The Oxfam Shop in Abingdon has a rainbow window made of mostly scarves and a few books.
My heart leaps up when I behold
A rainbow in the sky:
So was it when my life began;
So is it now I am a man;
So be it when I shall grow old,
Or let me die!
The Child is father of the Man;
And I could wish my days to be
Bound each to each by natural piety.
Poem by William Wordsworth
John Gledhill, the Leader of the 2nd Abingdon Sea Scouts, will be attempting to walk the entire length of the Ridgeway National Trail on Friday, Saturday and Sunday (20th, 21st and 22nd May) – a distance of 86 miles to raise funds for his scout troop. The JustGiving page is at: https://crowdfunding.justgiving.com/2ab-ridgeway-challenge
The 2nd Abingdon Sea Scouts are a Royal Navy recognised troop of 10 – 14 year olds. Leaders aim to provide the young people with opportunities and challenges that many wouldn’t get elsewhere. The money raised, as well as money raised by scouts themselves over the summer, will enable them to visit, and take part in scouting activities, with a scout troop in Italy.
(photo taken at Clubs and Societies Day)
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.
In town this morning, there were some colourful people collecting for Marie Curie. They were asking people to donate and wear a daffodil in March for Marie Curie who provide care, guidance and support, for people living with any terminal illness, and their families.
In Abingdon Commnity shop there was a stall for Abingdon Good Neighbours scheme. It started off as the North East Abingdon scheme but now they cover all Abingdon, although it sounds as if they would like to find more volunteers in South Abingdon.
Volunteers befriend people (usually elderly) who otherwise would be lonely, talk with them, help with shopping, and other tasks the elderly can no longer manage. More info at http://neagns.co.uk