As the wind blew across the Market Place in Abingdon, the town’s annual Christmas Craft Market weathered the worst and stayed firmly on the ground.

The lights on the Christmas Tree have now been put up properly. Last weekend, they had been put up temporarily because the contractor was in hospital.

A jeweller called Tracey was at the market for the last time. She has been selling at the  Local Excellence Markets for over ten years.

The Abingdon Honey company displayed the award for the most festive stall at last week’s Abingdon Extravaganza. This week, they eased up on the tinsel and baubles.

The next local excellence market will be in March 2024.

Next Saturday, 16th December 2023, from 10 am to 12 pm, there will Christmas Carol singing led my Sally Mears and people from the churches in Abingdon.

After the last one disappeared, the secret crocheter quickly created a new post-box topper for the Market Place.

The Market Place was a popular destination today, with people drawn to the Market Place by the mostly sunny weather and the variety of stalls selling local goods at the Local Excellence Market.

It included: beer, biscuits, bread, burgers, cakes, cheese, chillies, fruit and vegetables, gin, gluten-free foods, honey, Indian food, pies, artificial flowers, glassware and ceramics, jewellery, knitted toys, photographs, soap, upcycled bags, and wooden toys.

One local trader told me that Saturday afternoons are as busy as the morning now. Is that partly because of the popularity of coffee shops? They have transformed the centre from a mostly retail space to a place for people to meet up with friends and family.

BBC Radio Oxford hosted a cost-of-living clinic at the Monday Market in Abingdon today. The clinic brought together several local organizations, including Citizens Advice, the Abingdon Foodbank, Abingdon Larder, and Abingdon Community Fridge.

People from BBC Radio Oxford were also there with a survey to gather information about the impact of the rising cost of living on local residents. BBC Radio Oxford are taking this roadshow around Oxfordshire and inviting local groups in each town or part of Oxford.

Also on the Market Place is a Wimbledon-themed postbox topper with tennis rackets, a ball, and strawberries. The famous tennis tournament is currently about halfway. It began on Monday, July 3, and ends on Sunday, July 16.

Strawberries, a Wimbledon staple, were on sale at the fruit and veg stall at the Monday Market.

The Local Excellence Summer Craft Market was on in the Market Place today. The Town Crier had a birthday greeting for one of the stallholders. He would not say the stallholders’ age but let us know that it was worth marking.

One of the stalls had some colourful cakes, essential for any party.

Others had crafty present ideas.

The birthday was for Martin Wackenier, who regularly runs a stall at the market with photographs and cards.

In the evening, there was a birthday get-together at the Loose Canon Brewery, where Martin joined the band Rockingham for a couple of songs.

Happy Birthday, Martin.