Back to school this week for many. Clarkes shoe shop in Abingdon was busy the weekend before last. The barbers were busy last weekend and I ended up queuing in both.

Unlike previous weeks, there were not many families in the Abbey Meadow play area this evening. A couple were eating a large packet of crisps gazing out over the weir. A man was looking down the river from the Abingdon Lock fence.

We walked on, and as we looked back the man, and the crisp eaters were still there gazing at the River Thames. I took this view of the County Hall Museum seen through the lights on Nags Head Island.

Then this one of the sky with the clouds in long furrows. We bought the Abingdon Herald from the Co-op on the way home and looked first at the two page feature of the Wallingford Bunkfest last weekend.

What a remarkable event that is – taking over the town centre for three days.

The Friends of Abingdon organised some Bank Holiday Walks. There were four in the morning and four in the afternoon. In the morning (seen here) you could discover Abingdon Abbey, follow the steps of St Edmund of Abingdon,

circumnavigate the Abingdon Borough boundary from 1556,

or visit some alternative flowerbeds created by the Abingdon Carbon Cutters.

There were six alternative gardens: at Station House, in the Abbey Gardens (Pictured), beside the public toilets in the Abbey Grounds, by the kiosk of the Open Air Pool, alongside the new play area in the Abbey Grounds,

and the wild flower garden in the Abbey Meadow.

The late May Bank Holiday is an opportunity to join some free organised walks round Abingdon.

MORNING WALKS ~ leave the Market Place at 10:30 am

The Boundary Walk follows the Town Boundary as it was when the Royal Charter was granted to Abingdon-on-Thames by Queen Mary in 1556. You will be accompanied by a Town Crier. (About 4 miles and 2 hrs).

A member of the Twin Towns Society will tell you about the history of Abingdon, the Great Abbey Church which once dominated the town, and its associated centuries old medieval buildings, today owned and cared for by the Friends of Abingdon. (About 1½ hrs).

Have you noticed vegetables growing in flowerbeds in Abbey Meadow and Abbey Gardens? Or the beautiful pollinator-friendly beds near the play-park? Or the wildflower maze on the Meadow? A child-friendly, accessible stroll round some of the projects run by Abingdon Carbon Cutters. (About 1hr).

Enjoy a tour around the centre of the town to places connected with St Edmund of Abingdon who became the Archbishop of Canterbury in 1233. Hear from an enthusiast about Abingdon`s most famous son. (About 1½ hrs)

AFTERNOON WALKS ~ leave the Market Place at 2pm

Join the Abingdon Naturalists on a nature walk to Radley Lakes where you can enjoy tea and cakes organised by the Friends of Radley Lakes and follow the trail round the main lake before returning to the town centre. (About 5 miles)

Do you know how many Rivers and Streams flow in and around the town? Hear from an enthusiast about well-known and lesser-known waterways starting in the town centre then out to the countryside and the Swift Ditch. (About 4½mls, 2½hrs. Shorten to 3 miles, 1½ hours by returning on your own from the lock)

Another opportunity to hear about the history of the town and the Lost Abbey from a member of The Friends of Abingdon (About 1½hrs)

From the 17th to the 20th century the centre of Abingdon became a Hive of Industry. Join the town archivist on a visit to places producing a variety of goods from beer and books to carpets and scientific instruments. (About 1½hrs)

For the latest news see: www.friendsofabingdon.org.uk

The annual January 1st Christian Aid Sponsored Walk met at St Helen’s church centre. For the first time the eight mile walk was entirely in Abingdon. It began by going round South Abingdon, and then went round part of North Abingdon.

Cliff Marshall, the co-ordinator, gave instructions and reminded people that the government would double all the sponsorship money they raised for Christian Aid.

An hour later, at 11 am, on the Market Place, participants of the Boundary Walk were photographed for the Oxford Mail / Abingdon Herald before leaving on the 4 mile walk round the 1556 Abingdon Borough boundary.

Councillor Helen Pighills, a former Mayor of Abingdon, led the walk, helped by Patrick Bird, of the Guild of Abingdon Town Criers.

Because the Ock Valley walk is still closed the Boundary Walk had to be diverted down Caldecott Road, along the route of the former canal. There they met the Christian Aid walk coming the other way.

Soon after that it rained heavily on both walks for about twenty minutes. But spirits were not dampened. Patrick Bird invited anybody listening to come and join the boundary walk, despite the rain.

Happy New Year!