The annual Children in Need charity event took place yesterday – where the BBC devotes the evening’s broadcasting, and many celebrities devote their time, to raising money for Children in Need. There were probably lots of fun events in schools and work places in Abingdon to raise money for Children in Need. I did see The Kings Head and Bell had a Chilli eating contest.

Today (the morning after) shoppers going to Waitrose in Abingdon were met by Rotary Club members with buckets for the Philippines Typhoon Haiyan appeal. There were also buckets in a number of other shops.

This year, Pure Marie (Bath Street, Abingdon) are supporting the Movember charity – dedicated to raising awareness and funds for Men’s Health by encouraging men everywhere to grow a moustache throughout the month of November! They have a scarf in honour of the charity.

This old postcard of mine shows the sort of effect Movember are trying to achieve. Twenty one out of twenty three men have a moustache. Press the image to check if I’m right

Thanks to Collette for this picture of an Air Ambulance taking off from Caldecott Recreation Ground in South Abingdon yesterday at 9:44am. Somebody was taken ill and the recreation ground was the nearest place to land.

The Air Ambulance may have been an exciting event for children on half term school holidays, but it was also an emergency.

Abingdon is not unfamiliar with Air Ambulances. One gave a display at The 2013 Abingdon Air and Country Show, and the show gave its profits to the Air Ambulance Trust – £9,300 in 2013.

The next Abingdon Air & Country Show is Sunday 4th May 2014 and preparations are well underway.

Can I thank Cancer Research UK for sending pictures of their Stand Up To Cancer event held outside the Cancer Research UK shop in Bury Street on Sat 19th Oct. Here they are belatedly.

Stand Up To Cancer is an annual fund-raising event organised by Cancer Research UK nation wide. All the shops are encouraged to take part and organise local events and raise money for life saving research. Cancer Research UK in Abingdon decided to Stand Up (and Shout) to Cancer with the help of Town Crier Penny Clover.

Abingdon shoppers were encouraged to ring the bell and have a go themselves. Everyone had a great time and they raised just under £500 and left a lot of signatures. That picture of the signatures I’m saving for November 1st (City Daily Photo Theme Day : Heights).