The Red Cross have a long association with Abingdon. One hundred years ago, during World War I, Tesdale House Auxiliary Hospital was set up in Abingdon. Tesdale House,which I believe is now 22 and 24 Marcham Road (pictured above) – together with 2 adjoining houses, had 60 beds. There was also a Nissen Hut for recreation set up in the garden.

The hospital was open for the first soldiers in March 1915 and closed in March 1919 having cared for over 1,000 soldiers. Nurses included Miss Challenor, who gave an account of the hospital in a booklet, about the Red Cross in Berkshire, to be found in Abingdon Library local reference section.

Nowadays the Red Cross in Abingdon have a building in Colwell Drive, next to McDonalds.

They still help people in times of crisis.

People interested in finding out more, and possibly helping, will be welcomed to a Coffee Morning next week.

Some brave Cancer Research UK people were on the Market Place this morning. They were giving out flowers and balloons, and collecting money and raising awareness.

Upcoming fund raisers include a mens 5k run on March 12th at Oxford Rugby Club, and Relay for LIfe – an overnight community event on  the weekend of August 20th/21st , also at Oxford Rugby Club, that celebrates cancer survivors, and remembers those lost to cancer with a moving Candle of Hope Ceremony.

Lent runs from now until Easter. Each year a different Charity is adopted for the Trinity Church Lent Project – to raise money, and find out about, and pray for the charity.

On Sunday at Trinity, Chris Bryan, chair of trustees, told us of the work of The Abingdon Bridge – this year’s Lent Project.

Chris says the charity moved to The old County Police Station in May 2014. He said their name can be sometimes misunderstood. They are not a Bridge Club; nor do they brew Abingdon Bridge beer, nor maintain the nearby Abingdon Bridge over the Thames. They are not a care home. Nor are they the Police Station able to sort out the Abingdon Traffic problems.

They were set up in 1993 as a young persons drop in centre. Since then the charity has evolved, and now they do a lot of work with vulnerable young people, often facing challenging circumstances. Last year they helped 83 individuals in 1375 sessions.

A lot of their work is done as outreach at other locations in Abingdon. They have qualified staff who provide information, advice, and counselling to young people.

They are dependent on donations for their work. That includes fairly large donations such as recent ones from Frilford Heath Golf Club, and the Manor School. We shall see how much the Lent Project raises in the next few weeks.

Find out more about The Abingdon Bridge here. Maybe, make it your Lent Project.