Robert Southey, the chief coach of Abingdon Town Amateur Boxing Club, was at Blenheim Palace recently for a special awards ceremony for people who have served young people for a long time. He started helping at the boxing club as a teenager…

which is how he came by this Planitum award for 40 years of voluntary service for young people and still going strong. His biggest campaign at the moment is to raise money for a gym in South Abingdon.

(On 12th December the Boxing Club has a sponsored darts marathon from 12 noon to 12 midnight to raise money towards the new gym. There will also be a Santas Grotto in the afternoon at the Crown and Thistle. )

This Stone Building, next to Albert Park, now has an explanatory green plaque…

Are there any other buildings in Abingdon that need a green plaque to explain what they are?

Thanks to Tim for these pictures. The people shown are all members of the Tithe Farm and Ladygrove Residents Association – headed by Eleanor Dangerfield who was also present but out of the picture

The trolley depicted was retrieved from the Ock and then loaded with the detritus that had gathered in the surrounding area.

Here is another view of the same trolley so there is no mistaking it. Litter Picking is an old tradition in those parts, as is the residents newsletter which is NOW ONLINE .

Thresher, at Peachcroft,

and The Local, on Ock Street, are part of the much larger First Quench Group – a private equity firm, that has gone into administration.

The administrator, KPMG, has already announced the closure of 373 loss-making shops and the two Abingdon Shops were not in that announcement, although notices have appeared saying that due to being in administration some services like Paypoint have been suspended.

Newspaper reports say there is interest in buying the rest of the group.