The Local Excellence Market was back on the Market Place today, and a sax player was playing with great gusto – getting a lot of money in his hat in return.

At the centre of the Market was the sight and sound of the wood turning demonstrations throughout the day where people could have a go.
Beyond Bubbles had a new display stand for soaps. The section for patchouli, between lavender and rose & geranium.

As well as scented soap there was coloured glass: blue seas and skies, green hills, red poppies, yellow sun, and the colours of the rainbow altogether.

Then there were stalls with spices including gospice.co.uk and chillies2u , with spices ranging all the way up to ‘bloody hot’.

The Local Excellence Craft Market takes place on Abingdon Market Place in June and early December. It was initaiily organised by the town council, and is now organised by Abingdon-on-Thames Chamber of Commerce as two additional Local Excellence Markets – with mainly craft.

The market included about a dozen stalls. Very popular was the batik stall run by Layla Tutt – another Layla.

The Loose Cannon beer tent had a steady stream of triers and buyers.

Beyond Bubbles soap were there, and stalls with wood turning, candles, pictures and photos, pottery, and glass, jewellery, chocolate craft, chutney, bird feeders, cakes, and of course much more.

Lesley Legge, a Town Councillor, and Kevin Clare, the Chairman of the Chamber of Commerce started researching other local Farmers’ Markets in November 1999.

They met with the Monday Market representatives and got in touch with farmers locally involved in Farmers’ Markets. One of the hurdles at the time was the Market Acts which only allowed a Monday Market in Abingdon, and so initially the Farmers’ Market was held on Monday once a month – some of the stalls were under the County Hall, and some by the Abbey Archway.

Audrey Hasnip was the Mayor at the opening in April 2000. The Town Clerk at the time was Brian Tonkin. Jill and Joy, volunteers from EarthWatch, looked after the rents and checked all was well for  the first two years.

Peter Green chaired the meetings about the Market after Lesley Legge became Mayor in May 2000. and with Nigel Warner after Brian retired. Between them they sorted out the Market Acts. Nowadays the Farmers’ Market is on third Friday of each month.

Thanks to Johnny Morrison for the pictures, and Lesley Legge for the details.

There is the danger that school funding will be cut in real terms for many schools, and so the mass parents’ campaign fighting these cuts – Fair Funding For All Schools, were on the Market Place this morning. They had a petition, information, and had met some of the candidates standing for the Oxford West and Abingdon constituency.

Also on the Market Place this morning were Alice Badcock, last year’s Mayor, and Margaret Crick, the new Deputy Mayor.

Fun in the Park, and Music in the Park are next weekend, on 3rd June, and they were selling wristbands for Music in the Park. Wristbands usually sell out before the day. Gates open at 5pm and there will be live performances from Flexamuscle, Shakedown Prophets, AGC Rock Band and Bigtopp. The evening concludes with a Proms Concert by Abingdon Town Band and a Grand Firework Display.

There was also music on the Market Place, and a stall selling cakes, thanks to Abbey Brass who were raising funds so they can continue to buy instruments – for training new members.