A press release came out on 18th June from Vale of White Horse District Council

The Abbey Meadow outdoor pool in Abingdon will reopen on Monday 12 July, and will remain open throughout the school holidays until early September.

Despite the financial pressure on councils and leisure providers caused by Covid-19, the council and GLL have now managed to find a way to ensure the pool can open.

Some Covid-19 social distancing measures will be in place to ensure the pool can be used safely, and so visitors will need to book in advance via the Better UK smartphone app or on the Better UK website. The pool will run with a reduced capacity while government Covid-19 restrictions remain in place, and a one-way route will be in place in the changing rooms.

Following the government’s recent announcement to delay the latest stage of their roadmap, the splash pad at Abbey Meadow will reopen shortly after the pool from the 19 July. These splash pads are relatively small and impossible for the council and GLL to implement social distancing while they’re in use.

From Saxton Road

and Reynolds Way

to the Kings Head and Bell in East St Helen Street, the flags are out in Abingdon for England v Scotland in the Euro 2020 football tournament.

Thankyou to Jessica for this picture during the match which ended 0-0.

There were two games of cricket on the pitches at Hales Meadow. The Cherwell League website says there are 14 days until the start of the season. So these games were probably friendlies or practice matches.

After last years short season, the games are being played under the influence of  Covid-19 with risk assessments and using ECB guidance, currently  at Step 2 of the Government Roadmap out of Lockdown from 12 April 2021 with progression to Step 3 (no earlier than 17 May 2021).

People should arrive in kits as changing rooms are closed; groups of six apply to  people off the field; nobody with symptoms should attend; NHS Test and Trace is carried out etc. I am not sure spectators are allowed but I was just passing.

Delighted to see that work has begun on a new home for the Kingfisher Canoe Club. The club has battled hard and long since being evicted from the army rowing club land on Wilsham Road. A previous plan had fallen through at Rye Farm Meadow, nearby, but finally they gained planning permission to build a timber framed canoe storage and changing facility on Abingdon Lock Island.

In April 2020, mid pandemic, they got the welcome news of a National Lottery / Sport England grant of £36,000. This is in addition to grants from many local and national organisations, and from the club’s own fund raising activities. Their April press release details all the donors.

This will ensure the sustainability of a club that, over the last 45 years, has taught many people locally to use canoes.

Their new home is close by some of the best white water on the River Thames.