3rd December

A confirmation service was held at St. Helen’s Church, Abingdon, on Sunday last (Advent Sunday) by the Bishop of Oxford, when about 60 were confirmed, including candidates from Roysse’s School, St. Helen’s Girls’ School, Radley, Shippon and Marcham.

At the Borough Court, Ernest Ackling, of 180, Ock Street, Abingdon, was fined 10s for riding a bicycle without lights in Spring Road, on the 18th inst. Edmund Preece, 57, Ock Street, was fined 5s for allowing his chimney to catch fire on Nov. 14th.

In the Berks and Bucks Senior Cup Abingdon journeyed to Slough, playing against Slough Trading Co. The result was a draw, neither side scoring. The play of both sides was excellent.

The Abingdon Y.M. Social Club met the Abingdon Police in a series of billiard contests on Wednesday in last week, which were much enjoyed. There were eight single-band contests, the Club winning seven.

In connection with the National Children’s’ Homes and Orphanage the Abingdon Young Leaguers gave entertainment with stalls, side shows, and Xmas tree, at the Wesleyan Schoolroom, which was a financial success.

The Abingdon Town Council held a special meeting last week to decide If they should continue the building of 54 houses contracted for or only finish the ten which were partly built at the time the scheme was suspended. – The voting was for the continuance of building the ten houses only. Considerable discussion took place, as at the last municipal election the housing scheme was prominent factor.

10th December

The local football on Saturday last included the replay of the match, in consequence of a draw, between Abingdon Town and Slough Trading Co., which was played on the Abingdon Ground. The match was for the Berks and Bucks Senior Cup. The teams were very evenly matched, and at half time the scores were even, viz., Slough one goal through Gunn, and Abingdon one through Ivey. In the second half it looked much like another even result, but Gunn through a pass gained another goal after which no other score was made, thus resulting in the visitors winning with 2 goals to 1.

On Monday last, William James Woodley, of the Causeway, Steventon, a packer in the employ of the G.W.R., met with instantaneous death by being knocked down by a passing train. It appears that the deceased was going home from his work along the up-line, and when near the Stock-lane Crossing stepped from one line on to the other in order to get out of the way of a passing train, and in doing so stepped in front the London and Bristol express, and was literally cut to pieces, some portions of the body being found a dozen yards away. A verdict of accidental death was recorded at the inquest.

At the Abingdon Borough Police Court on Tuesday the licenses for cinemas at the Corn Exchange and Stert Street Picture Palace were renewed.

Mr A.H. Roberts, for 17 years Relieving Officer for Abingdon Union, resigned the post in consequence of his serious illness. The Board at last Monday’s meeting expressed their deep regret at Mr Roberts’ resignation, which was accepted.

The return billiard matches between the Abingdon Y.M. Social Club and members of the Abingdon Police came off on Wednesday evening, when the Club won again with one match to the good, and a score of 877 against 675. Eight games were played.

The Y.M.C.A, annual meeting was held on Thursday evening last, at the rooms, when Sir George Dashwood of The Warren, Abingdon, took the chair. The Secretary (Mr W. H. Bourne) read his report, in which he stated that the year’s work had been a great success.

A lecture on Buddhism was given in the Abingdon Wesleyan Schoolroom on Wednesday evening in last week, by Mr A. H. Nathanielsz, son of a native Wesleyan Minister at Ceylon.

The new oak choir stalls at St. Michael’s Church, Abingdon, as a jubilee memorial of the Church is to be commenced, being a design of Mr F. F. Howard, of Oxford.

17th December

The annual meeting the Abingdon Branch of the National Farmers’ Union was held Wednesday evening at the Lion Hotel, Abingdon, when Mr H, Pullen, presided. The secretary (Mr Allison), reported a successful year and an increase of membership, whilst the financial position showed a balance in hand of £36. The membership of the Branch now is 120.

On Monday last the annual fat stock show was held in Abingdon market, which was attended by a large number of farmers and buyers as well as the general public. There were four classes for fat beasts, in which the following took first prizes —For fat steer, Mr Frost, Brightwell; fat maiden heifer, Lord Wittenham; pair of butcher’s beasts. Messrs Cornish and Sons ; four butcher’s beasts. Sir Mortimer Singer. The prices realised were from £43s to £50 10s. The first prize winners in the sheep classes were Sir Mortimer Singer. Lord Ebury gained first prize for a pair of fat pigs. In the cottagers’ classes for fat hog and pair of fat porkers, Mr F. Atkins and Mr A. Prew were the respective first prize winners.

24th December

Abingdon tradesmen have formed a Chamber of Trade for the Borough. and appointed a preliminary Committee to prepare a scheme.

At the Abingdon Baptist Schoolroom on Wednesday evening in last week there was a large attendance to witness a Missionary demonstration entitled ‘Doubts Dispelled’, which had been prepared by Mrs J. F. Morris. The costumes of the different countries were lent by the Baptist Missionary Association. The object was to raise funds for medical work in India.

31st December

The usual festival Christmas services were held at the Abingdon Churches, conducted by the parochial clergy. The decorations were of the usual appropriate character.

Tenders accepted for supplies to Abingdon Union for the ensuing three months include: Bread 8d per 41b. loaf, flour 48s per sack, beef (English) 1s per lb, imported 6 1/2d, beef suet 5d per lb , mutton (side) 10d per lb and imported 6d, milk 2s 2d gal.

The annual concert was held in the Roysse School in the gymnasium prior to the breaking up for the Christmas holidays, when a large number of parents and friends, were present. The programme was excellent, and the conductor was Miss Sheldon Peach.

Christmas at the Abingdon Poor Law Institution was kept in a very enjoyable way for the inmates. The fare for the inmates consisted of roast beef and pork, vegetables, plum pudding, mince pies, beer and minerals. In the afternoon they were regaled with oranges, nuts, sweets, biscuits and crackers. After tea, songs were indulged in and a pleasant day was spent, ending at 8.30 p.m.

Abingdon Carol

In Abingdon, by Thames’s side,
Are Holy Churches three –
Michael’s Church and Nicolas Church,
And St. Helen’s on the quay.

Where, oh where, shall we find the Child,
And where will the Little One be?
At Michael’s Church or Nicolas Church,
Or St. Helen’s on the quay.

Michael, have you hidden Him
Behind your folded wings?
Good St. Nicolas, have you seen
The King of Kings?

Or does a woman cradle Him
And hush Him on her knee?
Is the Little Mighty One
With St. Helen’s on the quay?

Christian people search no more …
He once was laid in stall,
And Christus natus hodie *
In the faithful hearts of all.

(*  born today in Latin)

Thank you for the extracts to the Faringdon Advertiser and Vale of the White Horse Gazette on the British Newspaper Archive.

Brought to you with help from: Thomas Leach, The Corn Exchange, Harry E Bailey, and The Mayor C.Rippon. The Abingdon Carol is from the North Berks Herald.

The monk on the roundabout was looking thoughtful today but I suspect no sights or thoughts pass through that wooden head

He will not have seen that petrol prices are higher than they have ever been, and think they could be higher tomorrow.

He will not have seen the larger visual display units on the bus stops in Abingdon, and think they used to be half that size.

He will not be  thinking about Black Friday on Friday, 26th November, and how it might be a good time to buy a 50 inch ultra HD TV so that he can watch something other than traffic. He  could have caught up on such Monkish Classics on BBC iPlayer as Brotherhood: The Inner Life of Monks.

5th November
The Union (Workhouse) engineer has saved a kitchen boiler at a cost of £4 0s 6d, reported the Master at the Board meeting last week. The estimate for repairs by a firm was £28, and a new one would have cost £32. The Union inmates are again to be entertained by another series of Concerts at the Institution this coming winter. The first of the series was held on Thursday evening last. The programme was given by local talent, ‘Cheerios,’ and a number of visitors was also present.

Another skeleton was found on the Boxall estate building site at Abingdon last week. In the same vicinity where recently two skeletons were found, by the Abingdon Corporation in fixing a gully in a new road found a skeleton lying upon its left side about 4ft. under the surface of the ground.

ln addition to the four retiring members this year four other candidates went to the poll on Tuesday for the Abingdon Town Council elections. The retiring candidates were Councillors A. W. Morland, G. Saxby, F. Gibson and T. Tate, and the new ones Messrs G. W. Shepherd, G. F. Palmer (confectioner), D. Godfrey (sculptor), and W. J. Lawson (carpenter and builder). The election contest was chiefly on the housing scheme of the Council, who are chiefly for abandoning the full programme formerly adopted. There are 8,431 burgesses on the register and there were three polling stations. The result of the polling was follows: Gibson, 748; Godfrey, 733 ; Morland, 716; Tate 680. This means that 3 of the old retiring members are reelected, with Godfrey replacing Saxby. The figures for the remaining candidates were Shepherd, 662; Saxby 469. Palmer, 408; Lawson 406.

12th November
After two years of very successfully holding with dignity and courage the office of Mayor of Abingdon, Councillor R. W. Langford retired with the appreciation of the townspeople for his past service. The new Mayor is Councillor Claude Rippon, of Springfields, Abingdon, who was over three years ago co-opted as a member of the Abingdon Town Council, and last year was returned without a contest. Mr Rippon is an Oxford M.A., having graduated at Merton College, and took his degree in Natural Science in 1890. He is also editor and a director of the ‘Oxford Times’ .

On Sunday last, being the last Sunday in the Mayoralty year, the retiring Mayor of Abingdon (Councillor R W. Langford), who is Wesleyan, attended the morning service at the Abingdon Trinity Wesleyan Church, accompanied by most of the councillors and other public officials.

There was again a clean sheet at the Abingdon Borough Police Court this week on Tuesday.

The Abingdon Corporation workmen have had a reduction in wages of 6s per week, dating from Saturday last, Nov. 5th.

The Town Council’s Audit Committee reported at the Council meeting last week that the financial position of the Council for the past half year was a deficiency of £992 19s

A whist drive in connection with the whist championship of St Dunstan’s was held in the Abingdon Corn Exchange on Thursday evening in last week, when there were 260 competitors.

19th November
Mr T. Skurray has resigned his position as the Town Council representative on the governing body of Roysse’s School, and the Deputy Mayor, Councillor R.W. Langford, has been appointed to fill the vacancy.

The Abingdon Y.M.C.A. Harriers held a capital paper chase on Saturday last, about a 12 miles run.

The Abingdon Returning Officer’s expenses at the Municipal elections on November 1st amounted to £53 1s 5d.

The new Mayor of Abingdon, Councillor C. Rippon, proposes to set apart one hour each evening for the purpose of interviews by any burgess desiring to see him, when he will be the Mayor’s Parlour.

Armistice Day was duly observed in Abingdon on Friday last by a service. Many floral tributes were placed on the War Memorial, and the Borough Flag was lowered during the two minutes’ silence. The floral tributes included a chaplet from the Mayor and Mayoress.

The Abingdon local football matches on Saturday last included one in the North Berks League, played at Didcot between Abingdon Town and Didcot. The visiting team was much the stronger, and scored four goals to nil.

In the Berks and Bucks Junior Cup Competition the Abingdon Pavlova team met on their ground the Shrivenham team. The Pavs seemed to have the game entirely in their hands and ran up a score of 7 goals to 1.

The only business on the charge sheet on Monday was a summons against John George Hunt, engineer’s fitter, of the Terrace, New Northcourt, Abingdon, by his wife, for persistent cruelty, which caused her to live apart from him. Neither party appeared, but the defendant had written a letter to the Bench stating that his wife had returned to him. The case was accordingly dismissed.

26th November
At St. Helen’s Church on Sunday afternoon from 3.30 to 4.30 an organ recital, with anthems and other sacred music was given. There was a large congregation.

The Abingdon members of the Berks Archaeological Society had an interesting lecture by Mr E Thurlow, assistant keeper of the Ashmolean Museum, Oxford. The subject was ‘Material for a local museum.’

At the Wesleyan Schoolroom on Wednesday evening a lecture on church music was given by Mr J. Ingham or Roysse School, Abingdon, the lecture being illustrated by the choir as to the different types of singing. There was a good and appreciative audience.

Thank you for the extracts to the Faringdon Advertiser and Vale of the White Horse Gazette on the British Newspaper Archive.

Brought to you by our sponsors: Corn Exchange, Kinema, Morland, Mobbs, and Abingdon Y.M.C.A. Hot Baths.

8th October
Two skeletons were found last week at Abingdon. Workmen, in digging a trench for the laying of drain at the new houses on the Boxhill site on the Oxford Road, found the skeletons about three feet below the surface, one of which was in a partly upright posture.

The Abingdon Magistrates have fixed the following hours for the opening of licensed premises under the new Licensing Act: Sundays, 12.30 to 2 30, and 7 to 10; Mondays (market days), 11 30 to 4.30 and 7 to 10; other days, 10.30 to 2.30, and 6 to 10. About 20 of the licensed holders had petitioned for an extra half-hour in the evenings to 10.30.

Contracts accepted by the Abingdon Board of Guardians (workhouse) for the ensuing three months include bread at 9d per 4 1b, loaf; flour 62s per sack; beef ls 2d and imported 9d per lb.; mutton is ls 2d, and imported 9d per 1b.,-and milk 3d per gallon.

At a meeting of the Abingdon Branch of the National Farmers’ Union held on Thursday in last week, a scale of wages was recommended for able-bodied agricultural workers, as follows 39s per week of 51 hours up to October 29th, and from that time until further notice 36s per week for the same number of hours. Overtime to be at the rate of 9d per hour.

The Abingdon v Banbury Harriers game was played at Abingdon before a large crowd, on Saturday. Unfortunately the Harriers had to start with only nine players, Russell and Viggars sending a wire to the ground stating that they had travelled in the wrong train, and instead of arriving at Abingdon they found themselves at Paddington. The result was Harriers 1 Abingdon 0 after two substitutes were found early in the game.
15th October
Abingdon Michaelmas Fair took place on Monday and Tuesday last in gloriously fine weather. The ground taken up by showmen, &c., filled the Market Place, High Street, and a portion of Ock Street, occupying considerably more space than last year. There were the usual crowds, especially after six o’clock, when buses & trains from Oxford and outlying villages brought many visitors.

There was only a short supply of stock penned for sale at the market on Monday last, it being Michaelmas Fair Day.

The Abingdon Girls’ Club commenced their winter session on Wednesday. Classes have been arranged for needlework, singing, drill and dancing.

The Abingdon Fire Brigade have received the consent of the Town Council to issue an appeal in the town and neighbourhood for the purchase of a motor fire pump.

The Abingdon Town Council are going to take a referendum of the ratepayers as to the continuance of the building of a certain number of houses under the Council’s scheme, the resolution to that effect having obtained an equal vote of the Council at their last meeting.
22nd October
The Abingdon Runaway Fair took place on Monday last when the Market Place was fully occupied by roundabouts, switchbacks. &c., By permission the fair was held again on Tuesday evening, the stalls, &c., being allowed to stay.

On Abingdon Fair Tuesday last week a horse belonging to Mr Wigley, farmer, of Appleford, when being led on the outskirts of the fair, shied the roundabouts, and bolted through the large plate-glass window of Messrs Vineys’ drapers shop, and was severely hurt about the head.

A mixed Hockey Club has been formed in Abingdon, of which Mr J. B. Gibbens is the hon. sec.

The Abbey Lodge of Master Freemasons held their installation ceremony on Thursday evening in last week in the Abingdon Council Chamber, and afterwards dined in the Roysse Room, the company numbering about 50. Bro, A. E Wood was installed Worshipful Master.

At the Abingdon County Bench on Monday. Christopher Lower, a farm labourer, of Kennington, Radley, an ex-Service man with a good record, was sent to prison with hard labour for one month for exposing himself on the highway on several occasions between September 25th and October 1st.
29th October
The Abingdon Wesleyan Guild commenced their winter season on Wednesday evening by a debate on ‘Should women enter parliament?’ There was a good attendance.

The Abingdon Branch of the British Legion (Comrades of the Great War) commenced a series of winter whist drives on Thursday in their club rooms in Ock Street. There was a good number present.

The annual sale of work in support of Church Home and Foreign Missions and the Abingdon Church Memorial Hall took Place in the Corn Exchange on Thursday. The proceeds are estimated at £200.

Thank you for the extracts to the Faringdon Advertiser and Vale of the White Horse Gazette on the British Newspaper Archive.