Category Archives: Christmas

Wind blown bins, Recycled Christmas Trees, and Plaster Fall

3 Replies

Wind blown bins
After this Saturday morning’s recycling collection, next week’s collection should be back to the normal Thursday or Friday schedule. A lot of the empty bins got blown over after a windy night, and quite a lot of rubbish before it was collected. Our green food bin disappeared completely – probably not down to the wind.
Recycling Christmas Trees
People had started leaving trees for recycling on the Market Place fairly early, and the barriers appeared to have been blown about overnight.
Plaster Fall
Andrew sent me a picture of some plaster that had fallen in the Strollin tunnel.
Recycling Christmas Trees
Soon after 9am the big tree was cut up, and its branches were recycled along with smaller trees – from the homes of Abingdon.
Plaster Fall
By 9am Police had cordoned off the Strollin Tunnel.

Boxing Day – Abingdon Market Place – 10am

Leave a reply

Boxing Day
At 10am Abingdon Freewheeling gathered for a medium paced ride of around 30 miles starting at Abingdon Market Place.
Boxing Day
Nearby, at 10am Fat Face opened their doors for the start of the sales.
Boxing Day
At 10am members of the MG Car Club had begun to gather for the annual Boxing Day run starting from Abingdon Market Place. The route was about 34 miles ending at the Dog House at Frilford Heath
Boxing Day
Over 40 MGs gathered to take part.

A Subdued Christmas in Abingdon 100 years ago

3 Replies

During 2014 there have been a number of events in Abingdon commemorating the centenary of the start of World War I.
Subdued Christmas
Abingdon Library are still collecting information about people from Abingdon who served in WWI.

In the Abingdon Free Press and Didcot News, 100 years ago, there is a comment that Christmas celebrations, at home, should be subdued because of the vacant places round the hearths of many families with sons, and older brothers, serving in places of danger – even more so, because of bereavements – “Weep with those who weep.”
Subdued Christmas
The Oxford Picture Journal published pictures of service men killed or injured from Oxford and surroundings towns and villages. Those pictured as killed in action from Abingdon included:
Private King of 22 Ock Street killed on Sep 10 1914 at Mons in Belgium
Private Bowler of 54 Vineyard  killed  Sep 18 1914 in Belgium
Lance Corporal Luker of 24 West St Helen Street killed Oct 1914
Private Alford of Winterbourne Road
Private Stanley of 8 Ock Street killed Oct 28 1914 at Zonnebeke in Belgium
Private Denton of Victoria Road killed Oct 21 1914 in Belgium
Private Blagrove of 202 Ock Street killed Nov 13 1914  at Zonnebeke in Belgium

The Free Press also mentioned that the members of the Royal Naval Air Service, billeted in Abingdon, had arranged a ‘capital’ concert at the YMCA Social Club Rooms in Ock Street.

In the same paper there is another comment – some local traders were asking why fewer service men were billeted in Abingdon compared to other towns. Service men were good for trade.

Christmas Lights about the Homes and Care Homes of Abingdon

2 Replies

Christmas Lights
Going round the ways and byways of Abingdon I was very impressed by the Christmas lights this year. There are many people out there sharing their joy with Christmas Lights. I was particularly impressed by Medlicott Drive in the Ladygrove Estate in South Abingdon. The picture cannot do them justice.
Christmas Lights
As always there are 3 or 4 brilliant displays along Saxton Road, and many other roads.
Christmas Lights
Another feature of this year’s lights are Care Homes – both Abingdon Court
Christmas Lights
and Bridge House have brilliant displays. I just could not get high enough to show the sweep of lights round Bridge House. The residents get a much better view from their upstairs windows.