Author Archives: Backstreeter

Official Guide

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Official Guide
The brand new 2018 edition of the Abingdon-on-Thames Official Guide and Map plopped through the door today. It is full of useful information.
Official Guide
On Saturday I picked up a 1924 town guide from Oxfam. It contained a history of the town, with lots of black and white views of the town, most of which are still easy to recognise. The first few and last few pages were dedicated to adverts.
Official Guide
I would not recognise 131 Ock Street from the picture,with the open display of meat. (© William H Hooke. All Rights Reserved).

In recent months the conversion of 131 from a shop front to a house front has been completed.

Mud Path at the Open Air Pool

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Mud Path
Work progresses on redeveloping the Open Air Pool at the Abbey Meadows. But with so many lorries coming and going along the path, to the service entrance round the side, the mud keeps getting churned up.
Mud Path
Other than work people, there are people going to the Abbey Brass Band hut who use the path – either to one of the training bands, or the senior band.

There was the problem of the dark as well, but a light has recently been added and improved matters a little. Gravel is sometimes put down, but it soon gets churned by the next few lorries.

One parent, who takes their son to band practice every week, suggested boards would have helped. Another band member told me there used to be a drier way round the edge but even that has become muddy. Wellington Boots are a necessity.

Army Cadet Charity Rowing on Abingdon Market Place

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Army Cadet Rowing
The Abingdon Army Cadets have been on the Market Place all day with four rowing machines. The event was organised by the cadets rather than their adult instructors.
Army Cadet Rowing
They were rowing a distance of 200KM for three charities.

One of their adult instructors, a veteran paratrooper, who lost a leg in Afghanistan in 2012, recently broke the world record for rowing across the Atlantic Ocean in a pair. That challenge raised money for three charities: for Blesma (who assist limbless veterans to live normal lives), Dreamflight (who give a holiday in a lifetime to deserving children), and The Gurkha Welfare Trust.

Inspired by their instructor the cadets hoped to raise a few hundred pounds for those same three charities. Their Just Giving Page is Abingdon ACF Rowing
Army Cadet Rowing
The Town Crier not only did some cries to encourage people to donate, he also joined in with a bit of rowing.