Better took over running the leisure centres in the Vale of White Horse district last year. They already run a lot of the leisure facilities in London and are taking over more facilities round the country from Somerset to Newcastle and Belfast.

Now both the VWHDC and Better are investing in work on a major refurbishment to the White Horse and Tennis Centre.

Gym equipment is being replaced, and work is underway on the gym changing rooms. The gyms are still operational throughout with some areas cordoned off from time to time.

Repairs and refurbishment are also happening to the swimming pool and changing area. During that period the swimming pool is empty and swimming lessons are at the Abbey Meadow Outdoor Pool.

There is also breaking news that as the Outdoor pool is coming to the end of its working life that it will be rebuilt. So plans for that should develop in the next year or so. That is in addition to the £500K+ already being invested to improve the Abbey Meadow play areas, and changing facilities announced earlier.

During the recent Club and Societies Day report I missed the Smash Badminton Club, so here thanks to Chris are a few details.

Established over 20 years ago, the Smash! badminton club is run by volunteers and provides a structured environment for young people 7 -18 of all abilities to play and develop their badminton skills. They play on Saturday mornings at the Sports Hall of St Helen and St Katherine School from September to April. Currently it is the close season, but their website www.smashbc.org.uk has contact details for anybody wanting to get in touch. Then put it in the diary for after the summer holidays.

Thanks to Ed for letting me know that Abingdon, the horse, is due to run this Saturday in the Lancashire Oaks at Haydock.

She is forecast to go off at around 7-1 so might be worth 50 pence each-way.

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The St George Flag has been flown round Abingdon for the last few weeks as England competes in the Euros football tournament.

During the group stages England played well against Russia, Wales, and Slovakia.

In the knock-out stages England came up against Iceland (population 300,000). England were odds on favorite.

But this has been a difficult week since the UK voted to exit the EU 4 days ago. Trading in Barclays and RBS shares were suspended this morning following heavy losses on the London Stock Exchange.

England lost 2-1 against Iceland. Can you imagine how Iceland’s Supporters feel? It must be amazing!

But England are now out of the Euros and the EU.

Wales carry our last hopes in the football, and Scotland carry the only hope of remaining in the EU.