On Saturday, Brian Eastoe, the tutor of the local woodcarvers associations, was doing a good job of guiding people into the Community Free Space to see the carvings. He joked that we would be allowed to leave once we had voted for our favourite three wood carvings, and signed the visitors book.

Wood carving was happening on the premises, and Brian, was looking to get as many opinions as possible on the recent works.

Some works took a huge amount of work and looked very cleverly executed. Others were simple with a few simple curves.

All was going well. We filled in our 1,2,3 on the slip provided, and wrote something in the visitors book, and were about to leave, but then out of the blue Brian said that Van Gogh was not a skilled painter, or something similar. My wife looked astonished and said she could not believe he had said that. A very robust discussion followed.

Over the last week there has been an exhibition at the Abingdon County Hall Musuem about one of the most influential novelists of the twentieth century – Dorothy Richardson, who was born in Abingdon.

She lived for the first 8 years of her life in Abingdon and the exhibition tells us about her grandfather – a successful local trader, and her father who aspired to escape trade and become a gentleman of leisure.

She lived for the first 8 years of her life at number 18 Park Crescent in Abingdon.

A few years ago I believe there was a discussion at the Oxfordshire Blue Plaques scheme about who next to honour in Abingdon. In contention was Arthur Preston, a local historian and civic dignitary of local importance, and Dorothy Richardson, the creator of a new style of female novel, labeled ‘stream of consciousness’. They both lived at the same house, and the blue plaque went to Arthur Preston.

Dorothy Richardson is held in great honour and people came on pilgrimage throughout the week of the exhibition from far flung places.

This was also a chance for some of us who live in  the town of her birth to become acquainted with her works for the first time.

She wrote a series of thirteen novels – together called Pilgrimage – following the life of Miriam. The first is called ‘Pointed Roofs’. You can find out more at http://dorothyrichardson.org/ which includes a review of the exhibition at the Dorothy Richardson Blog.

The Mayor Making began in a non-traditional way – Mr Hemmings Abingdon Traditional Morris Dancers have now been joined by some young ladies.

For the second year in a row the ceremony took place at St Helens Church, and Reverend Paul Smith began and ended the Mayor Making with some prayers.

Abingdon Town Band played music before, during and after the ceremony.

The new Mayor is Jan Morter – a well known councillor, and music teacher in these parts.

Alice Badcock, the previous Mayor, is seen here with some past Mayors (from left to right) … Lorraine Oates (2007-8), Alice Badcock(2016-17), Julie Mayhew-Archer (1997-8), Helen Pighills(2015-16), Jeanette Halliday (1998-9). And behind them Duncan Brown(2010-11) with child, and Samantha Bowring(2013-14).

The new Deputy Mayor is Margaret Crick – a very hard working councillor.

Nigel Warner, our excellent Town Clerk, officiated, and is seen here watching as Margaret signs the oath of office.

The Mayor Making is conducted as a ceremonial Council Meeting, where: Mayor, Deputy Mayor, Committee Chairs and Vice-Chairs, for the next year, are all voted in.

At the end everybody was invited to the South Aisle for a drink. This is the official photographer who will send pictures to the papers and post some on The Abingdon Facebook page.