Category Archives: community

Summer improvements at Preston Road Community Centre

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£30,000 worth of refurbishment work has been completed at Preston Road Community Centre over the summer.
Preston Road Community Centre
The ladies’ toilets have been completely refurbished by local business, Abingdon Bathrooms.
Preston Road Community Centre
New energy efficient boilers have been installed, new doors added, and more storage created for community groups by better use of space.
Preston Road Community Centre
This picture shows the ex leader of The Vale of White Horse District Council (2009-2011) , Tony De Vere, helping to paint the new storage area this afternoon. His wife Mary is one of the main stays of  the Community Centre and Tony is often on hand to help out when needed.

The recent work was funded by WREN –Waste Recycling Environmental – to the sum of  £21,000. The Vale of White Horse District Council gave £2,607 and Abingdon Town Council gave £1,000.  The rest of the money was raised by the Community Centre. Previously WREN grants have helped refurbish the men’s loos (2008) and the kitchen (2006).

Preston Road Community Centre is the local community centre for 11,000 inhabitants of Abingdon – one third of the town.

Abingdon Xtra Presentation and Town Council Meeting

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Abingdon Xtra Town Council
This evening Mark from Radio Abingdon Xtra did a presentation about the soon to be launched Internet Radio Station … Abingdon-Xtra.

Mark is looking for volunteers from any background to help the community radio station take off and grow. He also needs business sponsors. Mark will be using posts from this blog in the news feed.

This evening there was also a meeting of Abingdon-on-Thames Town Council. There have already been suggestions that the Town Council Meetings should be me made available as broadcasts – or even podcasts. So Mark is considering all such ideas as he wants radio content to be about the local community with music.

The news about the opening of the Museum on July 7th has already appeared on the front page of The Abingdon Herald but it was also announced at the Town Council meeting.

Abingdon Xtra Town Council
There is still a lot of work needed to meet that date.
Abingdon Xtra Town Council

Exhibits need unpacking and putting in cases.

A huge amount of effort has been put into the Jubilee Celebrations. But it is back to business as usual. The Town Council went through all the recent committee meetings making comments on a few such as additional saltbins, making progress on the MG Garden, progress on the Guildhall plans etc …
Abingdon Xtra Town Council
I see that a lot of grass cutting has been done in the last couple of days, as the staff catch up on normal duties.

Abingdon prepares for only the second ever Diamond Jubilee – Victoria & Elizabeth II

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Diamond Jubilees Compared
In the last 24 hours Union Jack flags have been put up in the town centre and along Ock Street. Some are on buildings.
Diamond Jubilees Compared
Some are on Lamp Posts.
Diamond Jubilees Compared
In two weeks time there will be the first Diamond Jubilee celebrations since 1897. I have seen the old B&W pictures of the crowded Market Place and the parades along High Street during that  Diamond Jubilee.
Diamond Jubilees Compared
Queen Victoria was 78 when she celebrated her Diamond Jubilee (60 years). Queen Elizabeth will be 86.

Queen Victoria reigned for 63 years and is currently the longest ever reigning monarch.

In the library there is a display about the Queen Victoria Diamond Jubliee where the town council committee discussed whether to pay for a meal for a big celebration or create a lasting memorial. Nothing changes.

Abingdon Sea Cadets awarded a Burgee

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Abingdon get a Burgee
The Abingdon Sea Cadets have been awarded a Burgee – the highest level award for a Sea Cadets Corps Unit. It is in recognition of the continued commitment and hard work of Volunteers and Cadets. Not only are they a highly efficient unit but they also give youngsters many opportunities to try out new activities and earn qualifications.

Thanks to Sue for news. I see that the story has already got a good mention in the Herald.