Much of Abingdon’s history is dominated by the once-great Bededictine Abbey. The large central church, St Mary’s, is thought to have looked like like Wells Cathedral. Nobody really knows.

What we do know is that it stood in the area that is now The Abbey Park. In one corner are ecclesiastical arches that look like they could belong to that once-great church. But bring along any expert and they’ll let you know that you have a genuine fake: a victorian folley.

Yesterday, students from the Art Foundation course at Abingdon College were wrapping up street signs, park benches, trees, and even themselves, all in the name of art. The example I have to show you is a very well known feature in Abingdon town centre. Not E.T.

The charges start at 50p for 1 hour, 90p for 2 hours, and £1.70 for 3 hours. This is the only car park that charges on Sunday currently, being near the riverside park, with its entertainments and play equipment.

Here we are on the forecourt of the Tesco petrol station at about 3:40 this afternoon. The store closes at 4:00 pm, (British Sunday trading laws), and it is getting busy at the petrol station.

Sunday used to be such a quiet day before the Sunday Trading laws allowed 10-4 Sunday trading. I remember coming down to use the large Tesco carpark to practise roller blading on a Sunday afternoon, and there would be nobody around. Try it now in this 450th year of the Abingdon Charter and most likely I’d end up as a supermarket-trolley sandwhich….