It seems quite a while since Abingdon Town Band last played in the Market Place, but they were back this Saturday morning for the pleasure of people seated at the coffee houses, and passers-by. They played under the direction of conductor Steve Rich. This historic brass band, established before the 20th century and reformed in 1965, is gearing up to celebrate its 60th anniversary in 2025. Two of the members, Steve Rich and Elaine on cornet, have been a part of the band since its reformation. They must have both begun as very young players in the band’s training program.

The 30th Abingdon Scouts celebrated the opening of their new scout hut, alongside Abingdon Baptist Church, on Sunday, June 25, 2023. The new modular building is 105 square metres and will be accessible and available to all.

The new hut was made possible thanks to a £75,000 grant from Biffa Award and grants from Abingdon Town Council, Oxfordshire County Council, Christ’s Hospital of Abingdon and other grant givers.

The previous hut was originally a welfare building from Didcot Power Station and was put there in the 1970s. It had been repaired over many years but was no longer fit for purpose.

Avril Williams, Group Scout Leader, thanked the people behind the new hut, including Christine Hutt and others. She also acknowledged the support of the local community, which had helped to raise funds for the project.

There were special Scout Commissioner’s Commendation Awards for Stephen Bodey

and Steve Knapton who worked on the project.

One of the scout seniors cut the ribbon, and after everyone had looked around, a barbecue and a short service of thanks followed.

For more information about the 30th Abingdon Scouts, please visit their website at www.30thabingdon.org.uk. They include Rainbows, Brownies, Beavers, Cubs and Scouts.

Thank you to Avril for the pictures of the old hut and the new hut being placed in position.

The Abingdon Silver Group (ASG) have designed their own mark for members to stamp their work. A plaque bearing a larger and smaller version of the mark was presented by John Huddleston to Abingdon County Hall Museum today to form part of the museum collection. Two punches bearing the mark were manufactured (one by the London Assay Office) in 2022.

The group could not find evidence of a mark from an Abingdon silver guild from earlier times, so they based the mark on members’ suggestions. The design uses the Abingdon shield and cross with the group’s initials and a crescent moon – the alchemical symbol for silver.

The group meets most Wednesday evenings during the year at John Mason School – see abingdonsilvergroup.org.uk. The group provides members with a working environment, specialist tools, advice and tuition.

The Abingdon Silver Group told me a few weeks ago that they would be at Abingdon Clubs and Societies Day. So it was good to see them.

Here is a little of their silver.

The Abingdon and District Twin Towns Society have monthly talks, trips to Abingdon’s twin towns, and other outings. This evening members went along to the Bella Napoli restaurant and then to a live relay at the Amey Theatre of Puccini’s Opera Turandot from Covent Garden. Puccini lived in Lucca, Abingdon’s twin town.

Members of the Abingdon branch of NSPCC are sometimes to be seen on the Market Place with a fundraising stall. NSPCC has been looking out for children for over 130 years.

Flexicare is a local charity that offers a sitting service for families with children with disabilities.

Ann Ford went to Buckingham Palace in her 1958 Morris Minor 1000 Convertible, one of 80 historic British-built motor vehicles, for 80 years when the Queen reached the age of 80. Ann does professional talks based on the exploits of her classic cars in Film/TV. (aandj.ford2019 @ gmail.com)

The Berkshire Family History Society helps those researching their ancestry. They have an Abingdon Branch with regular talks. (Abingdon was in Berkshire until 1974.)