Author Archives: Backstreeter

Under this roof – Abingdon Business 1

4 Replies

fm hair design
This is the first of a new feature. You have to guess the name of the business from the roof and a few other clues.
fm hair design
Towards the end of last year they had a collection for the Abingdon Food Bank.
fm hair design
They have a striking circular mirror that faces the street. Here are some of the staff with an award from Best of Abingdon.

The business has been going for over 40 years. Pete Deane has been the owner for over 10 years but was a partner before that. The business was refurbished and given a new look in 2011.

Some of their weekly clients get to know each other, and a Friday morning can be like a coffee morning with clients that have now got to know each other as friends!

They have a gents side that take walk-in appointments only and a ladies side where they take bookings and also accept walk-ins. In the ladies side they offer cuts, colours, treatments, styling and specialise in bridal hair.

A previous name of the business was Fashion Maker.
fm hair design
They have one of the most amusing A boards in Abingdon. Thanks to their facebook page for most of the pictures.

John Piper in Abingdon

1 Reply

John Piper in Abingdon
The Friends of Abingdon Museum have organised a talk on the artist and printmaker John Piper. John Piper was also a master of modern stained glass, and a photographer. An example of his stained glass can be seen in St. Helen’s Church, as well as other churches in this area. Photographs he took of Abingdon can be seen in the Tate Collection.

The talk, by Revd Ian Browne, is to be held at the Amey Theatre at Abingdon School on 3rd March 2016 at 7:30pm. Tickets at £10 include a complimentary drink and are available from boxoffice@abingdon.org.uk, the Newbury Building Society, Mostly Books, and The Bookstore.

Seagulls on Wilsham Road

5 Replies

Seagulls on Wilsham Road
Across from the River Thames, on Wilsham Road, a bungalow called Pendower is just about to be demolished. The grounds have room for two larger properties with higher roofs.
Seagulls on Wilsham Road
In the early morning, seagulls take up positions watching the river, from vantage points on Wilsham Road. You can tell their most popular positions from the white deposits they leave.
Seagulls on Wilsham Road
They are ready for whenever there is food on offer. They wheel round,
Seagulls on Wilsham Road
then swoop down to try to get the food from the ducks.

Two News Stories about Northcourt Budgens

3 Replies

Northcourt Budgens
There have been two recent news stories about Northcourt Budgens. The post office in the Budgens at Northcourt Road, Abingdon, has recently had a revamp and now opens for longer, and provides more services.

The other story appeared in the Abingdon Streetlife forum, as well as a retail trends website, called IGD Retail Analysis. The Co-op has acquired 15 Budgens stores from Booker. The stores are located in Bedgrove, Bradford-on-Avon, Byfleet, Chalfont St Peter, Crouch End, East Barnet, Fakenham, Fulham, Grange Park, Northcourt, Parsons Green, Ripley, Sandy, Tysoe Street and Walton on the Hill.

Steve Murrells, chief executive, of retail at The Co-operative Food, said “Co-op Food continues to go from strength to strength, with a clear strategy that focuses on the growing convenience store market”, and intends to acquire 100 stores this year.
Northcourt Budgens
Meanwhile the large ex Co-op in Bury Street is still empty. It closed in May 2015 as the Co-op rationalised its retail outlets in Abingdon town centre.