Author Archives: Backstreeter

Open Air Pool Re-opens

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Open Air Pool Re-opens
The Abbey Meadows Open Air pool opened for the new season this morning, and the water was a warm and enticing 29ºC. Seen here are a family, who moved to Abingdon just three weeks ago – about to enjoy their first swim. Next to them is Dr Peter Harbour of Friends of the Outdoor Pool.

The pool will be more popular with the higher temperatures. And from July 4th, swimming lessons will move to the Outdoor Pool while the White Horse Leisure Centre pool is re-furbished.
Open Air Pool Re-opens
Nearby, in the Carpark, and back for the new season, was the Coffee Cube. It is also to be seen at other places round Abingdon such as near the Stratton Way bus stops.

Mr Whippy is also there, making everyday a Sundae.

Crazy golf, pitch and put, and tennis courts are also open, as is the play area and splash pad. This will be the last year to play crazy golf, and tennis, as the play area is to be extended.

Looking Forward to the Bank Holiday

On Bank Holiday Monday there will be a variety of walks organised by the Friends of Abingdon. Register at the Market Place from 10am.

Morning Walks leaving at 10:30 am:
The Boundary Walk. About 4 miles and takes about 2 hours.
The flora and fauna of the Ock Valley. 3½ miles and takes about 2 hours.
The Ramblers lead a longer 8 mile walk via Radley Lakes, Radley and Lodge Hill.
The Lost Abbey tour takes about 1½ hours.
The St Helen’s tour will take approximately 1 hour.

Afternoon Walks leaving at 2:00 pm:
The Wilts and Berks Canal Heritage Tour. About 3 miles.
The Radley Lakes walk, where you can enjoy tea and cakes and walk round the lake before returning. This is about 5 miles.
The Lost Abbey tour takes about 1½ hours.

An exhibition of portraits and stories of African Quaker Peacemakers, “This Light That Pushes Me”, will be open from Monday May 30th (Bank Holiday) to Saturday June 4th 2016, from 10am to 4pm in St Nicolas Church,

Abingdon Quakers also invite you to either or both of two talks BY African Quaker Peacemakers.
Bank Holiday
The 2nd World Bun Throwing Championship takes place on 30th May at the Abingdon Cricket Club. Posters say that registration begins at 12 noon on the day, and banners say the event starts at 2pm. There will be a REAL Bun-Throwing on 11th June at 7pm to celebrate the queen’s 90th birthday. The world champion will join town councillors in throwing buns on that occasion.

Reports on all 3 should appear here in due course.

An Audience with an Archbishop

Thankyou to St Helen and St Katharine for replying to my request about an event I sadly missed.

On Saturday evening, Dr Rowan Williams, Master of Magdalene College, Cambridge was the Guest of Honour at St Helen and St Katharine in Abingdon. The former Archbishop of Canterbury, took to the stage for an evening of poetry and conversation as part of the parish of Abingdon-on- Thames’ series of events, ‘The Hope Within Us’.

‘Rise Heart’, the theme of the evening and a phrase taken from the poem ‘Easter’, George Herbert’s poetic meditations on the resurrection of Christ, was an opportunity to hear Dr Williams’ own poetic voice, literally and figuratively as he, together with Rebecca Dougall, Head of St Helen and St Katharine school and The Revd Dr Charles Miller, Team Rector of Abingdon, discussed how poetry is a powerful creative channel for exploring belief.

Dr Williams also introduced the relatively unknown work (here in England) of Saunders Lewis, one of Wales’ leading literary and political icons, a nationalist hero and one of the founders of Plaid Cymru.

More Coffee Shops than Hairdressers

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Where Stroll In once was, a new coffee and snack place looks nearly ready to open on Abingdon Market Place. I can see the day coming when there will be more coffee shops than hairdressers in Abingdon Town Centre.

The lights in the ex Co-op supermarket were on this evening. The Co-op closed in July last year, and back then there was speculation that Wilkinson or Iceland would soon move in, but that did not happen. Then some people thought it would be refurbished and Poundland would move across. I have not heard the latest rumours.