For anybody who did not manage to get to the Clubs and Societies Day, here is a round up some of the stalls I did get round. There will be 3 or 4 a day for the next few days.

The Vale Islanders is a group of dancers and musicians who perform English country dances of the Seventeenth Century in the costume of the period.

The Abbey Sailing Club is a small, family friendly sailing club with a great social side and an informal and friendly atmosphere. They run handicap races on Sundays and Wednesday evenings.

The Oxfordshire IVC Social events group is there to kickstart your social life, whether you are new to the area, or want to get out more. Activities include such things as: guided walks, Indian meals. Pudding Clubs, pub social evenings, Motown and Northern Soul disco, jazz nights, Point To Point racing – whatever other members organise.

The Alzheimer’s Society provide day care and support for people with dementia at the day centre in the Health and Wellbeing Centre off Audlett Drive in Abingdon from 9:30am-3:30pm.

Thanks to Suzanne and Rob for this report from 4 days ago.

“My husband, Rob, our cat Lolly and myself took our boat upstream to Sandford and on Wednesday collected a bottle of Thames source water that is making it’s way downstream via different river users.

There is more information about its journey at: http://totallythames.org/events/info/source-to-sea-river-relay ). Our task was to safely carry the bottle from Sandford Lock to Abingdon Lock where it would be looked after for the night before continuing it’s journey the following day without us.

At Abingdon Lock Rob, of the Abingdon Traditional Morris Dancers, was met by his fellow Morris men and they danced (in the pouring rain) to entertain boaters passing through the lock, before the bottle of source water was officially handed over to (ex Morris dancer) Frank who was manning the Lock.

There are more photos (non-Morris) and also a couple of video clips of the dancing available on Suzanne’s blog:http://thegabbleratchet.blogspot.co.uk/2015/08/2015-totally-thames-source-to-sea-river.html

The best thing about Clubs and Societies Day is the chance to get so many useful people in one room. The things you learn …

On my rounds I discovered that The Vale Islander 17th Century Dancers would like some more men to help balance numbers.

At the Abingdon and District Twin Towns Society we got talking to a passing native of Virginia who was interested to know where Abingdon Virginia was. It is near the Blue Ridge Highlands if that helps. It helped him

Kennington and Abingdon District Disabled Swimming (with scouts banner behind) use the pool at Radley College. I also learned that Oxford BSAC Scuba Diving Club have a Try Dive programme at Radley College, and Oxford Naturists have skinny dipping sessions at Didcot Wave.

35 Ock Street, the Church Centre, with a cafeteria and meeting rooms has open day all days but Sunday for coffee or light lunch. They also have a social group for over 50s with talks called “Back to 35.”

Then finally Hydro Power from Abingdon. Their planning got a little delayed by the flooding, and they are wondering whether those two months were exceptional, or will it become typical of water levels in future. They now think the share offer will be autumn, with construction next year.

Abingdon Drama Club, in their 70th anniversary year, were delighted to be presented with a package  of press cuttings and programmes from a predecessor, The Guild of Abbey Players – including a front page Oxford Journal Illustrated feature on Drama in Abingdon from 1917.

The Ox and Bucks Woodcarvers are also looking back to those years a century ago and are about to embark on a new carving with five tableau representing scenes from WWI. They were asking people to vote for the scenes they wanted on the tableau.

Helen Eccleston  of Abingdon Music Centre is back as director after having a baby. Another teacher is now conducting the Community Orchestra. So I guess Helen will be doing a lot, but not quite so much as before.

The Friends of Abbey Meadows Outdoor Pool know the pool is oversubscribed in hot weather and under used when the temperature plummets. They want to get better attendance when the weather is not so enticing by asking that water is kept a comfortable 22deg C, that the pool and surrounds are kept tidy, and by publicising that swimming is free to under 16s.

The Friends of Radley Lakes were recently presented with an award for their work in protecting the environment. They first fought to save the lakes and now work with the Earth Trust to manage Thrupp Lake.

Part 3 to follow.