The Compton Theatre Organ, owned by the Abingdon Theatre Organ Preservation Society, has been played at the Abbey Hall for 42 years. This was to be the last time. Nicholas Martin was in the cockpit. The Mayor gave a little speech.

Normally the audience is about 50 or 60, but this time there was 4 or 5 times that number.

The regular users subsidy is being removed for hirers of rooms in the Guildhall, and the organ society no longer feel able to meet the increased cost of hiring the hall or organists, with smaller audiences.

Here Nicholas is playing the Dam Busters theme.

(Thanks to Ian for the pictures. )

Entertainment was laid on for the first Saturday since the new Co-op opened.

A D.J. was playing the Travelling Wilberries when I went in.

Clowning around were Abbey and Teabags, who did free face painting and balloon modelling. On the subject of tea, one lady was telling me that it was good to be able to get ’99’ tea again in Abingdon. But she wondered why there was no delicatessen like the old co-op. People of her age like to get only a couple of slices of ham, or bacon, and have it cut as they want.

On the other hand Frugal Food has a deli next door, as has Added Ingredients.

A new youth club had its first meeting at Preston Road Community Centre. The idea was suggested a few weeks ago by the local PCSOs (Police Community Support Officers).

This is Chris, one of the South Abingdon PCSOs. They have been joined by some volunteer youth workers from the area in getting it off the ground. The group running it is a partnership of the police, PRCC and the Vineyard Church. Its based on a similar group on the Peachcroft estate in North Abingdon.

The club starts at 7:30 on Fridays nights for 12-17 years olds. It will run the second and forth Fridays until there are sufficient voluteers for weekly opening. Just as I was leaving a BBC camera crew were arriving, doing a documentary round South Abingdon about the work of PCSOs. 25 kids turned up for the first week and 24 registered to become members of the club.

What the club still needs is a fold-up table tennis table.

Time for a restful post today. Two pigeons on the railings – both with a white tripe on their beaks.