Category Archives: community groups

Abingdon’s Tour de France

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Market Place Events
As well as the Fire Station Book Sale there were plenty more books on the Market Place on the St Nics Church stall, alongside plants, cakes, and a White Elephant’s Stall. On a day like this they had no need of Gazebos.
Market Place Events
There was also a cake stall run by the Vineyard Church Youth Club, and the Abingdon Concert Band were entertaining all comers.
Market Place Events
2012 is turning out to be a memorable year not just in Abingdon …
Market Place Events
Bradley Wiggins has just won the Tour de France. I could find no real Abingdon connection with this momentous event apart from an article about Abingdon’s Tour de France in May 2010. (Abingdon is the house name of the pre-school at St Edmund’s School in Canterbury, and as part of their French week they did a Tour de France round the classroom on trikes. “Going through the mountains was very tricky” said Ethan “As you had to slow down!”)

40 years of Bingo

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40 years of Bingo
There is Bingo every Tuesday at Preston Road Commuity Centre, and has been for many years. Doors open at 7pm. Eyes Down at 8pm.
40 years of Bingo
The bingo was started by Abingdon Boys Football Club (now called Abingdon Youth Football Club) at Tatham Hall ( now called the Northcourt Centre) in the 1970s, and moved to Preston Road when the football club moved from Box Hill Recreation Ground to Southern Town Park. Bingo was a useful fund raiser for the football club and when they decided to stop running bingo, Preston Road Community Centre Association took up running the bingo to help raise funds for improvements to the centre.

This evening was the AGM of Preston Road Community Centre Association.

A Local Project to Harness Energy from the River Thames at Abingdon

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We have all looked at the water going over the weir and wondered why it is not being harnessed.

The  Environment Agency have just granted a licence to generate hydroelectric power from the River Thames at Abingdon to a not for profit enterprise run by local Abingdon people.
Abingdon Hydro
It will affect this not very beautiful view near Abingdon Weir
Abingdon Hydro
and will be a new feature along this short section of footpath …
Abingdon Hydro
The fish pass and change from two screws, not three,  look like changes from previous pictures I have seen.

Planning permission will be needed next and if that goes well there could be a share offer in the autumn to finance the project and construction next year.

The Archimedes screws are over 3 metres in diameter, and they turn quite slowly.  The architect will do their best harmonise the design with the area before putting in the planning application. It will after all be an interesting attraction for visitors.

It is anticipated that they will produce 100 kilowatts. This is equivalent to about 200 average houses.

The project will cost about a million pounds, to be funded by shares. The local people leading the project hope that a good proportion of the shareholders will be local.  They say the interest rate will be competitive. Any remaining profit will go into a community fund, to be used locally. For more details visit Abingdon Hydro.

Community Groups + The Happiest Days of Your Life + Military Wives

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Market Place was alive
This morning the Market Place was so alive … There were community stalls. There was sunshine. Three young ladies were there from the Studio Theatre Club to publicise their upcoming show The Happiest Days of Your Life. Having seen their last production – A Comedy of Errors – at the Unicorn Theatre, I very much look forward to seeing them again.
Market Place was alive
Then at noon it was a real pleasure to hear The Abingdon’s Military Wives Choir – wives and girlfriends from Dalton Barracks – singing in public for the first time.

Market Place was alive
The Abingdon Herald were there to photograph and interview the young ladies so I expect there will be more about them on Wednesday.