Three of the rooms in the Guildhall were full of stalls for Clubs and Societies Day. I will visit a room a day for the next three days to given an impression of some of the groups.

Abingdon Drama Club are currently performing Black Comedy by Peter Shaffer at the Unicorn Theatre.  The next show ‘Allo ‘Allo by David Croft and  Jeremy Lloyd will have casting on 27th March and 1st April.  There is more at https://www.abingdon-drama-club.com/

Dementia Friendly Abingdon is a group raising understanding of dementia and promoting dementia friendly practice throughout the town. There is a good article about them in the latest Abingdon Town Magazine (that has just come through people’s doors). There are 300 places in the UK that have qualified as Dementia Friendly Communities and we want to add Abingdon to the list. There are hour long information sessions for businesses and groups. Email dementiafriendlyabingdon@gmail.com to find out more.

Alongside was Healthy Abingdon who promote Dementia Friendly Abingdon and a number of other initiatives. For example there is Music for Mind and Body at the Conduit Centre, Trinity Church on Thursday.

The Abingdon Carbon Cutters were showing some of their different initiatives including Plastic Free Abingdon.

My wife has started her first ever blog, about us going Plastic Free at Lent. She was posting things on Facebook but a friend was sharing it with her school class and suggested the blog. It is called Unfantastic Plastic.

The Abbey Brass had a stall. Joining them is a great way to learn an instrument as they will lend you, or your child, the instrument and give you lessons and let you perform with the training band.

Friends of Radley Lakes were there with a stall. Radley Parish Council are starting to put together a Neighbourhood Plan and the Friends want to hear how people want Radley Lakes to be developed, balancing new footpaths with the need to protect wildlife in some areas. Ideas can then be put forward into the plan.

Age UK had a stall with a furry cat that moved and licked its own paw to clean itself. This was quite strange as it was a cuddly toy. Age UK also had a leaflet showing all the services they provide.

There were lots of visitors passing through the Roysse Room. Tomorrow we head to the Magistrates Court.

The Abingdon Camera Club will be at Clubs and Societies Day at the Guildhall this Saturday (along with many others). Peter sent me one of his pictures of Bagley Wood in the snow, and the following details about the club:

Our Camera Club is a small group of friendly people of all ages who like taking photographs. Whether you are experienced or a beginner, you would be most welcome, even if you do not have a camera, but would like advice. We have visits from experienced photographers, who comment on our images; we take photographs on a particular theme; we visit other Clubs and they visit us to compare pictures; and we have an annual exhibition in the town. We have demonstrations about technique, presentation and software use, and meet weekly on Thursday evening at 8pm at the Methodist Church Hall, Dorchester Crescent, (off Appleford Drive, behind the Boundary House Pub) .

People can read all about us, and see some of our images at http://www.abingdoncameraclub.org.uk.

Abingdon has a prime location for rowing on the River Thames, with the stretch from Culham to Abingdon.

In Victorian times regattas were popular events hosted by the Abingdon Town Rowing Club. The club seems to have disappeared by 1900, or at least it disappeared from newspapers.

The Abingdon Rowing Club was re-established in 1958, with some early help from Abingdon (Roysse’s) School, for whom rowing was a well established sport.

I took these shots this morning. The boats from Abingdon Rowing Club were turning at St Helen’s Wharf to row back down the river.

The club has gone from strength to strength. On the Abingdon Rowing Club website it says, there is training, between 1 and 6 days a week, for all ages. The annual Spring Head rowing event is scheduled for Sunday 14th April 2019.

On Saturday morning, members of Abingdon Drama Club (ADC) set out on their eighth annual walk to Oxford along the River Thames Path.
I last saw them as the headed down a path less traveled below Barton Fields.

Kevin, the walk leader, sent me this picture at the King’s Arms at Sandford Lock. He said“The clouds parted a little later and it became another hot and sunny day”.

“Stopping points on the way were Radley boat house for a swig of water, the King’s Arms at Sandford Lock and the Isis just after Iffley Lock both for something a bit stronger.”

Next year will see the ninth annual ADC walk. 2019 will also be ADC’s 75th Anniversary year. I asked whether “The Two Angry Women of Abingdon” was their first production. “It was the first play we performed at the Unicorn Theatre,” Kevin replied, “Our first play was ‘London Wall’.”