Author Archives: Backstreeter

Abingdon Business Park – Sale and Major Revamp

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Abingdon Business Park
In June 2015 Abingdon Business Park was sold by Standard Life to Rockspring.
Abingdon Business Park
The site has now been re-branded, and Rockspring with their joint venture partner, XLB Property, are undertaking a major regeneration of the park, refurbishing empty properties to increase occupancy.
Abingdon Business Park
Before it became Abingdon Business Park in the 1980s, the MG Factory was on this site, and a few of the original factory buildings have been reclad to form the units along Colwell Drive – what was the MG mechanical repair shop in B-Block now houses UKMail, a major competitor to Royal Mail.

Start of Spring and Start of Easter Week

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Start of Spring
Daffodils have had a very long season —– stretching back to the start of January. Spring is now here and the late daffodils, over the other side of the River Thames from St Helens Church, are in bloom.
Start of Spring
The parish of Abingdon-on-Thames have a full Easter programme – starting off with the Palm Sunday services: one at St M, one at St H, and then one at St N.
Start of Spring
Yesterday the Abingdon Vineyard Church had their annual Easter Party in the Park with Easter Egg Hunt, egg and spoon races, face painting and kids v adults tug-a-war. They meet usually at Preston Road Community Centre, and this morning have an informal kind of worship with Easter Crafts from 10:30am to 12 noon. It is described as ‘a chance for mums and dads to chill out over coffee while the kids enjoy themselves.’

The Long Dubs and Abrail 2016 at the Leisure Centre

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Tennis
Four tennis coaches are raising money for Sports Relief 2016 by attempting to break the World Record by playing tennis doubles for 60 hours.
Tennis
They were still going strong at the White Horse Leisure and Tennis Centre early this afternoon. You can sponsor them at The Long Dubs.
Tennis
Coupled with that, also at the Leisure Centre, the annual Abingdon model railway exhibition, ABRAIL 2016, was full steam ahead.
Abrail
There were 25 railway layouts. Millanford, made by Abingdon model railway club members, can be seen above.
Abrail
The largest layout, Leicester Belgrave Road in the 1950s, was also made by members of Abingdon Model railway club.
Abrail
There were not just the railway layouts. These two gentlemen have created a very detailed street scene with moving buses and trams. It depicts life in the 1940s. An unexploded bomb is being dealt with in one back garden while people are shopping nearby.
Abrail
There were also stalls selling modelling kits and equipment, such as these Humbrol enamel tinlets. They range from Aircraft blue to Tank Grey.
Abrail
After the exhibition visitors returned to the overflow car park in Abingdon Science Park to catch their transport back, including some on the Morris Motors Band Bus.

Rowing Machines, Bright Cupola, Commonwealth Flag, and Balloon Arch

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Rowing
Abingdon Rowing Club were out on rowing machines on the Market Place in Abingdon-on-Thames, raising money for Cancer Research. They had a target of 346 km – the length of the River Thames.
New Look
The scaffolding has come down from the Cupola above the County Hall Museum revealing a shiny weather vane and bright Cupola – all ready for the Queen’s 90th Birthday Bun Throwing on Saturday 11th June.

The Commonwealth Flag is also flying to commemorate Commonwealth Day on Monday 14 March.
New Look
In Bury Street there is a balloon arch in front of the new Superdrug entrance.

Bury Street got a face lift three years ago. The main change, apart from the new facades, was two larger units. The intention was to attract national retailers. Both units have now been filled by national retailers – New Look and Superdrug.
New Look
Although they did move from elsewhere in Bury Street.