This year’s Abingdon Boundary Walk had more than 80 people taking part. The day was dry and the temperature a little over freezing. Before setting off, the group gathered for a photograph, intended for use in the Town Council magazine. The Town Crier warned anyone on the run from the law that they might wish to avoid appearing in the picture.

The walk was led by Cllr Elio Astone, with historical insights from former Mayor, Cllr Gabby Barody. The Town Crier announced each stop and encouraging participants to shout ‘Abingdon-on-Thames!’ at the end of every proclamation.

Cllr Elio Astone described this year’s walk as a more light-hearted version of the event. He replaced the usual antique reading of the 1556 charter boundary with quizzes and anecdotes.

The walk headed first to Abingdon Lock, crossing the weir, and back. This was to view a genuine ‘A’ Abingdon boundary stone early on – the reason for doing the boundary walk anti-clockwise rather than the usual direction. It did mean one family who arrived late and tried to catch up by going clockwise met the walk half way round.

In Penlon Place, at the engravings representing Abingdon’s historic industries, Cllr Elio Astone invited the group to guess which trades were being depicted. The large scissors prompted a suggestion of ‘barbers’. The answer was leather working.

The walk also stopped at the junction of Radley Road and Oxford Road, where a boundary stone once stood. The closest surviving relative is a highway boundary marker.

A substantial looking boundary stone near the John Mason bus stop may have been placed there as a student prank – according to hearsay.

In Albert Park, by the statue of Prince Albert, Cllr Gabby Barody spoke about the ancient charity Christ’s Hospital of Abingdon, explaining how it continues to support families in need, look after the park and alms houses, and with the town council to look after the Albert Monument.

Another stop was made near the Ock Bridge on Drayton Road. Cllr Elio Astone suggested it is the oldest bridge in Abingdon, or at least contains some of the oldest surviving bridge structure.

The final stop was at St Helen’s Wharf, where Cllr Elio Astone rounded things off with a short quiz to test how well people had been listening. There were 59 people who made it all the way round. Three cheers followed for those leading the walk.

Pete Skuse says ‘It only seems like yesterday that I sent you details of the 10th anniversary of the health walks. Today we had a walk followed by a picnic at the Abbey Sailing Club to celebrate 20 years of the Abingdon Health walks. The walks have been coordinated by Viv Boorman for all this time. The health walks are now called the Abingdon Community Walks and have four start venues in the town.

Our short walk before the festivities followed parts of the newly created South Abingdon Nature Trails.

For more details of the Abingdon Community walks please go to: Community Walks | GO Active (getoxfordshireactive.org)’

The Friends of Abingdon organised a series of Bank Holiday walks today, all departing from the Market Place. In the morning there were four walks on offer, and all places were filled. Penny Clover led a walk exploring the historic boundaries of Abingdon. John Killick guided participants on a nature walk through the Abbey Meadows, showcasing the area’s biodiversity. There was an “Edible Abingdon” walk.

And for the historians, there was a walk around the historic pubs of Abingdon.

The town crier helped lead the boundary walk.

In the afternoon, I led a walk highlighting Abingdon’s public artworks. The surprise hit was the Octagon sculpture near the Old Gaol. Many participants were surprised to learn this land is freely accessible.

The other afternoon walks were: Abingdon’s Oppidum, Rivers of Abingdon, and a nature walk with David Guyoncourt.