At the top of West St Helen Street, the barriers have now been removed. Pedestrians can once again use the pavement on the left when heading up to High Street, and the alleyway leading down to the back of the Grapes pub, and the rear of other properties, is open again.

On the Market Place, members of the Christ Army Charismatic Ministries were offering food to people passing by — rice and peas and spices, chicken and salad. One young woman explained that they were also there to share the ‘good news’. The group meets at Larkmead School and grew from a small gathering that began near Dalton Barracks. They now serve food and offer to pray for people in the town as part of their outreach activities four times a year.

Above the County Hall Museum, a red, white and green flag was flying. At first it appeared to be the flag of a country. I looked up red, white and green and found Hungary, which seemed unlikely. The town council’s flag policy, has that 14 December marks the anniversary of the passing of the Representation of the People Act 1918, when the suffrage flag — purple, white and green — will be flown. On looking again, the top stripe must be purple. The suffrage flag is derived from the suffragette flag.

The Abingdon Herald reported about Public Toilets in Abingdon under the headline Public toilets in Abingdon close after vandalism. Cllr Charlie Birks raised the topic of public toilets at the Town Council meeting on 30th March and tried to put pressure on the Vale of White District Council to get them all operational. I also got an email from J who was concerned that the lack of public toilets was making it more difficult for some vulnerable people to visit Abingdon Town Centre. As a result, I went to explore.

The toilets in the Abbey Meadow were working and were being well used. I had to wait a couple of minutes until I could get a picture without people going in, coming out, or loitering outside. The circular glass windows have been replaced with wood and are now more vandal proof. The vandalised radar key has been fixed.

At the Charter, the drains from the men’s toilets keep getting blocked because of subsidence and need digging out and replacing. A notice has been put for men to use the disabled toilet instead (radar key access has been removed). This will be a big job (apology for the pun).

The Hales Meadow toilet is usually only accessible with coins, and at present, the coin slot is taped over. There are lots of notices but none of them has information about the closure. The Herald reports that the door was vandalised.

Cyclists were gathering on Abingdon Market Place.

Reflections on the River Thames were crystal clear.

At St Helen’s Church the 8.00 am Holy Communion was already underway – the first of 3 Sunday services.

Fishing had been going fairly well until the first narrow boat appeared, followed by a gaggle of geese who insisted that this was just the spot they wanted to be.

Conkers were falling. A couple of tents could be seen near the trees and bushes.

On the other side, on the dewy grass of Abingdon Vale Cricket Club, a caravan club had come to visit.

2016 has been a good season and in 2017 caravanners will be able to watch Abingdon Vale playing in Division 1. Abingdon Vale Cricket Club have been promoted.

At the Unicorn Theatre – Abingdon Drama Club perform “I Do, I Do, I Do” from Wednesday, 9th July to Saturday, 12th July, 7:30pm-10:00pm. This is a UK premiere of a play by Robin Hawdon, performed in the 70th anniversary year of the Drama Club.

At The Crown and Thistle on Friday there is a warm up event for the Oxfordshire Chilli Festival. No tickets necessary, but donations on the door for the chosen charities – Leah’s Wish and the British Heart Foundation. (The Chilli Festival itself is in Abingdon-on-Thames on 16th August.)

Then at the weekend in Abingdon I see there is:

• Archaeology Uncovered – take along your finds to Abingdon Museum –
  Saturday, 12th July, 10:30am-3:30pm
• Abingdon-on-Thames Youth Music Festival – Market Place – Saturday, 12th July, 11:00am-2:00pm
• Rodney Quakes’ Shindig, with some familiar faces, play Electric Folk at The Old Anchor – Saturday, 12th July



• Music for a Summer Evening – Long Gallery, Abbey Building –  Sunday, 13 July 2014 – 7:30pm