The BBC had a non-Brexit news story yesterday asking ‘What has happened to Woolworths’ stores 10 years after closure?‘ Checking back on this blog I can see the Woolworths closure was in December 2008.

The article goes on to say ‘Poundland owns the biggest number of ex-Woolworth premises’.

Poundland took over the ex-Woolworths stores in Abingdon, but only after Cargo had run it for a couple of years.

Poundland has been diversifying, and now have £2 sections, and £5 sections, and Pep & Co clothes.

They have many lines such as hardware, and CDs, and pic’n’mix and stationary that are not so very different from what you would have found in Woolworths. The big difference is that in Poundland there is no need for small change.

Peter sent me this picture last weekend. It was a medal displayed in the window of  Art and Stuff, which is near the war memorial in Abingdon.

Such medals were given to the families of servicemen killed in WW1, and known as Memorial Plaques. The name of the serviceman is displayed beneath a laurel crown held by Britannia, with a British Lion alongside. Two dolphins represent British sea power, and below a second lion mauls an eagle.

Anybody who has been into Art and Stuff will know Grommit, who lets his owner know when anybody has come into the shop.

Oenone, his owner, was telling me all that information about the medal, and about some other finds from WWI that were on display. She is a fount of information when it comes to antiques and art stuff.

But when it came to nearby businesses in Bath Street I could tell her something she did not know. There is a new tailoring service, with a sewing machinist, next to Masons.

The entry to strike off the Abingdon BID (Business Improvement District) company appeared on the 12th November at Companies House … https://beta.companieshouse.gov.uk/company/10049701/filing-history.

The Abingdon BID was seen as a way of promoting Abingdon business. Business rate payers paid for it and they petitioned for it to be closed down. That has now happened.

The striking off notice says …

‘You should deal with any of the assets of the company before applying, eg close any bank accounts and transfer any domain names.

When your company is dissolved, all the remaining assets will pass to the Crown (including any bank balances).’

The window display of the Bookstore in Bury Street, Abingdon has a big twenty because The Bookstore first opened in November 1998.

As always the Bookstore has a display of the latest range of books and cards to attract you inside.

As well as books, maps, children’s books, gifts and jigsaws, and cards, there are Abingdon Christmas Cards.

What were you reading in November 1998, when the Bookstore first opened?