Through an archway off Walton Street in Jericho, Oxford, is St Sepulchre’s Cemetery. The residents of the cemetery include two masters of Balliol College, the superintendent of Oxford University Press,  and many other people.

One of them is Frank Taylor (Frankie). There is the image of an MG racing car, made in Abingdon, on his well kept grave.  Frankie died in it.

The night before an Isle of Man race the world beating racing driver Kaye Don wanted to test out some improvements to his MG. He took along his friend, and mechanic, Frankie. They drove at night without lights, and cornering at 60 MPH hit another car. The MG overturned. Frankie died as a result of injuries received. Kaye Don was imprisoned for four months for reckless driving and that ended his career as a racing driver.

Frankie had only been married to Phyllis for ten months. She visited his grave for 66 long years until in 2000 her ashes were interred next to her young husband. That devotion is remembered locally as a life-long love story. Her tablet says ‘Now reunited’

Abingdon is Britain’s Oldest Town, and in 2007 it gained Fairtrade status. Some of the leading figures from that time have moved on but there are new businesses promoting Fairtrade in Abingdon.

Mike Moon, the Secretary of the Chamber of Commerce, has already done a lot of work to promote disability access in Abingdon, and is also keen to show that Abingdon continues to be seen to be promoting the benefits of buying fairly traded products. Last Wednesday a number of businesses and organisations met together to start planning to ensure Abingdon continues to be recognised as a Fairtrade town. The next Fairtrade meeting is at the kings Head and Bell in the function room on the 6th July at 1pm anyone interested is welcome. A larger Fairtrade event is planned for 20th August.

Having Fairtrade status is good for Abingdon, but it also ensures that the farmers who produce the coffee and tea and fruit we rely on get paid and treated Fair.