Abingdon Borough Council Meeting

At a meeting of Abingdon Borough Council held on 10 February 1926, the Town Clerk was instructed to write to the Automobile Association to seek its views on the proposed introduction of a ten-mile-per-hour speed limit in the centre of the town.

It was agreed that statutory notices should be served on householders requiring them to provide proper sanitary dustbins within ten days. Those who failed to comply would be required to pay for bins supplied by the Corporation.

Alderman Preston reported difficulty in locating certain old documents belonging to the Corporation. As a result, he advised that parish maps currently held at St Helen’s Church should be taken into formal custody.

Several items of expenditure were approved. Repairs to the floor of the Council Chamber had cost £102 19s 0d, while decorating and wiring part of the Guildhall, together with the installation of additional light fittings, was estimated to cost a further £120.

The Council approved a motion recommending to the Royal Commission on Mining that the use of pit ponies should be discontinued.

A motion was carried expressing the Council’s view that the refusal by the Master and Governors of Christ’s Hospital to allow organised school games in Albert Park was not in the best interests of the town.

Kindly Deed

A lad from the Baptist Sunday School, who has been in bad health for some time and has been treated in the local Cottage Hospital and is now beginning to recover, is being sent to the Sunday School Union Convalescent Home at Bournemouth for a month. On its becoming known that he was going away to the sea, the Sunday School children subscribed among themselves a few shillings to be sent to him as pocket-money during his stay.

Northcourt Women’s Institute

The monthly meeting was held in the Northcourt Hut on Wednesday afternoon, when Mrs Squire, of Milton Hill, gave a very interesting lecture on Switzerland. After tea and business at the market stall, all the ladies and guests were entertained by a short play and a costume song from the Mothers’ Welfare Centre, which were greatly appreciated.

B.B.C. Blacklists Abingdon

Wireless enthusiasts will be interested to learn that the B.B.C. have officially put Abingdon on the ‘Black List’ of neighbourhoods with serious wireless interference caused by faulty or badly adjusted receiving sets. We hope this will be a warning to those who make the nights hideous by howls from mis-handled valve sets. If they do not know how to keep their sets from squealing, they should consult an expert or write to the B.B.C. for the free pamphlet on the subject.

Police Superintendent to retire

After twenty-two years’ service as Police Superintendent of the Abingdon Division, Mr W. T. Foster retires at the end of March. During that time he has earned the respect of all with whom he has come into contact. Even wrongdoers have learnt to acknowledge his charitable disposition, since he was ever ready to put in a good word for men whenever it was possible. Unfortunately, Mr Foster has not enjoyed very good health for some time, but it is hoped that on relinquishing his duties he will recover and enjoy for many years his well-earned leisure. Under his leadership, the police of Abingdon have won for themselves a reputation for fair dealing and do not go out of their way to seek trouble.

Magic, Music and Mystery

The Corn Exchange was well filled on each of the three evenings when an entertaining programme of Magic, Music and Mystery was presented in aid of the Abingdon Church Hall Building Fund, and the National Children’s Home and Orphanage.

The programme opened with a series of magical problems by Mr Chivers, which were cleverly executed and well received. This was followed by musical selections from several singers, the first being Miss D. S. Hall, who rendered “Sing, Sing, Red Sun”.

Further feats of illusion were then introduced by Mr Chivers, including “Diogenes and His Tub,” “The Artist’s Dream,” and “Bluebeard’s Last Wife,” all of which showed considerable ingenuity. Additional vocal items followed, maintaining the musical variety of the programme.

The final section consisted of so-called spirit manifestations. Before commencing this part of the entertainment, Mr Chivers informed the audience that everything would be accomplished by sheer trickery. Nevertheless, features such as “The Dancing Table” aroused considerable interest and provided a striking conclusion to the evening.

Borough Bench – Tuesday

Before the Mayor (Mr J. D. Godfrey), Messrs J. N. Paul and M. T. Tatham.

Wrong Licence

John Wade Coxeter, from Oxford, was summoned for using a motor-car in Abingdon for purposes other than those for which it was licensed.

P.C. Shuff stated that at 9.30 p.m. on the day in question he saw a motor-car, driven by the defendant and carrying three passengers — two ladies and a gentleman — arrive at a dance at the Guildhall. The witness saw that the defendant had a limited trade licence (allowing the car to be driven only for business purposes). The defendant said, “I know I am wrong, but I could not get my other car, which is properly licensed, to start, and I had agreed to bring the ladies to the dance with this man and so chanced being stopped.”

A Dog With Two Homes

Christopher Hatherall, of Denchworth, near Wantage, was fined 5s for allowing his dog to stray in Abingdon without having the owner’s name and address on the collar. The defendant pleaded guilty and said his dog had two homes, one at Wantage Road Station and the other at Denchworth, and as he was not at one he thought he must be at the other. He did not report to the police the dog was missing until he was told the dog was at Abingdon.

Football

Abingdon Town 6 – Reading B.W.I. 6

This high-scoring game took place before a handful of spectators in the Culham Road enclosure. The Town forwards, who gave a greatly improved display, were let down by the defence. In two instances goals were practically given away. Another goal could be traced to weak goalkeeping. The Town deserved both points but had to be content with one. The Town goals were scored by North (3), S. Crook (2), and T. Pratley.

Witney 2 – Abingdon Pavlova 2

Abingdon Pavlova nearly broke Witney’s record of being one of the unbeaten teams in the League, and a fine and exciting game was witnessed by a fairly good crowd.

Acknowledgements

Thanks are due to Selections from the Municipal Records of the Borough of Abingdon by Liversidge in Abingdon Library.

Additional thanks to the North Berks Herald Library microfilm in the Abingdon Library for stories and the adverts. The picture of Ely Brothers came from the Abingdon Directory. Thanks to Chat GPT AI for making some adverts less grainy.

Fire in Stert Street

A fire that might easily have become a serious blaze broke out shortly after seven o’clock on Thursday morning at Messrs Hilton’s Booteries in Stert Street. Flames were seen leaping through a pavement grating from the cellar below, first noticed by Mr Wheeler of the Vineyard.

In three minutes the Chief Officer (Mr. J. Gibbens) and Fireman Chivers were on the scene with a hose cart, and a minute later the water was pumped from the stream in Major R. Catmur’s yard. To reach the seat of the fire the left-hand shop window had to be emptied and the floorboards torn up, revealing charred beams beneath. Thanks to the speed of the response the fire was prevented from spreading.

It was remarked afterwards that, had the outbreak occurred during the night, the building — and possibly adjoining properties — would almost certainly have been lost.

Canon Oldfield and St Nicolas’ Church

Canon Oldfield has decided to resign his post as Deputy Lecturer at St Nicolas’ Church, a decision that has been received with much regret by his many friends in Abingdon. He has, however, kindly offered to continue helping as occasion arises.

Children’s Party at the Corn Exchange

Around 200 children attended a party organised by the Abingdon Liberal Association at the Corn Exchange. After refreshments, a conjuring entertainment was given by Mr Norman Chivers, followed by dancing.

The picture shows prizewinners at the Abingdon Liberal children’s fancy dress dance(photo, Warland Andrew). ‘Mother Gamp’ (centre), ‘Poppy’ (left), ‘Daisy’ (right)

Music for the evening was supplied by Mr Horsky’s String Band, and the event was described as an enjoyable one for all concerned.

The Parish Magazine Goes to Every Home

With the approval of the Church Council, a new scheme has been introduced whereby the Abingdon Parish Magazine will be delivered free to every household in the town.

Explaining the decision, the committee wrote:
“The Parish Church stands to-day, as for hundreds of years, as the Parish Church, and there would be a want of ideal and vision if ever she ceased to recognise that all who live within the parish boundaries are parishioners.”

Wireless for the Isolation Hospital

An appeal has been launched to provide a wireless installation for the Joint Isolation Hospital at Abingdon.

Donations quickly mounted, with contributions from local firms, individuals, and organisations. By Thursday the total stood at £87 3s. 6d., reflecting strong community support for bringing this new innovation to the hospital. At a Corporation Meeting, as no contribution could be made from public funds, the suggestion was made that they have a ‘whip round’.

Slate Club Dinner at the Plasterers’ Arms

The annual dinner of the Plasterers’ Arms Slate Club was held with 43 members present. After sick benefits had been paid out, each member received a share of £1 2s. 3d.

The evening included songs and musical items, with several members contributing, accompanied by piano and violin. It was reported as a thoroughly convivial gathering.

Oddfellows’ Historic Visit

A notable event in the history of the Abingdon District of Oddfellows took place with the first-ever visit of a member of the Board of Directors, Bro. R. Annis of Ilford.

At a well-attended dinner and meeting, the scale and strength of the Manchester Unity were outlined, including national membership figures and financial statistics. Bro. Annis spoke of the new tables recently introduced and encouraged members to continue their energetic work.

To mark the occasion he was presented with an engraved leather wallet as a memento of his visit.

Flooding Around Abingdon

Severe flooding caused widespread disruption around Abingdon in mid-January. The Abingdon to Dorchester road was closed, and the Causeway lay under nearly three feet of water for more than 150 yards. Several motorists attempting to pass through had to be hauled out with ropes.

At its height the river stood over six feet above summer level. Even after it began to fall, fields remained submerged.

One dramatic incident saw a man and a girl canoeing down the flooded river as the result of a wager. Their canoe was swept against the bridge buttress and became lodged in the branches of a willow tree at the bottom of Mr. J. R. Stevens’s Island, and both occupants managed to scramble to the bank, waist-deep in water. The canoe itself was ultimately lifted from the river and relaunched below the bridge, after which the two voyagers continued on their way.

Snowstorm and Letter to the Editor

Following bitter winds, snow fell across Abingdon, reaching a depth of over four inches. Tobogganing children quickly appeared, but conditions for travel were difficult.

A letter to the North Berks Herald praised the town authorities for clearing the streets, while strongly criticising the county authorities for leaving main roads almost impassable for nearly a week. The writer pointed out the hardship caused to cyclists, tradesmen, and village chapels left without preachers.

The letter ended with a call for proper preparation — including snow ploughs — before the next snowfall arrived.

Diving Expert at Abingdon

The Roysse Room was packed when Captain Damant, R.N., delivered a lantern lecture on recovering gold from the wreck of the Laurentic. The ship, sunk in 1917 with millions of pounds in bullion aboard, lay at a steep angle off the coast of Northern Ireland.

Captain Damant described the physical strain and danger of deep-sea diving, the bitter cold, strong underwater tides, and the painstaking work of dismantling the wreck piece by piece first using explosives. and then by hand. After two years’ effort, more than 98 per cent of the gold was eventually recovered.

The lecture was warmly received, and votes of thanks brought the evening to a close.

Acknowledgements

Thanks are due to the British Newspaper Archive for access to the Oxford Chronicle and Reading Gazette for some stories.

Additional thanks to the North Berks Herald Library microfilm in the Abingdon Library for stories, a letter, and the adverts and to the Oxford Journal for the picture from the children’s party which I digitally enhanced

The diving suit picture is from Ebay.

The month saw a ceremonial milestone with the laying of the memorial stone for the new Abingdon Church Hall. The Archdeacon of Berkshire, the Ven. R. Wickham Legg, performed the ceremony before a large congregation. A book of parishioners’ signatures was sealed into the stone, raising nearly £28, with collections bringing the total to just over £40. The architect, J. G. T. West, presented the Archdeacon with a silver-plated trowel.

Music also supported the fund: an organ recital at St Nicolas’ later in the month drew an appreciative audience, with anthems, quartets and solos forming part of a programme which was “much enjoyed”.

A seven-year-old girl, the only daughter of Mr and Mrs J. Dix of St Edmund’s Cottages, was killed when she was run over by a lorry near The Square. The inquest absolved the driver of any blame. The jurors gave their fees to the parents.

Christmas shopping and a “white” Christmas

Abingdon experienced a “white” Christmas, though the snow was light and short-lived. Christmas Eve was cold, and the streets were crowded with shoppers who had left their purchases until the last moment. Shopkeepers decorated their windows attractively, though many noted that money was being spent on food rather than on fancy goods. Still, the streets told their own story: most people were “well laden with parcels”.

The railways struggled to cope with the surge in passengers and goods, helped by the fact that Christmas Day and Boxing Day fell at the weekend, allowing family reunions on a larger scale than usual. Roads were crowded too, despite conditions that made walking “decidedly unpleasant”.

One noticeable change was the decline in carol singers. Their absence was attributed to the growing popularity of carols broadcast by wireless, along with BBC Christmas programming, including the popular Dickens’s A Christmas Carol.

Worship across the town

At St Helen’s, Holy Communion was celebrated three times on Christmas morning, followed by Matins, a carol service, and the annual Christmas Day Lionel Bostock sermon reflecting on the Holy Family and the meaning of home and mutual love. St Michael’s saw large congregations at Midnight Mass and early morning celebrations. At St. Nicolas’, Holy Communion was celebrated at 8 and 12, the celebrant being Dr. Oldfield. Together the three Anglican churches recorded a total of over 700 communicants, with more than £50 raised for the Sick and Poor Fund.

The Free Churches held a united Christmas morning service at the Baptist Church. The sermon acknowledged the uneasy wider world. There were concerns about unemployment, housing, and international uncertainty. They gave thanks for Christmas as a brief but necessary pause, a time of peace and goodwill.

The Roman Catholic church marked the festival with a well-attended Midnight Mass, followed by High Mass and Benediction on Christmas morning. The church was richly decorated with flowers.

The Junior department of Abingdon Congregational Sunday School occasionally enjoyed practical demonstrations. Kindness to animals was the subject of a visit by ‘Roy’ – the dog, a well know hospital charity collector in Abingdon.

Christmas care: hospitals and institutions

At the sanatorium, isolation hospitals, and Cottage Hospital, Christmas trees, entertainment, and gifts were provided for patients. Wireless sets, still a novelty, played a central role, bringing BBC programmes into wards and dining rooms.

The Cottage Hospital’s Christmas menu included turkey and plum pudding, and the list of donated gifts — pheasants, cakes, oranges, sweets.

At the Poor-Law Institution, Dickens’s grim imagery was a thing of the past. Christmas Day there was described as humane and generous. Children received toys and sweets; women were given sugar and tea; men tobacco and pipes. The Christmas dinner was substantial, with roast beef and pork, vegetables, plum pudding, custard, and beer or mineral water — followed by fruit and sweets. The Mayor and Mayoress attended, and the day ended with music from the Master’s wireless set and an impromptu concert.

Boxing Day

Earlier on Boxing Day, the Market Place filled for the meet of the Old Berks Hunt, the pink coats of the huntsmen standing out amid an immense crowd before hounds, riders and pedestrians moved off together.

There was a local football “Derby” between Abingdon Town and Abingdon Pavlova, which the Town won 4–3.

The Kinema offered a popular alternative, “well patronised” and up to its usual high standard with a programme designed for children and adults.

Acknowledgements

Thanks are due to the British Newspaper Archive for access to the Oxford Chronicle and Reading Gazette for the first two stories. Thanks also to the British Newspaper Archive for the photo stories from the Oxford Journal.

Additional thanks to the North Berks Herald Library microfilm for the description of Christmas Day and Boxing Day.

Abingdon elected four councillors

Abingdon elected four councillors on Monday, with 2,074 of the 3,066 electorate turning out. During the day a sandwich man and a perambulator toured the town urging voters to choose ‘the straightest, the truest, the best,’ while in the evening children’s bands marched through the streets, their competing shouts sparking jeers and counter-jeers from other bands.

After the polls closed, counting took place in the Roysse Room supervised by the Mayor, Councillor J. D. Godfrey. A large crowd gathered outside the Council Chamber, and the Mayor announced the results from the window: A. E. Tombs (854), A. B. Woodley (803), H. P. Simpson (773), and D. E. Trotman (722) were returned, ahead of W. Cordell, R. V. Hall, Mrs E. C. Reynolds, Miss M. Etty, and Miss M. Layng.

The count was greeted with enthusiasm, and each candidate received cheers when they stepped to the window . Tombs spoke of his pride as an Abingdonian and stressed his commitment to housing, while Woodley reflected on the support he had received from young people, pledging to continue working for better recreation and housing for them.

Plastigrams
Plastigrams, described as the screen’s greatest novelty, is coming to the Kinema next Monday for a six-day run. This remarkable film, viewed through red and green spectacles, become fully stereoscopic, making figures and objects seem to leap out of the screen to within an inch of the spectator.

Alongside Plastigrams, the first half of the week will feature The Daughter of Love, starring Violet Hopson – a British drama . In the latter half of the week will show Tom Mix’s action film The Deadwood Coach, full of Mix’s trademark stunts. The biblical epic The Moon of Israel will return by popular demand, with showings on Friday and Saturday.

Armistice Day in Abingdon

On Wednesday, Armistice Day was marked in Abingdon with the national two minutes’ silence in memory of those who died in the Great War. Crowds gathered at the War Memorial well before the service, with the area kept clear by the Abingdon School Cadet Corps and the O.T.C. under Captain J. H. Reynolds. The Mayor, Corporation, and many local organisations formed a procession near the Guildhall.

At 10.45 a.m., Mr. G. Stacey rang the bell at St Helen’s Church 227 times, once for each Abingdon man lost in the war. The large procession, led by the Mayor, reached the memorial, where the hymn “O God, our help in ages past” was sung. The service was conducted by the Rev. E. Dando, with prayers from K. E. Stilwell and Mr. Chappell, and a lesson read by Dr. Oldfield.

The Last Post was sounded, followed immediately by the Pavlova Works hooter signalling the start of the Great Silence at 11 a.m. Afterward, Reveille was played by Bugler Webb of the Wantage Contingent, 4th Battalion Royal Berks Regiment. Children from the elementary schools sang Sir Esme Howard’s setting of John of Gaunt’s speech from Richard II.

The Rev. W. Greener offered prayers of thanksgiving, and the hymn “Praise ye the King of Heaven” was sung, followed by the first verse of the National Anthem. The Mayor laid a wreath on behalf of the Corporation, joined by wreaths from school groups, the Girl Guides, and local organisations including the Pride of Abingdon Lodge.

Spaces around the memorial were reserved for schoolchildren and relatives of the fallen. The full Abingdon Platoon of the 4th Royal Berks Regiment under Sergt.-Instructor Eyre and the Girl Guides under Mrs. R. C. Wicks were also present.

Poppy Day

This year saw the first-ever sale of Flanders poppies in Abingdon, supporting Earl Haig’s British Legion Appeal for ex-Service men. After a broadcast address by H.R.H. the Prince of Wales on Tuesday evening, a strong response was expected. By early Wednesday morning, poppy sellers were at work, and many people gathering near the War Memorial were already wearing their poppies.

Humorists of Methodism

On Thursday next, Rev. S. Horton (former President of Conference and author of the Wentworth Stories) will visit the Primitive Methodist Church in Abingdon and will preach at the 3.30 p.m. afternoon service. A public tea will be followed by a lecture at 6.30 p.m. entitled “Humorists of Methodism.”

The Mayor of Abingdon

Councillor J. D. Godfrey was re-elected Mayor of Abingdon at the statutory meeting of the Borough Council on Monday, on the proposition of Alderman A. E. Preston, seconded by Alderman J. E. Cottrell. Councillor Claude Rippon was again chosen as Deputy.

The Abingdon Bus View of Oxford and the effect of Coal Smoke

A striking view of Oxford can be seen from the upper deck of the Abingdon bus as it leaves Bagley Wood and descends the slopes of Boars Hill. From this point the towers and spires of Oxford suddenly appear, with the dome of the Radcliffe Camera at the centre and Magdalen Tower standing apart.

Yet this fine prospect is usually marred by smoke, which is increasingly damaging Oxford’s buildings, just as it has already harmed much of London’s architecture. Domestic coal fires now produce smoke more harmful than factory chimneys. How long people will continue burning crude coal when its effects are so destructive to the city?

School Attendance Case at the County Bench

At the County Bench on Monday, before Mr. E. H. Green and Miss M. P. K. Etty, a case of school non-attendance was heard involving Samuel Taylor of the Wheatsheaf, Drayton. Taylor was summoned by the Berkshire Education Committee for failing to send his son to school on 12th October.

According to the school attendance officer, Mrs. Taylor stated that the boy was fourteen and that she could not send him to school. The Bench imposed a fine of 5 shillings, ordering that the boy must continue attending school until the end of the term.

Arts and Crafts Demonstration

An arts and crafts demonstration featuring an expert from London will be held next week at Messrs. Leach’s shop on Bath Street, Abingdon. The free event will show how to make a variety of items using crepe paper and sealing-wax, including costumes, lamp-shades, flowers, hats, and table decorations. It runs daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., with an additional session on Thursday from 2–4 p.m. in Royce’s Room. With Christmas approaching, it’s expected to be popular among local residents.

Acknowledgements

Thanks are due to the British Newspaper Archive for the article from the Oxford Chronicle and Reading Gazette (06 November 1925) about the Abingdon Bus, and the Faringdon Advertiser and Vale of the White Horse Gazette (school attendance case). Thanks also to the British Newspaper Archive for the Oxford Journal, which provided the photographs of elected councillors, the Mayor, and Armistice Day in Abingdon. Thanks to the Daily Mirror for the Cherry Blossom / Poppy advert.

Also thanks to the North Berks Herald Library microfilm for the stories covering the election, Armistice Day, Poppy Day, Plastigrams, the crepe paper demonstration, and Methodist humour. The Plastigrams advert came from Ebay.