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.

On Saturday October 4th, Robin Day and his twins were given a send-off by the Mayor of Abingdon and the Town Crier as they set off on a sponsored tandem ride in aid of Camp Mohawk — a day centre near Wargrave that supports children and young people with special needs and their families. Camp Mohawk has played a very important role for Robin and his children.

Robin cycled from Dalton Barracks to RAF Benson after learning how challenging fundraising has been this year for the charity, saying he was determined ‘to make a difference for the 700+ families who rely on the charity’s support.’

Thanks were also extended to Charlotte’s Tandems for providing the adapted bike — previously featured on this blog during Ride and Stride in September — and to the Abingdon Freewheelers, who accompanied them on the journey. Help was also given by the Fund-raising Organiser at Camp Mohawk and two members of the Berkshire Freemasons. Robin is deeply grateful to all of them for their help.

You can sponsor Robin’s ride here:
JustGiving – Thank You Camp Mohawk

(Thank you to Mary for the picture and for letting me know about it.)

A fire engine was on the Market Place today (Monday) responding to what appeared to be a fire alarm at the former Pablos building. There was no smell of smoke, but the crew carried out a check to be sure.

At the weekend a fire engine was on the Market Place in a very different role — supporting a six-hour treadmill relay by three members of the fire service.

The effort is part of Running for Heroes, a campaign led by firefighter Chris Dabell, who plans to run the 2026 London Marathon in full firefighting kit to raise money for the Firefire Fighters Charity. The charity supports colleagues who have been seriously injured and highlights the daily risks faced by firefighters. The challenge also honours the memory of Jennie and Martyn, lost in the Bicester tragedy.

More details: runningforheroes.dabell.co.uk

Yesterday was also Ride and Stride, when people cycle, walk, or use mobility scooters to visit churches across Oxfordshire for sponsorship. The money raised is shared equally between the participant’s own church and the Oxfordshire Historic Churches Trust, which funds repairs to historic buildings.

Among those taking part were this group, who visited Trinity, on an unusual three-part tandem supplied by the charity Charlotte’s Tandems. This charity lends tandems free of charge to people who cannot ride safely on their own. It is named after Charlotte, who has severe autism, is non-verbal and experiences challenging behaviour. Cycling — first on tag-along bikes and later on a tandem — had a very positive impact on her life.