The shop fronts on Ock Street have been slowly disappearing. The latest to go is Cathy’s Sandwich Bar. This photo was taken in 2014, not long after it opened, replacing Mega Bonus who sold kitchen appliances.

Next door, Status Trophies closed in 2014 and was converted into residential accommodation. Now Cathy’s Sandwich Bar has followed the same way.

A planning application earlier this year changed the building from retail to residential, with no objections. The existing flat upstairs will be extended to include the downstairs area.

After missing this year’s Swan Upping because I was away, I’m back in Abingdon.

The pharmacy in the precinct has a new name and management. An A-board outside lists: opening hours of 9am to 6pm, Monday to Friday; taking on new patients; free prescription delivery; free dosette boxes; walk-in consultations, and a weight loss programme with weekly injections.

The Finishing Touch is at the final touch and closes on 23rd July. Most of the stock has gone, although there are still decorations, cards and fixtures.

Among the remaining items are cloth bunting with letters on flags. The other vowels are gone but U is still there and several Xs Ys and Zs.

German appliance manufacturer Miele, which has been based in Abingdon since 1981, has long been one of the town’s major employers. Its headquarters on Marcham Road occupies a large site close to the Marcham Interchange.

The company has now announced a major reorganisation of its UK operations. Logistics and warehousing will transfer to Northampton from early 2027, while many office-based staff have been told their roles will move to Reading. Employees now face difficult decisions about relocating, commuting or, in some cases, redundancy.

For many local people, Miele is best known for its Experience Centre, where visitors can explore the latest appliances, see cutaway machines revealing the engineering inside, and watch cooking demonstrations in the upstairs kitchens. Around ten years ago it hosted the Abingdon Food and Drink Festival, giving many people their first chance to see the Experience Centre and watch top chefs in action.

There’s also the Miele Outlet, where returned and ex-display appliances are sold at reduced prices.

So far, there has been no confirmation about the long-term future of Miele’s Abingdon headquarters or the wider impact of the reorganisation on the site.

Whatever happens next, Miele has been an important part of Abingdon for more than four decades. The company arrived not long after the closure of the MG car plant and has provided employment for generations of local people. Many households in the area own Miele appliances, helped by the nearby Experience Centre and Outlet, staff discounts, and family connections with people who have worked there over the years.