The Sunday before last, at Trinity Church, we had a service with a difference. Instead of sitting facing the front we sat at tables facing each other. We sometimes hear people’s stories when they reach 100 years old, or at their funeral. This service was intended to learn more about each other before then. One person on each table was asked to tell a little of their own story and how they came to Trinity Church in Abingdon.

Inspired by them, others told their story.

One person had come further than most. In 1958 ,at a little over one year old, he had come over from Jamaica. The voyage took about three weeks as they did not come directly to the UK. His parents got employment at the British Motor Corporation at Cowley, his father was in Insurance and his Mother was a Secretary.

A few years later pictures was taken of all the family that appeared in the local newspaper. The family had come across at various times during the 1950s – the younger members were born in Oxford or Abingdon.

Some of those pictures appeared again in the Oxford Mail, a few weeks ago, when there was an exhibition at Oxford Town Hall Museum about the Windrush Generation (people who came over from Jamaica, Barbados and Trinidad & Tobago – invited to help rebuild post-War Britain).

There is a Windrush Court in Abingdon Business Park. It is named after the River Windrush that rises in the Cotswolds and passes Witney before joining the Thames near Oxford. The ship that brought the first people from the West Indies was also named after the River Windrush. This Guardian article explains how.

May 3rd

At the Abingdon Borough Police Court on Thursday, George Taylor, labourer, of Ock Street, was fined 6s, including costs, for allowing his chimney to be on fire.

Col. Robert Joyce Clarke, formerly of the firm of Messrs Clarke, Sons and Co., Abingdon, for many years the popular Captain of the Abingdon Territorials, and a former Town Councillor, and who has been awarded a D.S.O. in the late war, has been in command of a Machine Gun Corps in Italy, and has now taken a similar Corps to Russia.

Dr C. R Scott, M. B., Abingdon, Commandant of the Local Red Cross Hospital (Tesdale House) has received (in appreciation of his generous services) from the staff and friends, a cheque wherewith to purchase one of the Hospital billiard tables for his home use, and as a relic of the happy associations connected with the Hospital and patients.

May 10th

A children’s fancy dress dance took place at the Roysse Room, Abingdon, last week, in connection with the Children’s League of the Pity Branch of the S.P.C.C. (Society of Prevention of Cruelty to Children). There were upwards of 40 present, and a sum of nearly £5 was raised for the funds of the League.

The Church Council have decided to inaugurate a plan for the building of a Church Memorial Hall. The Abbey Mews, a piece of ground near St. Nicholas’ Church, in the Market Place, has been secured for the sum of £850. The approximate cost of the present scheme is stated to be £3,000, and appeal for that sum has been issued.

Abingdon telephone wires are now being laid on the underground system.

17th May

Abingdon Board of Guardians met on Monday last, at the Board Room at the Institution. The meeting decided to go back to pre-war holding of those meetings -fortnightly instead of monthly. There were about 40 applications for the post of Master and Matron of the Union. Four of these were selected for interviews with a sub-Committee, and the report submitted at this meeting. The Board elected Mr and Mrs Charles Howard, of 170, Battersea Bridge Road, salaries of £60 and £55 respectively, with board, residence, etc., at the Institution. Mr Howard was Master of the Uppingham Workhouse from April, 1910. During the war the Institution was taken over by the Military authorities and converted into a V.A.D. Hospital. Mr Howard then joined the Army and served three years in France and Italy. Mr and Mrs Howard have had experience of Poor Law work in London.

The Vicar of Abingdon states in the Parish Magazine for this month that the Vicarage House in Park Crescent is too large and expensive for the income of the living, and is very inconvenient in position for the Vicar as well as for those who may wish to see him, and asks parishioners interest themselves in securing suitable residence as a Vicarage.

24th May

R. E. Scrivener, Artists Rifles, O.T.C. (London Regiment), second son of Mr and Mrs Scrivener, of St. John’s Road, Abingdon, is gazetted Second Lieutenant and placed on reserve.

The Abingdon and District Alexandra Day Committee, at a recent meeting, fixed Saturday July 12th. for this year’s celebration in Abingdon and district. The accounts for the period of 1914—1918 shewed net proceeds of £2,264 from the various organised events. This sum had been distributed as follows Local general hospitals, £747; British Red Cross Society, £705; Belgium Relief Fund (local) £250; Y.M.C.A. Hut Fund. £212; Abingdon Red Cross Hospital, £143; smokes for sailors and soldiers, £104 ; and Dunstan’s Hostel for the Blind, £103.

31st May

Colonel R. J. Clarke, Royal Berks, formerly Captain of the Abingdon Territorials and a Town Councillor of Abingdon has received a further honour, having been awarded the Croce di Guerra by the King of Italy.

The Abingdon Town Band have started their pre-war entertainments of out-door dances in private grounds lent by residents.

The amount of the appeal of the Abingdon Roysse School War Memorial Fund has reached the sum of £1,034, towards the erection of a new wing to the School building and a Memorial Tablet.

The annual Rogationtide Processions to allotments by the Abingdon Church Clergy, Choir, and congregations took place on Sunday after Evensong. A procession was also held in tho afternoon by the school children to the school gardens. Hymns and prayers for the blessing of the crops were heartily joined in by a goodly number present.

The quarterly meeting of Abingdon Town Council was held on Thursday evening, the Mayor presiding…

An agreement with the Abingdon Pavlova Leather Factory for the disposal of their trade effluent has been made for a further six months. The Thames Conservators had written to the Council on the subject of the effluent of the Corporation Farm and the pollution of the Thames stations, and that unless immediate steps were taken to prevent the pollution, proceedings would be instituted. The Town Clerk was instructed to reply that the work was being carried out as expeditiously as possible to remedy the grievance.

A Sub-Committee appointed in respect of the Nags Head Inn property on the Abingdon Bridge reported the present position of affairs in connection with the site of the property pending between Christ Hospital to whom the property belonged, and Major Goldman who wished to acquire the property for his private use, and also the Hostels Company, Ltd., and that the following restrictions had been sent to the Hospital Governors: That this Committee considers inadvisable and against the best interests of the town that any portion of the Nags Head property, as one of the few remaining riverside places available at present to the public, should be dealt with in any manner whereby access to the river such as hitherto existed would, or might be curtailed.

The Council decided to allow the sum of not exceeding £300 for the Mayor for Peace Celebrations in the Borough, and a Committee was appointed for the same.

Thankyou for the extracts to the Faringdon Advertiser and Vale of the White Horse Gazette – All Rights Reserved. Pictures from Ebay, and an postcard of mine.

5th April
Mr and Mrs Joseph Fray, for many years master and matron of the Abingdon Workhouse, concluded their offices on Monday last, who after having resigned about two years ago, generously kept on the duties during the war. The Oxford Workhouse being occupied by the military, the inmates were transferred to the Abingdon Institution.and to mark their appreciation of Mr and Mrs Fray’s work during that time has presented them with an inscribed marble clock.

The demobilisation of the Abingdon Red Cross Hospital (Tesdale House) took place the 21st, and final staff meeting ceremony took place at the Council Chamber in the afternoon when the Matron Miss King was presented with an excellent tea service in recognition and gratitude for her work.

The Abingdon Church Boys Club has been restarted at the Old Foundry, near St Helen’s Church, by the river-side. The Rev C. S. Thomas, who left the Abingdon clerical staff to take up armv work, has again taken up the management of the club.

12th April

At the Abingdon Borough Police Court on Tuesday, Ernest Butler, labourer, Ock Street, Abingdon, was fined 7s 6d for being found drunk at the Horse and Jockey Inn, Ock Street. It was also reported that the Abingdon lad remanded to the Workhouse till a home could be found, had absconded from that institution that morning at 9 o’clock.

The supplies at Abingdon Cattle Market on Monday last were 22 butchers beasts and 44 fat sheep, all of which were allotted to Windsor.

Thomas George Smith, 23, of West Hendred, discharged soldier, remanded from Thursday last, was brought up charged with stealing from the Milton Military Stores Depot, a roll of rubberoide roofing, value 25s 5d., the property of the Air Ministry.

19th April
The Abingdon Cricket Club held a meeting last week to consider the restarting of the Club for the forthcoming cricket season. The Mayor presided, and it was agreed to prepare the ground and recommence practice as soon as possible. The funds of the Club are satisfactory. Many of the old members have been discharged from Military service and a busy cricket season is anticipated.

The working parties of the Abingdon Branch of the Berkshire Voluntary Association for war comforts to soldiers are discontinued, but are asked to continue the work on behalf of St. Dunstan’s Hostel for the Blind.

A fund has been started for the Memorial to Soldiers and Old Boys of Roysse School, Abingdon, who have fallen in the War, and it is suggested to add a wing to the building and place a memorial tablet in the School chapel. The list of subscriptions are …

26th April
Easter Services were well observed in the Abingdon Churches and Chapels, the decorations were very effective, and the congregations good. The offertories of St. Helen’s, St. Michael’s, and St. Nicholas’ Churches were given as an Easter offering to the Vicar.

A fire broke out in a cottage at Court 9, Ock Street, Abingdon, on Sunday evening, the occupant being an elderly man named Taylor. The fire was caused by a beam in the chimney becoming ignited. The Fire-Brigade’s prompt assistance prevented much damage from being done.

Thankyou to extracts from the Faringdon Advertiser and Vale of the White Horse Gazette – All Rights Reserved.

A lovely Bank Holiday Monday here in Abingdon. Our waterways are secure, or are they?.

People may sometimes wonder whether noticeboards at Abingdon Lock are put there for amusement or safety.

In this case it was amusing but important safety information. The Captain of Le Boat from Benson hit a shoal (sediment bank), and needed help to reverse to get back into the navigation channel.

After last weekend’s  WWII re-enactment event a new board has appeared at Abingdon Lock, about the Upper Thames Patrol – Defending the River against the Threat of Invasion.

The biggest danger to our waterways is the lack of funding to the environment agency. They do not have enough resources to keep our waterways safe for casual boaters.