These adult swans, seen on the Mill Stream in Abingdon, have eight new cygnets. Last years juveniles did stay during the winter, but as time went on the adult male could be seen chasing them away, getting increasingly aggressive if they did not take the hint.
‘The Hope Within Us’ events took place last week – organised by the churches of the Parish of Abingdon-on-Thames.
On Saturday there were two tours of St Helen’s Church.
Many Abingdon people, from generation to generation, have made their first visit to the church on being baptised at the font.
The present building began as a one aisle church, with tower, in the early thirteenth century. Four more aisles were then added to the south – the fifth and final aisle in 1539. The central aisle was subsequently made higher in Victorian times to let in more light.
The west door though the central aisle is used for other important life events. It is through this door that couples enter to be married, and from this door people are carried on their final goodbye.
Over that door St Helen is seen carrying a model of the St Helen’s Church in one hand, and a cross in the other. The Fraternity of the Holy Cross was based at St Helen’s church until being dissolved by royal decree in 1547.
This week has seen the first Abingdon Jazz Festival organised by Friends of Abingdon, and Music at the Unicorn.
Abingdon’s own Big Band, SwingTime, a 20-piece Big Band, performed on Friday evening at the Unicorn Theatre. A lot of the acts were at the Unicorn Theatre.
There were also jazz acts out and about round Abingdon, including the Claire Jones Quintet at The Crown & Thistle …
The Fleur Stevenson Trio under the museum,
Funk Bake at the Brewery Tap,
and, featuring the Garden Kitchen Menu, at the Nags Head were the Mim Gray, Tim Dawes and Tim Lapthorn Ensemble.
This picture shows a traditional scene, where four of Abingdon’s five candidates for the 1945 parliamentary election are seen holding simultaneous meetings on the Market Square (from a Picture Post currently on sale in Ebay).
Opposing sides in the 2016 Referendum on Britain’s membership of the EU had opposing tables on the Market Place this morning.
The Vote Leave campaigners one side …
the Vote Remain on the other. It is good to see the normal political groupings forgotten during this single-issue campaign. Behind the Remain table are local Conservative MP, Nicola Blackwood, and members of other parties and independents