Thankyou to Peter from Abingdon Camera Club for being there at the Dragon Boat Racing this year as I was away.

The Dragon Boat Racing is one of the big events in the Abingdon Calendar, and is a charity fund raising event organised by The Rotary Club of Abingdon Vesper’s with the support of many other local groups.

There were 4 army teams rowing this year, and the 3 Regiment Royal Logistic Corps went on to win both the army challenge and this year’s event.

There were also a dozen or so other team, most of them dressed up to express their team’s theme.

Dragon Boat Racing involve rowing to the beat of a drum down a 250 meter track down the River Thames.  The event was was well attended , and there was also entertainment for children, BBQ and tea and cake tents (both manned by the Rotary Club), Loose Cannon Brewery beer tent, various charities and souvenir sellers.

This was the 20th year the event has been run.

On the Market Place on Saturday there were stalls promoting Heritage Open Day,, the Kennington Memory Club, and The Lighthouse Church in Abingdon.

There is not as much happening over Heritage Weekend this year as usual. Things will be back to normal in 2019. However there is a chance to find out about the developing plans for the Abbey Buildings. The architect will give an illustrated talk on Friday 7th September at 7.30pm in the Unicorn Theatre.

Then Saturday 8th – Sunday 9th September 10.00 – 4.30pm the Abbey buildings will be open for people to explore, find out about their history, and ask about the plans on display.

The Friends of Abingdon have Heritage walks from the Market Place from 10:30 on Saturday 9th. Visit their walks page for information.

Christ’s Hospital Hall will also be open on Saturday 9th September. That is the ancient hall at the centre of Long Alley Almshouse near St Helen’s Church.

The Kennington Memory Club had a tombola on the Market Place

and a big jumble sale in St Nicolas Church. The Memory Club is the new day centre for people with dementia.

Thankyou to Peter for this …

Abingdon Camera Club are starting a new term and from Thursday 6th September will be meeting every week.

Peter says “we are a very friendly group and welcome everyone from absolute beginners to the more experienced. We have talks, studio sessions, competitions, demonstrations and discussions.

We meet at 8pm at the Methodist Church Hall, Dorchester Crescent (off Appleford Drive behind the Boundary House pub)

More details from our Chairman Steve Oakes 01235 200 793.

Also see www.abingdoncameraclub.org.uk

Attached are some pictures from Peter.

On Sunday we went to The Abbey at Sutton Courtenay, and saw Mike Moon in the grounds. Mike is well known in Abingdon and, in his time, has Chaired the Vale accessibility group, and the Abingdon Fair Trade group. He now Chairs The Shed Oxford which is a workshop where members do their creative hobbies, while doing repair and renovation work at the Abbey in lieu of rent. The Shed has an open day on Saturday September 8th 11am to 6pm. Visit shedoxford.wordpress.com.

We had a good time looking round the Abbey. There was supposed to be a Garden Party but it was raining.

So instead there was food, drinks, music, and a raffle in the great hall, with a roaring log fire.

There were also tours round the Abbey. Although old enough to be an Abbey it would probably have been demolished if it has been an Abbey when Henry VIII was about. At that time it was a place where well off clergyman could stay and entertain. It only got the name Abbey in Victorian times, and is now run as a charitable trust. More information at www.theabbey.uk.com.