‘Ock Street Remembered – An Abingdon Community’ – the book of the Ock Street exhibition is out now, and available from both book shops in Abingdon. Elizabeth Drury is co-editor of the book which can now be seen displayed in the window of the Book Store.

At the back of the book are pictures of the Ock Street businesses that have given their support. Inside there are many pictures including the street floods in 2007, 1947, 1903 and 1894.

People are coming from far and wide to see the exhibition and find out about their ancestors. This will be a good souvenir for them, and for the rest of us.

This picture shows St Michaels in the foreground, and the Trinity spire in the background.

It has been a special weekend at Trinity. Since September the church has been without a minister. But it looks as if they have made contact.

Over this weekend, the church’s top choice from a list of applicants was invited to meet people, meet other ministers of the Church in Abingdon, and then preach with a view to becoming the minister.

The title of the sermon was ‘Space – the final frontier.’

After the service the people of the church met, and decided if this was the right person for the job. When a new pope is chosen: black smoke means a split decision, and white smokes means a successor has been chosen.

(I’m not sure if Trinity follow the same convention but its likely they do.)

The Town Crier and Water Vole were out in town announcing a public meeting.

On the platform, Save Radley Lakes campaigners were joined by Dr Evan Harris, local MP (Lib-Dem) and prospective MPs (Conservative, Green, and Labour). So the campaign has cross party support, and the support of Radley Parish Council. They are now waiting to see next week whether Abingdon Town Council will also be able support them.

Money is needed from supporters to launch a judicial review – which will decide whether Thrupp Lake can be re-designated a Village Green, and saved from destruction.

To find out more visit Save Radley Lakes .

Somebody did comment recently they’d like to have a forum to discuss Abingdon issues like the traffic system.

There is a new forum and its name is posted on many shop windows in the town centre. Its Action 4 Abingdon. The people organising it have even undertaken an independent traffic survey to take to the County Council.

I sometimes think that West St Helen Street acts like a barometer measuring the pressure of traffic through town. When things are getting bad in the High Street it has an even more dramatic effect on West St Helen Street because people can’t get out. Today was a relatively calm day and the traffic barometer stayed at a calm level.