Author Archives: Backstreeter

Chance to see Mercury Crossing the Sun from North Abingdon

Mercury
Abingdon astronomical society are holding an observing event to watch Mercury crossing the face of the Sun. The transit starts at 12:12BST and ends at 19:40BST on 9th May 2016.

Abingdon Astronomical Society will have a number of specialist telescopes for viewing the Sun, giving you several different views of our nearest star. So do go and join members of the society at the Abingdon United Football and Social Club on Northcourt Road to enjoy this rare astronomical event. In the event of bad weather there will be no observing, so please check their website www.abingdonastro.org.uk/aas_blog in case of cancellation.

(Picture taken at Clubs and Societies Day of the Abingdon Astronomical Society stall with Mercury transit image superimposed)

River Closed – Police Incident

River Closed
At Abingdon Lock boats were not being allowed through from Oxford as there was a police incident at Culham Reach.
River Closed
So boats were allowed to go to Oxford but would not be allowed back again until the restriction was lifted. Both river and footpath were closed just beyond Abingdon Marina while the police, fire, and environment agency searched the river.
River Closed
It meant there were very few boats coming through Abingdon today.

Market Place at 11am today – Day of Dance

Day of Dance
Les Badcock led out the Mr Hemmings Traditional Abingdon Morris Dancers on their day of dance today. This is always held on a nearest Saturday to the birthday of former Abingdon Morris dancing legend Tom Hemmings who kept the Abingdon Tradition alive in the mid 19th century.
Day of Dance
Teams included Summertown Morris, a women’s side from Oxford.
Day of Dance
Ashnah, American Tribal Style Belly Dancers from Abingdon on Thames.
Day of Dance
Morris Dancers from Adderbury Village, just south of Banbury;
Day of Dance
Borderline from Arborfield, south of Reading,
Day of Dance
and Windsor Morris – a female side dancing in the very bouncy style of the nineteenth century Cotswold villages of Badby and Brackley.Day of Dance
Near the Market Place were also members of the Britain Stronger In Europe campaign. There could well be a lot of In Out In Out campaigning in the weeks to come.

Market Place at 9:40am today – Mini Ring and Gerontius Amenity Fund

Mini Ring
There is a mini-ring of bells on the Market Place this morning.
Mini Ring
The Stallpits Mini-Ring, from Shrivenham in Oxfordshire, began touring in 2013 with a ring at the Faringdon Corn Exchange. The bells are in Abingdon today to help promote the Hope within Us events, that begin in a week. Everybody can have a go, and sign the visitors book.
Gerontius Amenity Fund
Also on the Market Place was a stall raising money for Christian Aid, and for the Gerontius Amenity Fund – a charity founded in 2012 by people with contacts in Sierra Leone to provide health care for poor people.