Thanks to Steve for this from 1st September
Excuse the poor photos but we couldn’t contain our excitement yesterday when around 2.00pm this Osprey began fishing almost opposite us in Wilsham Road on the River Thames in Abingdon.
Abingdon-on-Thames Town council would like to invite residents to share their thoughts about how Abingdon should develop over the next few years, leading to the creation of a Community Led Plan. As part of this process, there are two drop in events this September:
* Abbey buildings – Tuesday September 5th from 4:00 – 7:00 pm
* Preston Road Community Centre – Saturday September 16th 2:00 – 4:00 pm.
If you are unable to go to an event you can still give your views by completing a survey. More information at http://abingdon.gov.uk/partners/community-led-plan in due course.
Topics for thought might include requirements for community facilities and services, suggestions for improving the environment, ideas for sports and leisure activities and local transport
and local provision for young people (over and above the spontaneous gatherings playing with mobile phones).
The process will be supported by the Town Council but a key role will be taken by local volunteers who will do the real work.
Dragon Boat Racing was held today, Sunday 3rd September.
12 teams took part in this annual event organised by the Rotary Club of Abingdon Vesper and held alongside the River Thames in Abingdon.
It is a big event for raising money for charity.
The wet weather didn’t dampen the spirit of the competing teams but did mean crowds were down on most years.
The event also featured a fun fair, music, BBQ, beer tent, and community stalls. The Mayor, Councillor Janet Morter, went round talking to all the stall holders, and is pictured here with the See Saw charity who provide support for young people in Oxfordshire suffering bereavement.
Next to SeeSaw was Christs Hospital Abingdon a very local charity who run the Abingdon Almshouses. They currently have three vacancies at their almshouses and welcome applicants who are in need. They also provide educational support for Abingdon state schools, and help provide essential items to people referred to them by organisations like surgeries and the Citizens Advice.
And on the other side of SeeSaw was Councillor Monica Lovatt running the SSAFA stall, as she often does at such events. SSAFA help provide support for military families and veterans in need.
The ‘Made in Abingdon’ exhibition opened in the the Community Free Space this morning. The first visitor was asked to cut the Heritage Bunting and open the exhibition.
The exhibition features a number of Abingon industries from the past. Of them only Penlon is still making things in Abingdon
The second visitor was interested in the display showing leather from Pavlova and gloves being made in the factory in East St Helen Street. She had once worked there and was the first lady to work on the setting out machine. Traditionally the men downstairs did the cutting, and the women upstairs did the sewing, and so she made history at the time by operation the machine that cut the glove patterns .
John Foreman, pictured here with the Town Crier, did a display on Davis Boat Building, but most of the exhibition was put together by Elizabeth Drury. It runs until and including, next Saturday, Heritage Open Day.