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Abingdon in a parallel universe

It is 9pm on a warm Friday evening.

It feels almost Mediterranian at the far end of Bath Street where Cafe Zeko now serve Tapas on Friday and Saturday evenings. People are seated outside.  A couple of ladies are looking at Marie’s colourful window display.  Over the road Bella Napolli are serving meals.
Taxis
People also sit outside at Ask, half hidden by the olive trees.
Taxis
Not far away is the Ock Street Taxi rank … Taxis either queue there or are parked along up by the Market Place waiting to get out onto High Street. There is a whole different Abingdon the taxi drivers know. And one of them, called Dave, writes very realistically about it on the The AbingdonTaxi twitter stream. What I cannot work out is that he is often 3 or 4 hours ahead of me so it could be he is tweeting from another Abingdon in a parallel universe.

A life-long love story

Frankie
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.
Frankie
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
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’

Open Air Pool 2011 Season Begins Here …

Open Air Pool Open
The Abbey Meadow Outdoor Pool opened at 10 am this morning.
Open Air Pool Open
For this first bank holiday weekend it will be free to all. After that it will be free to under 16s (applications before admission). Young adults will be £3.60 and OAPs £2.30. Season Tickets are also available.
Open Air Pool Open
After a swim there is a chance to have a hot drink and snack from the pool kiosk. Pictured are Heather Brown from Choose Abingdon, and Elizabeth Edgecombe of Friends of the Pool. Both have been promoting the pool.

Time Table…

Term time opening:
Casual swim 10am-3.45pm
Inflatable play 4pm-5pm
Casual swim 5.15pm-6pm

Holiday programme opening:
Casual swim 10am-12.45pm
Inflatable play 1pm-2pm
Casual swim 2.15pm-6pm

The pool will be open until Sunday 4 September 2011. For further information please see www.soll-leisure.co.uk or contact 01235 530678.