There was a funeral today for Ena Mitchell at Trinity Church in Abingdon. She lived to 105.

She was born in 1918 and grew up in Hampshire.

She married Bill in 1939, but he died from wounds in the army in Belgium in 1944, eighty years ago. This left Ena alone to bring up their daughter.

Ena moved to Abingdon in 1954 when her daughter got a place at St Helen and Katherine School. Ena needed to find work and worked as a traffic warden and receptionist at the Oriel Hotel in Ock Street.

From her own experience, and after helping other war widows, Ena became a founding member of the War Widows Association.

She was actively involved in other community groups including the Royal British Legion, NSPCC, and Royal National Institute for the Blind. She served on committees and went round door to door fund raising.

Ena was also a dedicated member of Trinity Church where many of us met her. She celebrated her 100th birthday there in 2018, surrounded by loved ones.

She subsequently went to life in the Royal Star & Garter Care Home in High Wycombe, a home that looks after veterans and their partners. People could donate money to the Royal Star and Garter at the funeral service.

It was a lovely funeral led by Deacon Selina who told a far fuller story of Ena’s life and faith and service. Her grand daughter came over from Australia to give a eulogy. (The picture shows a recent birthday at the Star and Garter home.)

Peter Green, the former Mayor of Abingdon from May 2006 to May 2007, passed away recently. He was born during World War II and served in the RAF. After retirement, he devoted his time to the community, serving as a Scout Leader for 22 years, a councillor on the Vale of White Horse District Council and Abingdon Town Council, and a Town Crier.

As Mayor, Green oversaw the celebrations for the 450th anniversary of the Abingdon Charter, which included two bun throws, the second of which was attended by Princess Anne. He was also passionate about the environment and oversaw the creation of the Ock Valley Walk and organised volunteer teams to eradicate the invasive Himalayan Balsam.

Peter was a well-respected and loved member of the Abingdon community, as is his wife Hilary, who was Mayor before Peter in 2003/04. Our sympathy to Hilary and family and friends. The town flag has been flying at half mast since his passing and his passing is a great loss.

Abingdon Camera Club were at the Abingdon Clubs and Societies day. Members range from some outstanding photographers to near beginners, all with one aim – to improve their hobby in an enjoyable atmosphere.

One of the seriously good photographers was Peter Delehar. The top two pictures in the display were by him. He regularly commented on this blog as Peter Del and sent pictures, such as the one of the Lunar Eclipse in 2015.

It is with sadness that I belatedly learned yesterday of Peter’s Death. An obituary is at Obituary – Peter Delehar/. It goes behind a paywall after one view. More of Peter’s pictures can be seen on the Abingdon Camera Club website, under galleries.

Here is an extract from the obituary (I hope the family will permit this):

He originally trained as a photographer and was then attracted to dealing in antique scientific instruments. He founded the Scientific Instrument Fair and ran it for some years.

It was Peter’s wish that donations are sent in his name to the Blood Cancer Society, a charity devoted to leukaemia research (bloodcancer.org.uk).

The flag is flying at half mast at the County Hall museum for Peter Spooner, an ex-Mayor of Abingdon.

He came to Abingdon with the RAF in the 1950s and made Abingdon his home. After leaving the service, he became an MG worker and then ran a newsagent and confectionary business with his wife at 129 Ock Street for 18 years until retirement. Those were the days when people popped into the newsagent for a paper and had a five-minute chat, so Peter must have known a lot about the town.

He was elected as a town councillor from 1983 – 1989 for the Ock Ward and became the Mayor of Abingdon from 1987-88.

He was often seen at town events and loved the town and its people. There is a blog picture of him on the Market Place in 2009 at https://abingdonblog.co.uk/?p=238.

He also loved his garden and sent me these pictures in May 2012 to celebrate the Spring.

Details of the funeral are on the Town Council website https://www.abingdon.gov.uk/news/former-mayor-peter-spooner. With condolences to Peter’s family and friends.

Thank you to The Abingdon Herald (May 28th 1987) for the second picture and some facts. All Rights Reserved.