Category Archives: charity

Saturday Round-Up: Charity Fundraising, Shop Changes, and a Busy Market Place

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I thought I heard the town crier making a proclamation at around 10:30 am this morning, but after walking around the town I was none the wiser as to what the announcement was about. Perhaps it was that Paws & Play @ Willows had a fundraising stall for the Against Breast Cancer charity, selling off items from the Paint Abingdon Pink day which  has raised about £4,500 so far for the cause.

On Stert Street, Lottie’s Bakeaway has closed after three and a half years, with the owner saying the business no longer fitted in with family life.

Brown’s Butchers had a queue when I walked past but not as long as their first day.

Timpsons also had a steady queue of customers for the various services from shoe repairs to key cutting to passport photos that they provide.

It was a warm and sunny Saturday, with plenty of people enjoying the cafés around the Market Place. There was a story in the Abingdon Herald, saying that Starbucks, one of the many coffee shops, could leave Abingdon later this year.

The British Heart Foundation shop are also at risk of closing, as the British Heart Foundation are reducing the number of shops they operate.

Paint Abingdon Pink 2026

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Abingdon’s Market Place was full of colour today for the annual ‘Paint Abingdon Pink’ event, organised in support of the Abingdon-based charity Against Breast Cancer. First launched in 2009, this event raises both awareness and funds for breast cancer research. This year’s event had a lively atmosphere, colourful stalls, a full programme of entertainment and lots of memorable characters,

starting with the Chair of Trustees of Against Breast Cancer – recognisable in his pink hat and bow tie, with a clip board to make sure things happened in time and order.

The Grim Dark Gaming Society, based at Paws and Play, also helped promote and organise the event. Here is one of their members with the bubble machine.

The first act I saw was belly dancing.

One vehicle caught my eye. At first glance I thought it was a police car for children to explore, but it turned out to be a look a like car from the film ‘Hot Fuzz’, with look a like actors.

There were also visits from other galaxies, like Darth Vader

and Chewbacca, seen here with two earthlings collecting money in pink buckets.

There were Mr Hemmings’ Traditional Abingdon Morris Dancers who have their day of dance around the town centre next Saturday.

Ashnah Tribal Dancers brought colour and energy with their performance.

Local favourites, The Undercovers, were on stage for an hour with a set of cover songs.

But the day was about much more than fun and entertainment. Fiona, who runs the Compassionate Café, read a series of poems reflecting the experiences of women living with breast cancer, those who had survived, and those who had not. It was a reminder of why everyone had come together: to support a charity dedicated to funding research that will help more people survive in the future.

Chatty Walk : Paint Abingdon Pink

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The weekly Abingdon Chatty Walk took on a pink theme today as walkers and their dogs joined the town-wide Paint Abingdon Pink campaign in support of the Against Breast Cancer charity.

Walkers and dogs, set off from The Dog’s Spot for a walk through the town and Abbey Meadows. The dogs wore a variety of pink: scarves, hats, tutus and bows.

After the walk, everyone gathered for a “Pink Paw Prosecco” at the Dog’s Spot.

The Paint Abingdon Pink campaign continues with a family Treasure Hunt starting at The Dog’s Spot. Participants can follow Saffy the dog around local businesses, collecting letters to reveal a password before returning to Dog’s Spot to claim a badge and certificate.

The main Paint Abingdon Pink event takes place on Saturday, 4 July, in Abingdon Market Place from 10am to 3pm to raise funds for Against Breast Cancer. There will be pink shop windows around town before then.

Acacia – cheers to 25 years

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Acacia, the charity shop in Bath Street, recently celebrated its 25th anniversary, and banners marking the occasion are displayed in the window.

In 2017, donations left overnight outside the shop were set alight, causing extensive damage. After a rebuild, the shop was ready to reopen in 2020 when the Covid pandemic caused further delays. Acacia at 8-10 Bath Street, was incorporated on 18 February 1997. So it is older than those 25 years but has been effectively open for 25 years .

The shop offers a wide range of items, starting with greeting cards priced at 25p.

There is a basket of miniature china jugs and vases, once-popular souvenir collectables. The Horsham jug, with its decorative lattice neck, looks worth more than the ones for Bishop Auckland, Crowborough, Dorking and Durham.

Near the window in the vintage section is a copy of The Victor Book for Boys – 1967. In it the aristocratic footballer called ‘Gorgeous Gus’, arrives pitch-side in a Rolls to find his team, with ten men, are 1-0 down. The butler tells him that his help is needed, and so he gets out and helps win the game using intelligence – not dashing about.

Gus might have appreciated another book on sale at Acacia, In Praise of Slowness. I wonder what it would have to say about charity shops. Perhaps: ‘Those who take their time find unexpected treasures.’