Author Archives: Backstreeter

11th November – Armistice Day at the war memorial

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11th November - Armistice Day
The First World War, which had begun on 28th July 1914, ended this day, ninety nine years ago, on 11th November 1918.

This war involved the great world powers of the time. Over 9 million combatants died, and many millions more were permanently disabled. Over 7 millions civilians across Europe and other war zones were killed. Many millions more were injured, and made homeless as a result of the war to end all wars.

Hostilities ended at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918 with the signing of the Armistice. And so at that hour today people gathered round the war memorial in Abingdon for a minute silence.

The formal Remembrance Day ceremony is tomorrow.
11th November - Armistice Day
Scattered around the war memorial somebody had laid wool poppies, one for each named person on the war memorial. People were invited to take one.
11th November - Armistice Day
Here is the one for A W Carter next to his gravestone at Abingdon’s Old Cemetery.
11th November - Armistice Day
A report from the Reading Mercury of 8th January 1916 tells of his funeral.

Bridge Closure

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Health and Safety
At lunchtime today, town council staff closed the Ock Valley Walk having been informed of a Health and Safety risk on the bridge at the town end.
Health and Safety
People will now walk down the alternative route along Ock Street and breath in all those traffic fumes. Let us hope the closure is not for too long.

Cemetery angels

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Cemetery angels
Laced with algae, pearled by lichen, an angel is asleep over a grave with the words … ‘Cherished memories – our darling little daughter’.
Cemetery angels
From the era that first imagined Peter Pan a young angel looks down on another grave.
Cemetery angels
Frozen in time, these three stone angels guard graves in the Old Cemetery in Abingdon.

Last Sunday at Trinity the annual townwide bereavement service took place, and there was a stone angel pictured on the Trinity facebook page. At the service people were invited to light a candle for a loved one.