock Street, Harry Knight.
In St Helen’s Church, Councillor Jan Morter handed on the chain of office of the Mayor of Abingdon to Councillor Margaret Crick.
Margaret is an ex teacher who not only taught in England but also in the Bahamas. She became a member of the Town Council in 2007, and in the last year has chaired the planning committee, and been Deputy Mayor. She is a keen gardener and craftswoman, who behind the scenes donates handmade jewellery to help raise money for town events.
The new Deputy Mayor is David Pope, seen here signing the oath of office. David is also district governor for the Rotary International.
Margaret has chosen two charities that are close to her heart as the Mayor’s Charities. First is Abingdon Carousel who will soon take over running the South Abingdon Children’s Centre. Margaret said that a good start to life is so important for children. She also chose Be Free – Young Carers of Oxfordshire. Margaret was so impressed with how they bring together young people who have taken on the very adult role of caring for relatives.
The outgoing Mayor, Councillor Jan Morter, gave Mayor’s awards to:
* Emma Beacham, the founder of the Abingdon More in Common group.
* Anne Smart, one of the volunteers for Abingdon Cuts Plastic / Abingdon Carbon Cutters.
* Shirley Thompson as a volunteer for 20 years with the Abingdon Children Contact Centre, at Abingdon Baptist church, which allows separated parents to meet with children in a safe neutral place.
In Abingdon County Hall Museum there is an exhibition of objects crammed together into boxes and then rendered in great detail with coloured pencil artworks. This is the work of Oxfordshire Artist, Robert Strange. Most of the objects are very colourful and ordinary but made remarkable by the way they are squashed together.
You can also buy, in the museum shop, examples of the artwork on cushions, coasters, mugs, and cards.
Bank holiday Monday completed the early May bank holiday weekend with a scorcher. This picture was taken on Abbey Close at about 9am before it got really hot.
I don’t know why they even bother having a doorbell when they have a knocker like that.
The Unicorn Cinema has an extended run as they await the chance to move into the Guildhall. On the front of the current brochure is the film The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society. An interesting title – I’ll have to go and see what it is about.
On the millsteam at that early hour the reflections were better than the original.