The Mayor of Abingdon, Cllr Andy Foulsham, was promoting a fundraising event to take place on Saturday, 28th January. The Abbey Cinema is screening The Lion King, in which renowned actor and patron of The Archway Foundation Jeremy Irons voices the character SCAR. Donations to the Mayor’s charity fund for attending the event are £15 for adults and £7.50 for children. The money raised will be split between the Mayor’s charities Yellow Submarine and The Archway Foundation.

Yellow Submarine is an Oxfordshire charity that believes people with learning disabilities and autism deserve to live life to the full.

The Archway Foundation is an Oxford-based charity that helps those suffering from loneliness.

The Abbey Cinema have many other films to enjoy at the Guildhall in the centre of Abingdon.

2022 was the busiest year yet for Thames Valley Air Ambulance, with over 3000 callouts.

They were called out to 1,161 incidents in Berkshire, 1,086 in Buckinghamshire, 818 in Oxfordshire, and 93 in the surrounding area.

Last weekend, the air ambulance was called out near Abingdon Rugby Club.

Looking at the interactive mission map, you can see previous callouts up to December 2022, including those to Abingdon.

As a charity, they rely on donations of funds and volunteers’ time. Abingdon Air and Country Show always gives them a prominent place and offers a large donation from any profits. The 23rd annual show is on Saturday, 20th May 2023.

Davina retired today after 20 years at Sue Ryder, where she was the manager of the Abingdon shop.

Last night volunteers, who have worked with Davina, returned for a party. There was a display of all the fundraising events they had done over the years, including the vintage tea party, when volunteers dressed up as land army.

Davina started as a volunteer in Bicester and then worked between Bicester and Aylesbury and then was offered the manager’s job in Abingdon. Over the 20 years, she kept to the philosophy of selling quality things. The windows are always exciting, and Davina said it is all about bringing people in and making it a welcoming environment.

Claire, who volunteers at the shop, said, ‘Davina has raised over 2 million pounds for the Sue Ryder charity and will be greatly missed by her colleagues and customers. She has been a great advocate of Abingdon.’

Davina’s final day was New Year’s Eve. The next chapter in her life involves helping with grandchildren, and she likes writing poetry and will have time to explore such interests.

Abingdon Foodbank team members from the Abingdon Vineyard Church and Christchurch were welcomed at Waitrose to receive donations for Christmas Parcels to support families again this year. Last year 250 families received parcels through the Foodbank and support agencies, and the need is expected to be more this year. The team leader commented that they are so pleased with the generosity of shoppers with food items and cash donations, all of which will help to support those in need in Abingdon and surrounding areas.

Waitrose host a permanent donation point for the Abingdon Foodbank in their store, which provides a welcome regular source of food items for distribution through the North and South Foodbank centres. Our thanks go to all those who regularly donate and, of course, to the Christmas donations that do so well in meeting the needs of those less fortunate families.

(Thanks to Ray for this)