Broad Street in Abingdon could never have matched Broad Street in Oxford for historical interest. After all there were no martyrs burnt at the stake in Abingdon. Nor could it ever have matched the breadth of the Oxford name-sake. But looking at my 1910 OS map, it did once look like a broad street with the road as the backbone and houses either side.

The building of the precinct across it and the Carpark on one side, means that only a few buildings now remain in a row with no real coherance or backbone…

The first two buildings are really on Stert Street but they are on the corner with Broad Street. On one corner of Stert Street is the Knowl. It houses the 2care community.

On the opposite corner is the Al Zaib, Indian Restaurant. It was the Bee Hive pub until a few years ago.

The building on the junction of Broad Street and Queen Street, the one with the fancy victorian brickwork, houses Wenn Townsend, Chartered Accountants, who also have an Office in Oxford. This building was a pub in victorian times and known as the Steam Plough.

In between Al Zaib (Bee Hive) and Wenn Townsend (Steam Plough) is Philip Rowe’s Chiropractic Clinic. On the blue door is a picture of a backbone, and the name of Philip’s four fellow practioners.

But I suspect even they could not put Broad Street’s back together again.

Well, there have been flood warnings, and the river is already overflowing its banks, so no suprise to see standing water at the Abingdon Rugby Club grounds off Lambrick Way.
On Sunday morning from 1o:30 there is youth training, and spread around the large grassy area, there must have been ten or twelve different groups training – possibly two hundred children.
It is a commitment for parents as well. The ones I talked to had been coming regularly, one for three years, another for five. This group are running a relay sprint with the ball.
Near the club house there are places for the parents to sit and drink cups of tea and coffee.
Come on! Keep going! Don’t look round!

The Rugby Club have: Under 7s, under 8’s…. all the way to under 16s teams. At the earlier ages it is a non contact sport, played with age peers, but more contact is added with age and experience. Their web site says “Your Childs safety is paramount at Abingdon RUFC.”

Only problem, something needs to be done to improve the drainage which appears to be not working well.

Our lady’s Convent School’s Christmas Fayre was today from 10:00 am till 2:00 pm. In previous years this event has been held in the Guildhall in town, but this year they used the newly built Senior school hall (pictured towards the right).
Down below in the hall, and corridors there are stalls, and from up above hampers and baskets were being auctioned.
As well as the auction, other regular favourites included bell ringing from St Denys in Stanford in the Vale and Irish coffee.

Welcome said the chap on the stilts.

Have a ballooon said the chap in Lansborough Estates

And here is to Christmas said Finishing Touch.

There was a parade and this familiar chap was at the back…

On the podium, after the parade, the Mayor, and the master of ceremonies, and Bill Rennells waited for a very important messenger…

A horse came with an important document all the way from Queen Mary herself…

It was the Charter of incorporation for Abingdon. The Mayor said “

Now we can have a Market! (cheers)

Now we can have a Fair! (louder cheers)

But the bad news said the Mayor. We will also have to have a Mayor and Town Council (not too many Boo’s)’

Then it was the turn of Bill Rennells to turn on the lights. “Come on everybody!” He called “… 10…9… Thats not very loud! I’ve heard much louder at Abingdon United Football Club…” And so he started the countdown again “10…9….” and this time everybody joined in.
The Abingdon Mace bearer then showed us something that could even outshine the Christmas Lights. The Greatest Mace for many a long mile…

As there was no official Best Themed shop competition this year, I took pictures of the three shops which had the best costumes. (Apologies to Bath Street which I never even got near should there have been something even better that way.)

It was a Tudor theme. My winner is …
The Nursery Shop in Stert Street

Other worthy entrants were Helen & Douglas House Charity Shop on High Street

and the Book Store in the Precinct.