Category Archives: community groups

Northcourt Centre in the Community Freespace

Thanks to Sally for this ….

Angela Lawrence has organised six groups who use the Northcourt Centre to use the Community Freespace (Bury Street, Abingdon) until Saturday to showcase some of what goes on there.
Northcourt
The 6 groups are: Fitzharrys WI, Abingdon MS society, Abingdon Country Scottish Dance Club, AAAHS, Abingdon Flower Club, and Abingdon Peace Group.
Northcourt
Here is Jackie Smith of AAAHS (Abingdon Area Archaeological and Historical Society) with their display;
Northcourt
Sally Reynolds with the Abingdon Peace Group stall;
Northcourt
and Hilary Kell and Val Smith at the Fitzharrys WI stall. They celebrated their 50th anniversary in 2016.
Northcourt
Sally says “There was no-one there this morning from the Flower Club or the MS society – we are all covering each others’ stalls in a great show of co-operation!” And I would add “well worth visiting.”

War Games in the Community Space

War Games
On Saturday Abingdon War Games Club held fort in the Community Space.
War Games
This was a chance to meet with non-war gamers and try to convert some of them into gamers. On Saturday they had a WWII game on the centre table,
War Games
A battle was brewing between some rebellious tribes and a Romano British Army. There was also a game devised for Halloween – where Zombies attacked and, unfortunately, overran a village.

The club meet every Friday evening at the Neave Room, Abingdon Conservative Club, Ock Street. I am told it is a very sociable way to pass an evening. See abingdonwargames.org.uk for further information.

Earlier in the year they also took part in a scaled down re-enactment of the Battle of Waterloo. And on Sunday 6th March 2016, at Fitzharry’s School, they organise an annual war games extravaganza called Overlord.

Woodcarvers at Abingdon Community Space

Woodcarvers
The Oxon and Bucks Branch of the British Woodcarvers Association are in residence this week at the Community Space on Bury Street up until Friday 16th October.
Woodcarvers
So you are very welcome to go in and see members at work,
Woodcarvers
see some of their work in progress,
Woodcarvers
and look at some of their finished works.

The branch is ten years old this year, and grew out of an evening class at Abingdon College led by Brian Eastoe. Club projects have included: the Abingdon 450th Charter Plaques, now on display in Abingdon Library; 15 plaques to celebrate 1,000 years of  Oxfordshire; and a Rocking Dragon which raised £10,000 for Help for Heroes.

The branch now meet on Thursday Evenings from 6:45 to 9:00pm at John Mason School They are led by Brian Eastoe, who has been carving for 60 years, and has an amazing collection of tools and books which he brings for the use of members.

The Northcourt Centre and “The Northcourt”

Northcourt Centre
At the Northcourt Centre, on Northcourt Road, a lot of the user groups had stalls for a big get together and fund raising afternoon. They included the Abingdon Peace Group who cannot see the reason for renewing Trident when times are hard and our money could be better spent.
Northcourt Centre
There was a colourful display put on by the Abbey Quilters (who meet monthly first Tuesday in the month during the day) and by the Fitzharry’s Quilters (who meet on 4th Tuesday of the month in the evening.) There also seemed to be 2 or 3 different W.I.s, an art group, Scottish Country Dancers, Tap and Ballet classes, the Abingdon Horticultural Society, and possibly quite a few other groups.

They were raising funds for improving the centre.
Northcourt Centre
As part of the same afternoon’s fund raising event there was an Open Garden nearby. £5 got you entry, and tea and cakes, and the chance to help the Northcourt Centre financially. The weather could not have been better.
Northcourt Centre
The bees loved the lavender.
The Northcourt
Meanwhile, close by, at “The Northcourt”, home of Abingdon United FC and Oxford United WFC, there was a game in progress.
The Northcourt
A lot of people were there to see mid table Oxford United go down fighting to top of the table Doncaster Belles.

After the recent very successful World Cup Campaign, some of the Lionesses, who gained England third pace, will be coming to The Northcourt…. Fran Kirby, or England’s “mini Messi” as she was dubbed by manager Mark Sampson, will be there when Reading visit on August 9th. More info at oxfordunitedwfc.co.uk