In the Guildhall today there was the biannual Abingdon Clubs and Societies Day.

The Town Crier, Penny Clover, announced there were 57 clubs and societies taking part. One person who happened along said, “This is amazing. I didn’t know it was on.”

Somebody else said “We have so many clubs and societies because we don’t have a cinema.”

At their 14th March meeting, HLF rejected The Guildhall phase two redevelopment which included the 100 seat cinema .

The ABCD Film Society have just finished their current annual programme. They meet every Thursday at the Resource Wellbeing Centre, Audlett Drive. Members vote and post comments about the films they watch, and this year ALL QUIET ON THE WESTERN FRONT was a favorite.

The Abingdon Army Cadets were there recruiting young people looking for action, excitement and adventure,

as were the Path Finders Canoe Club . Pathfinders Youth Canoe Club exists to provide kayaking and canoeing opportunities for young people from 11 to 18 years.

Abingdon Xtra were there interviewing stall holders including the Abingdon Wine Circle who meet at Preston Road Community Centre. The wine circle gives members the chance to try wines which may be too expensive, or they are not sure about, in a very social setting.

Abingdon Bowling Club, who celebrated their centenary last year, have open days, for new people to try bowling, on Friday May 16th from 5:00pm, and Saturday May 17th from 10:00am.

Part 2 tomorrow.

The first Inner Wheel club was formed in 1924 in Manchester by a group of Rotary Club wives. From small beginnings Inner Wheel has grown into one of the largest voluntary women’s organisations in the world.

To celebrate their 90th anniversary the Abingdon Club used the money they raised at their ‘Biscuit, Sweet and Raffle’ stall at the Christmas Extravaganza, and donated wheeled, and other, toys to the South Abingdon Children’s Centre.

The Centre offers activities, courses, guidance and support to families and carers with children under five, in South Abingdon and the surrounding area and was recently threatened with closure by Oxfordshire County Council.

Abingdon Inner Wheel President Lynn Stone said a few words and made the presentation. She was thanked by Councillor Sandy Lovatt, leader of the Town Council, and also a County Councillor who voted against the closure of the centre.

(Thanks for the report and picture of the presentation from Gladys.)

There is new member only leisure club with great facilities for over 55’s. If you are of an age to benefit, you can find out more from The Riverly Club.

The club is inside Bridge House, the new Care Home near Waitrose. Annual membership is £80 for single membership and £140 for joint membership. Facilities include spa, library, gym, cinema, and cafe bar.

The cinema is also used by the AGE UK Film Club for screenings of recent films, at just £3 a time, and the seats are so much better than those found in the cinemas in Oxford and Didcot.

Thanks to Chantelle for letting me know.

The Freewheeling Spring Cycle Festival will be this Sunday. The link Spring Cycle Festival 2013 has information about what is on.  Last year the PCSOs were there to promote cycling safety.

Cycling in and around Abingdon is easy and fun because the roads around here are so flat but there are some roads where it could be made safer. The front page of the Herald last week had an announcement that the Department of Transport and Oxford County Council are spending £300,000 to improve cycling on the Wootton Road – a busy road where many school children go about on bikes.

In this video I saw a lot of road users moving into the path of others, and hazards like potholes and bumps that can throw a bike off course. None of them led to any accidents because others had time to anticipate and react in time.

I’m not even sure riding with a camera on the handlebars is legal but anyway here it is, possibly for the last time, …