Category Archives: people

Mr Harry Downey

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When Mr Harry Downey retired from running Bailey Shoe Repairs, the Oxford Mail reported Shoe Repair Shop Ties up Trade.

Sorry to say that Harry is no longer with us and his funeral is at 2pm on Monday 24 February in St Helens Church – all are welcome. Thanks to Elizabeth for three pictures taken when Harry was nearing retirement in March 2010.

Bailey’s opened in 1903 and celebrated 100 years of customer satisfaction in 2003.

They were located in what was the site of the stables behind the Rising Sun Hotel – now Barclays Bank.

Harry joined Baileys at age 15, became the owner in 1984, and retired in 2010 at the age of 70.

Service of Thanksgiving for Leslie Argyle 1927 – 2014

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At Trinity Church this morning was a Sevice of Thanksgiving for the life of Leslie Argyle. Leslie had been a member at Trinity since the Primitive Methodist Chapel, in Ock Street, closed and joined forces with Trinity in 1945. He also worked for over 40 years at Trotman’s Bakery, and when that was taken over by Holmes, he joined Day’s Bakery in Edward Street. He used to bake communion bread for Trinity and the “sheaf of corn” bread for harvest.

He had a love of traveling, walking, music and dancing and joined the Abingdon Traditional Morris Dancers in 1951 and was elected as Mayor of Ock Street in 1980. (Thanks to Andrew who teaches piano and singing at Abingdon Piano School for the first two pictures. Andrew was taught Morris Dancing by ‘Les’ .)

The coffin was brought in to the accompaniment of Harry Knight on accordion playing “The Girl I left behind Me ” – The Old Marching tune of The Berkshire Militia.

There were 21 other Abingdon Traditional Morris Dancers following the coffin. Icknield Way Morris, and Bampton Morris, were also represented in the congregation.

The hymn “Lord of the Dance” followed a performance of “How D’you do Sir” by the Morris Dancers.

Abingdon County Hall flag flying at half mast …

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The Abingdon Town Flag above the County Hall is flying at half mast out of respect for Keith Hasnip, the Mayor of Abingdon for the year 2004-5. He passed away yesterday, at the age of 84
 
Keith lived in Abingdon for nearly sixty years, and was a teacher at Abingdon School for 40 years, and Head of Modern Languages. The languages came in very useful during twinning visits. He also served as a Governor at Carswell School.

(Thanks to the Town Crier for the picture above.)

Keith had a great interest in history, and with Audrey, his wife, organised Heritage Open Day, and made it the event it is today. He was also Chairman of the Museum Committee, and in 2004 organised a successful fundraising campaign to buy the Anglo-Saxon ring seen above which was found in Abingdon.

All our sympathy to Audrey and family.

The Hairy Bikers and Crayfish Bob

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On Sunday Frank told me that work had progressed well on Abingdon Lock since my last report.
The Hairy Bikers and Crayfish Bob
He also showed me this picture and asked if I recognised the two people second in from each end.
The Hairy Bikers and Crayfish Bob
I knew them instantly when he told me who they were. I just hadn’t expected to see them at Abingdon Lock.
The Hairy Bikers and Crayfish Bob
They came on on a glorious day – last September – and prepared a meal, in front of the TV cameras, for a group of people including some people from the environment agency, a man from Loose Canon Brewery who supplied the beer, and Crayfish Bob who supplied the main ingredient for the meal.

Anyway, the programme could well appear in the current Hairy Biker series which is running on Wednesdays on BBC2 at 8pm for the next four Wednesdays.

P.S. Got 2 of my facts wrong. See Crayfish Bob’s comments.