Category Archives: community groups

Two 150th Anniversaries in Abingdon

There were two 150th anniversary celebrations in Abingdon yesterday.

2010 is the 150th anniversary of the founding of Our Lady’s School, Abingdon, in 1860 by the Sisters of Mercy. Yesterday, many former pupils returned for a huge reunion. The senior school has only this year become Co-ed and the first boys are currently in year 7.  I did a blog on the Sisters back in 2006
Training aircraft on the ground
The second 150th Anniversary was the Air Cadets. People have not been flying that long admittedly, but cadets came into existence after the Crimian War 150 years ago. Army Cadets, Air Training Corps, Combined Cadet Force and Sea Cadet Corps all trace their origins to 150 years ago. The Cadet Forces were initially formed to help bolster the country’s defence numbers after the Crimean War. It gave early training to young people, some of whom would join the forces and be already well prepared.
View looking at Abingdon from the South
150 Cadets each had a twenty minute training flight, each in a powered gliders from Dalton Barracks to celebrate the anniversary. They started flying at dawn on the longest Saturday and finished at dusk. Thanks to them for these few pictures taken over Abingdon and coming to land at Dalton Barracks…
View over Abingdon from Plane window

View of Abingdon Town Centre

View of Abingdon Town Centre

Coming in to land at Dalton Barracks

Sea Cadet Flypast

Thanks to Sue for a couple more pictures of recent Abingdon Sea Cadet activities…
Royal Flypast
Four Abingdon Sea Cadets were in the Tristar that took part in the Royal Flypast over Buckingham Palace on Saturday for the Queen’s 83rd official birthday. They flew out over Suffolk to meet up with the rest of the planes taking part and spent three hours in the air. They had a Tornado sat on each wingtip – one can be seen in Sue’s picture as they flew past the Royal Albert Hall.
Royal Fly Past
It was a busy week for the cadets who, after the flying, had the district regatta at Farmoor Reservoir on Sunday. They came away with quite a few wins, and go forward to the area competition next month.