The Pride of the Road, a steam roller built by Aveling & Porter in 1900, stopped for water in Abingdon yesterday. The roller was owned by Hinckley Rural District Council from 1900 to 1926 and was used to build and maintain roads in that area. Since then, it has had various owners and has become an exhibition vehicle.

ABINGDON PICTURE HOUSE – On Monday, the Stert Street Picture Palace was reopened, having as its star attraction ‘The Sheik’ which will be showing all this week. The interior decorations of the theatre are now complete.

YOUNG LEAGUERS’ UNION GARDEN PARTY A garden party in aid of the National Children’s Home was held at Springfield House, by kind permission of the Mayor and Mrs. Rippon, on Tuesday of last week. It was well attended, with tennis, skittles, an open-air concert party, and evening dancing among the many attractions. The Abingdon Orchestral Band was in attendance. The amount raised was £37 pounds, which has been sent directly to the home.

ROYSSE’s DAY The events in connection with Roysse’s Day at Abingdon School were held on June 29th. There was a service at Saint Helen’s Church at 2:30, with a sermon by the Reverend T. Laying, Rector of King’s Stanley. Afterwards, prizes were distributed by Mr. A.T. Lloyd, M.P. O.B.E. The headmaster and Mrs. Grundy hosted an ‘at home’ in the school grounds. The school regatta was held at the Wilsham Reach on Thursday afternoon, and on Saturday, the Old Boys’ cricket match resulted in a win for the Old Boys, for whom M.V. Riches, the Glamorgan captain, was playing.

ABINGDON CHOIR CONCERT – The Abingdon Free Church Choir, which has recently been formed, showed considerable talent in a programme of music at the Congregational Church. Mr. F. Cox ably conducted, and the several items reflected great credit on both the conductor and performers. A collection was made at the close, for the purpose of providing hymn books for use at the Free Church meetings.

BOROUGH POLICE – On Tuesday, Annie White, of no fixed abode, who was charged with being drunk and disorderly on the Oxford Road on the previous day, was discharged on promising to leave the town at once.

THE PARISH MAGAZINE announces that next week, the Reverend G A Studdert Kennedy, rector of Saint Edmund, Lombard Street, London, known during the war as “Woodbine Willie,” which he used as a nom-de-plume to poems written by him whilst chaplain of the forces will visit Abingdon and address meetings on behalf of the Fellowship.

CATTLE MARKET – There were larger supplies on Monday last with a distinct improvement in trade, especially for fat cattle which made from 60s to 67s per cwt (live weight) for the entry of 25. Pigs was not so plentiful but dearer, and mutton was also in keen demand. A fair supply of fat lambs, which were a trifle easier, up to 68s 6d. An average supply of calves made late rates. The supply of 10 dairy cows and heifers met a good clearing grade. A nice quality in-calf heifer from Mr. F.A. Smith made £31 5s.

THE BAPTIST CHURCH – The Endeavour members and friends’ annual summer outing took place last Thursday when a party of 60 journeyed by charabancs to Ashampstead. Tea was served in the village chapel, and in the evening, an outdoor service was held on the village green, conducted by the Pastor of Abingdon Baptist Church, Reverend J.P. Morris.

THE BERKs COUNTY MASTER BAKERS Association had an outing to Abingdon on Wednesday in last week. Mr. G. Palmer of Stert Street met the party and acted as a guide to several places of interest in the town, including the Guildhall to view paintings and also the borough plate and antiquities. Tea was served, and the pleasant visit ended with a visit to the Park and the use of the town club’s bowling greens.

THE ABBEY HOUSE ACQUIRED. At a special meeting of the Abingdon Town Council, a report of the General Purposes Committee, came up for consideration in respect to the above property. On July 3rd, the Mayor stated that an opportunity had been offered to the corporation to purchase the Abbey House and grounds, which stands in close proximity to the borough buildings. The grounds cover over 16 acres, which could be utilised by the council in various ways, and the house itself would provide offices and accommodation for the new town clerk. In addition, there was room for the highways department besides pleasure grounds being already laid out. The house was formerly the residence of the late Bishop of Reading, Dr. Randall, and the property was offered to the corporation by Mr. and Miss Randall on the condition that the property would be used for the good of the people of Abingdon. The price, which includes fixtures, fittings, etcetera, was offered at the modest sum of £5,500 pounds. The Council agreed to purchase the property and thanked Mr. and Miss Randall for their generosity.

NEW TOWN CLERK. (No local applications for the post.) A special meeting of the Abingdon Town Council was held on Wednesday evening last week for the purpose of appointing a town clerk for the borough. In respect to the appointment of the town clerk, the office was vacant through the resignation of Mr. H.G. D’almain, solicitor of The Square, Abingdon, who succeeded to the office after the death of the late Mr. Bromley Challoner, solicitor of Stert Street, who held the position for 36 years in the most able and dignified manner. There was a large number of applicants for the post, a full-time officer to have a salary of £350 a year. The committee appointed for interviewing the applicants recommended the appointment of Mr. Carlisle Croasdell of Wembley, and he was appointed. Mr. Croasdell, in 1901, was appointed assistant clerk to Handsworth Urban District Council in Birmingham. He was a barrister and in 1911 took up bar practice, and during the war, he was engaged in the legal department of the War Office. Since the war, Mr. Croasdell has been an adviser to the Metropolitan Borough Council of Camberwell in matters of local government work.

ABINGDON SKIFF REGATTA. The Abingdon Skiff Regatta, which has been resuscitated, took place on Saturday under the rules of the ARA and SRA. Mortimer Singer KBE JP was the patron of the evening, and the Mayor of Abingdon was the president. The event took place on the Wilsham Reach of the River Thames near St. Helen’s Church and the Nag’s Head Meadow, which was utilized for committee tents and enclosures. During the evening, a concert party provided a capital program of music and dancing on the tennis lawn. The Abingdon Orchestra Band supplied a good selection of music during the afternoon and evening. The following is a list of events: Gents’ Doubles, Gents’ Singles, Canoe Doubles, and Singles, Gondola, Gents’ Doubles(Police), Youth Double Skiff Race. The prizes were distributed by the Mayor of Abingdon at the close of the races. The concert was held in the evening from a specially constructed raft, which had been tastefully decorated. There was a goodly number of illuminated boats and some excellent firework displays at the end of the evening.

GROCERS’ INSTITUTE – Mr. A. E. Tombs, of the firm of Messrs. Rant and Tombs, Ltd., grocers, and provision merchants, of Ock Street, Abingdon, has been elected a member of the Incorporated Institute of Certified Grocers. The election took place at a Council held at the Polytechnic, London, recently.

BOROUGH POLICE COURT The only business at this Court on Tuesday was the submitting of plans for re-building of the “George and Dragon,” Stert Street, Abingdon, for Messrs. Morland and Co., United Breweries, Abingdon.

WEDDING – The wedding of Miss Mabel Wills, of The Bridge, and Mr. F. Hart, of Leeds, took place on Tuesday, July 24th. The bride, who was given away by her cousin, Mr. R. Gomer, was dressed in white crepe-de-chine, with a wreath veil. The two bridesmaids were Misses M. and B. Gomer, in primrose dresses with brown lace hats, and altogether made a very pretty group. Many friends and relatives were present. A list of the presents is not available, but they were numerous, useful, and ornamental.

PARK BOWLING CLUB – On Thursday afternoon last, the bowling competition for the “Preston” Challenge Cup was held on the Albert Park green when teams from Oxford and Reading competed. The weather was cloudy and showery, but the attendance of spectators was considerable. The several games were well contested, and in the final East Oxford beat Oxford City. The trophy was handed to the winners by the donor of the cup, Alderman A. E. Preston, who congratulated the winners on their excellent play.

DEATH OF A WELL-KNOWN TRADESMAN. It is with regret that we have to announce the death of Mr. William Barnett, of Ock Street, Abingdon, the well-known manufacturer of mineral waters and wholesale confectioner, which took place on Friday last. The funeral was held on Tuesday afternoon at the Abingdon Cemetery, the first portion of the service being at St. Michael’s Church. For several years, deceased was a very useful member of the Abingdon Town Council, and would doubtless, if he had not resigned, have held the office of Mayor. His views on all topics of the day were generally well thought out, and his talents in business were shown in the successful enterprise he had built up. Of a somewhat retiring disposition, he was ever ready to help any good work for his native town and showed, in all things, an unostentatious spirit.

Thank you for the news extracts from the North Wilts Herald, Reading Standard and Oxford Chronicle and Reading Gazette in the British Newspaper Archive. The adverts are from the North Berks Herald and Abingdon Directory, with some additional pictures (Woodbine Willie from the Bath Chronicle and Weekly Gazette and Woodbines from Ebay.)

Thank you to Ben for sending the photo of the scaffolding being put up around Albert. The scaffolding is now above Albert’s head, so he is not as visible as he used to be.

Albert is looked after by a charity called the Albert Memorial Trust, which is responsible for maintaining, preserving, administering, and keeping the memorial in good repair. In 2016, a survey of the memorial identified some repair work that needed to be done, but nothing urgent. This work is now being undertaken to restore the monument to its former glory.

In the 1980s, more substantial work was needed to repair the memorial. At that time the Albert Memorial Trust was set up. Thanks to the efforts of the Albert Memorial Trust, the memorial is now in much better condition.

Source of information: https://www.abingdon.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Item-7-Grant-application-letter-Albert-Memorial-Trust-Community-Committee-7.2.23.pdf.

NORTH BERKS AGRICULTURAL SHOW – By rotation, this year’s Society show will be held in Abingdon, on a formal invitation from the Abingdon Corporation. This has been done, and the show will be held in Abingdon in September next.

THE OFFICE OF TOWN CLERK – The vacancy in the office of town clerk of Abingdon, consequent on the present Town Clerk’s resignation, is to be advertised. The terms are that he shall reside in Abingdon, the offices to be provided by the Corporation, and the salary to be £350.

BRITISH LEGION – On Monday evening, the Mayor presided at a well-attended meeting in the Roysse Room, Borough Buildings, held to reorganize the local branch of the British Legion.

CHOIR ROBES SUPPLIED — St. Helen’s Church choir boys have been supplied with new choir robes through the efforts of Mr. Morris of Clock House and other church workers. The material was bought from the Hawkins Trust fund, which provides church necessities.

COUNTY BENCH — On Monday, before Messrs. W. Docker Drysdale, W. Hayes, and E. Green, John Wigley of Church Street, Didcot, was fined for not having collars on two dogs bearing the name and address of the owner.

FREE CHURCH SERVICE — At the Free Church’s midweek service last week, Rev. C. H. Gill, pastor of the Congregation Church, was the speaker. Rev J. P. Morris, Baptist Minister, took the opportunity to express gratitude for his work at the Free Church services and to wish Mr and Mrs Gill success in their work at Morley.

DEMONSTRATION FAILS — having recently acquired a new pump, Abingdon Fire Brigade invited the townspeople to witness a demonstration of its powers in the Nag’s Head Meadows near Abingdon Bridge on Wednesday night. The Mayor and Mayoress attended, and there were many interested townspeople. However, the pump trial was unsuccessful as it could only draw in the water but not eject it. Every effort was made to get it to work but without avail. Therefore, the planned demonstration had to be postponed.

THE LATE MR. GIBBENS – The death of Mr Joseph Gibbens, of the firm Gibbens & Son, saddlers and harness makers, Broad Street, occurred on Tuesday morning at his residence. He collapsed suddenly after talking to his son and passed away. He had been in poor health for some time and had been attended by Dr Challenor. He was a staunch churchman and a well-respected member of the local Conservative Party. He served on the Executive Committee of the North Berks Association. He was 76 years old.

AN ADDER, 28 inches in length and over three inches in girth, claimed to be a record in this country, has been killed near Abingdon.

MR. AND MRS. JOSEPH JAMES, of Abingdon, have celebrated their golden wedding. They are both receiving the old-age pension. Mr James worked in the building trade for 60 years, and his wife worked for many years in Mssrs Clarke’s clothing factory.

PERCY SOWLES, the landlord of the “White Hart,” Faringdon, has been fined £5 for giving a drink to a constable while on duty. The constable found a window open after midnight at the hotel and called attention to it. He was asked inside, and the defendant invited him to have a glass of ginger wine.

MAINTENANCE ARREARS: James Pugh, whose address was given in Abingdon and who was described as a professional footballer playing with Manchester United last season, was summoned at Abertillery Police Court, Monmouthshire, on Wednesday, in respect of his maintenance arrears due to his wife, Ivy Valetta. The Magistrates’ Clerk said that the defendant had written him a letter stating that he was out of work but expecting to get employment at any time now, promising that if his wife waited awhile, he would wipe out the arrears and keep up his payments.

BAKERS AND CONFECTIONERS’ ASSOCIATION. At the recent election of members of the Association of Master Bakers and Confectioners, Mr G. F. Palmer, of Stert St., Abingdon, was again elected on the roll of the Association. Mr Palmer has been a member of the Board of Guardians for over sixteen years.

The Abingdon district of the Pearl Assurance Company Limited successfully won the challenge cup for the best branch increase in 1922. Abingdon district won the prize by an increase of £1,586 8s. 10d., with High Wycombe being second with an increase of £1,390 10s. 1d.

BOROUGH BENCH. William J. Ruddock and Sarah Ruddock, husband and wife, fishmongers of Ock Street, were summoned for assaulting James Hemmings, cycle dealer, 125 Ock Street. The case arose out of a quarrel concerning tales about Mrs Ruddock. During an argument, Ruddock struck Hemmings. Mr Murphy, a solicitor, appeared for the complainant, and Mr A. Walsh for the defendants. The bench dismissed the summons against Mrs Ruddock and fined her husband 10s. and 7s.6d. costs.

ABINGDON. SKIFF REGATTA.—Arrangements have been now made sufficient to issue a list of the events for the Abingdon skiff under the rules of the A.R.A. and B.R.A. on Saturday, July 14th. Sir Mortimer Singer, K.B.E., J.P., of Milton Hill, is the patron, and the Mayor of Abingdon is the president. There are ten events, and Mr F. Stevens, Radley Road, is the secretary. A concert party and a band are included in the programme.

Thank you for the news extracts and adverts in the British Newspaper Archive from the Oxford Chronicle and Reading Gazette, North Wilts Herald, Berks and Oxon Advertiser.