Category Archives: charity

Rock Choir Christmas Concert Brings Music and Charity to Abingdon Market Place

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At 4.30pm today, the Abingdon Rock Choir were joined by members of other local Rock Choirs for a Christmas concert in the Market Place. A good crowd gathered despite the cold, stopping to watch, listen, and at times clap and sing along to familiar rock songs.

The event raised money for the Abingdon-based charity Against Breast Cancer, which funds research to support life-saving research for people living with secondary spread, the main cause of breast cancer related deaths. Donations were taken throughout the performance. Money was also raised through the sale of mince pies and mulled wine, and the generosity of sponsors.

The Rock Choir have performed at Against Breast Cancer’s summer market place events, but this was their first Christmas concert here. Judging by the success of the event, it may well become the first of many.

Away from the music, nearby stalls added to the atmosphere. On one stall, Arlo attracted plenty of interest by selling swords, axolotls and a range of other articulated objects.

The hour-long concert ended with a rendition of Merry Christmas Everyone, after which the combined choirs gathered in the Market Place for a group photograph.

Children in Need Supporters in Abingdon

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I’ve lost track of the years this intrepid collector has been at his post at Coxeters in Abingdon, doing his bit for Children in Need. In the summer he’s there in his shorts, tanned like he’s just stepped off the plane from somewhere far more sunny. And when November brings rain, and ‘it’s horrible out there’ – like today, he is there to lift the spirits raising money for BBC’s Children in Need.

The Kings Head and Bell also have something lined up. They say: ‘Join us this Friday for our Children in Need Charity Night in support of a great cause. Enjoy an evening of entertainment with our live DJ, a raffle, and darts.’

Abingdon Remembers: Poppy Appeal 2025

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This year’s Poppy Appeal was highlighted on the Market Place this morning with a table selling poppies, and two vintage military vehicles.

One was an ex-US military ambulance, the other a jeep with a folding motorcycle on the front and a spray of poppies in the gun turret.

There will be a Poppy Ball at the Hilton Garden Inn on Friday 7th November, organised by Clare Oldfield from Abingdon Royal British Legion Club. Re-enactors from the Redline Home Guard will greet guests, with music from Abingdon’s own 20-piece SwingTime orchestra and floral displays by The Abingdon Flower Club.

Tickets (£10) are available from the Royal British Legion Club on Spring Road, the Hilton Garden Inn, Frend the Jeweller, and The Bookstore.

Clare said,  “This is my 10th year as Abingdon’s Poppy Appeal organiser, and I’m determined to make it count. Abingdon has always taken the poppy to its heart, and this ball will not only raise funds for this amazing charity but also celebrate all that’s good in the town.”

St Ethelwold’s Fundraising Going Well

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Fundraising at St Ethelwold’s, the community building and garden, is going well. The appeal reached its £10,000 matched funding target by October 10th, doubling that to £20,000. There’s now just £10,000 to go to meet the £70,000 crowdfunding goal for essential repairs. The St Ethelwold’s Trust has also set aside £70,000 to support the work.

On Sunday, there was Fun Yoga in the garden, followed by tea, and cakes with participants giving a £10 donation towards the appeal.

There were also jars of homemade quince jelly and knobbly, pear-like quinces for sale.