The EFES Barbers has had a restyle. There is also a new notice in their window that says ‘Second Branch at 9 Market Place by the Museum’

Meanwhile Re Style has been re-named as EFES Barbers. There is a notice in their window that says ‘Second Branch at 17 High Street.’

They were always two branches of a close family business. 17 High Street came first, and 9 Market Place came soon after. The other two Turkish barbers trading in Abingdon are independent operators. Perhaps using the same name will make that point for anybody who was confused.

Galaxy TecnO are moving from the shop they have been in since October 2012.

They are moving over the road to the shop previously used by Patisserie Pascal. I believe Galaxy TecnO have been interested in making this move for quite a while, and so it is good to see it has come off.

They opened for business today, but continue to move the rest of the shop this evening. Galaxy-TecnO repair PCs, mobiles and tablets; buy PCs, mobiles, and tablets and sell refurbished devices; and sell PC and laptop accessories.

Gazing at the Abingdon 1556-2006 quilt in the library,

I take a picture of the patch from Mason’s Wool Shop in Stert Street.

The first mention of Masons Wool Shop, in the Hooke’s Abingdon Directories, is in 1942. That must make it one of Abingdon’s longest running businesses, and older than the two Mason’s shops in Bath Street.

Mason’s wool shop has a modest front. There is a display of wool in one window and fabric in the other. Above the shop sign is a blue plaque that reads “John Alder ‘The fortunate cooper‘ of the Mitre Inn lived here when he won the lottery in 1767. He gave much of his fortune to the town.”

Stepping inside the shop you first walk through an area displaying upholstery / curtain material, together with rolls of wipe-clean table cover material. There are also lots of buttons and other crafty things. Information about John Alder, with his picture, is displayed beside curtain runners, hooks, and cord ends.

The assistants serve from a large wooden counter that is large enough to measure and cut material.

But what is most unexpected is the tardis-like dimensions of the shop. It just goes on and on and on – with wool trailing away into the distance.

The Children’s Air Ambulance shop was completing the fitting of the shop  over the weekend.

The window displays look smart – like a boutique.

On Monday the shop opened. It uses the premises previously used by Outdoor Traders.

The Children’s Air Ambulance is an air ambulance charity that transfers critically ill children from hospitals to specialist paediatric centres.