The World Cup is due to start in Brazil . Here in Abingdon I am not sure whether The Midget
or the College Oak has the better display of flags. The College Oak has more up front but The Midget has more round the side.
England expects – not a lot this time. It will be an achievement if the England team get over the first hurdle (Italy). Anything after that will be a bonus.
(Thanks to Lesley for the first 3 pictures and Peter for the last 2)
The Town Crier, Mr Peter Green, Officially Opening the Open Air Pool at 10am this morning – in the rain.
The popularity of the pool is very much dependent on weather, and the warmth of the water, and the Friends of Abingdon Outdoor Pool are keen to see the pool well used this year, and a few of them were there to open the season with a splash.
The Friends are running a competition on their website to win a free season ticket.
One factor in encouraging customers to use the pool is its appearance. With that in mind, the Friends of the Open Air Pool arranged for volunteers, under supervision of the district council, to give it a make-over before the opening. The Mayor of Abingdon on Thames has already been featured by local press as taking part. Also worthy of note is that our local MP, Nicola Blackwood, did a stint.
As did Layla Moran, the local Lib-Dem Parliamentary Candidate in 2015. Waitrose provided refreshments.
Pool Open:
24th May – 1st September 2014
10am – 6pm Monday to Sunday
Timetable and Prices
Abingdon Bowling Club had their annual open day on Friday Evening and Saturday Morning. This allowed people to come and try the game, and if they like come back and play some more.
On the near side (of the second picture), two of the more experienced players show how it is done. The game is very simple to start with, but can become a complex strategy game to the better players.
Abingdon Bowling Club celebrated their centenary last year. The first bowling green in 1913 was thought to be have been in the south west corner of Albert Park. Now they are established in the South East.
Their first known match was against Witney on June 20th 1914, with a return game in July 1914, when a brake (forerunner of a coach) was hired to take the team to Witney.
There is to be a centennial rematch against Witney Town on Saturday June 21st 2014, from 2:30pm. But times have changed, and the game will not be followed by a Smoking Concert.
This Sunday, the annual Abingdon Spring Cycle Festival took place in Abingdon.
Group rides took place all morning from 4.5 mile rides, designed to get families riding together, and organised by Freewheeling and Pedal Power, through 10 and 20 mile road rides, 15 and 25 mile off road rides, organised by Freewheeling,
and the 40 mile rides organised by OTCC (Outdoor Traders Cycle Club).
As well as cycling stalls, there was food, music, tombolas, massage and first aid.
People were encouraged to bring and show off their more unusual cycle based transportation.
The Abingdon Carbon Cutters were generating electricity from a bike to make smoothies. If only we could get all those static machines in gyms doing something useful!!!
Enthusiasts were also queuing to have a go on the Tri-Power Spinning Challenge – a four minute static time trail.
Against Breast Cancer have their own sponsored cycle event on May 18th from Swindon – the Great Western Ride, and were there to get people signed up for that.
As with every year that I remember the Spring Cycle Festival got lucky and had a beautiful sunny spring day, and it encouraged people to have a go and enjoy cycling. More pictures on Abingdon Blog Facebook.