Last week the new roof tiles were all stacked in readiness at the top end of Long Alley Almshouse.

This week things have moved on at the top end, but elsewhere there is still work to be done.

Two well known local authors were there at a Gala dinner to raise money for the Save Radley Lakes campaign which is fighting to prevent ash from Didcot power station being dumped into Thrupp Lake at Radley.

Abingdon author Paul Gustafson, creator of Eggbert books, was the master of ceremonies.

Crime Writer, Colin Dextor creator of Inspector Morse, was the guest of honour and after dinner speaker.

Save Radley Lakes are still raising money and need your support. Radley Lakes are to the north of Abingdon. To the south of Abingdon, Sutton Courtney are campaigning against the Incinerator, and Drayton and Steventon want to Stop the London Reservoir being built on their farmland.

Abingdon itself, in the middle, needs flood defences to prevent another repeat of July 2007. It seems to be all about the environment – global recession or not.

(Thanks to Marjorie for the pictures)

The car arrived…

The town crier did a special cry to announce the bride.

The bride with her maids in honour advanced with great dignity…

We stood mesmerised. Weddings are magical affairs. A moment to last all time.

The competitors left Tilsley park at 9 am on Sunday 19th October

About 4 miles into the race this chasing pack come through the Abbey gateway. The leader had gone through 30 seconds earlier. Number 1 in this group won 2 years ago but was disqualified because he had used a friends number. He got it right this time. He was to be third this year – but in a faster time

The course followed Saint Helens Wharf.

This is one of the runners from Abingdon’s twin town, Argentan.

The loudest cheer came from near the bottom of Saxton Road

which got the competitors smiling. After this point the competitors left Abingdon on a double circuit round Drayton, Sutton Courtney and Milton … returning to Preston Road and then out again…

Some time later….

The lead runner came back over the iron bridge. The time car showed 2 hours 18 minutes at this point and he was 3 minutes ahead of the rest of the field. I did try to get to Tilsley Park in time to see him finishing.

But as with 2 years ago I only got there in time to see the second place competitor.

The winner’s final time was 2 hours 32 minutes.

This is the first of the Abingdon Amblers finishing in 7th place with a very good time.

The leading female runner came in on 3 hours 3 minutes.

Back in town the runners were still going through for quite some time. The route was through the underpass then up Bath Street.