Preston Road Community Centre has its 50th anniversary this month.

The building is owned by the Vale of White Horse District Council but leased and run for the community by a charity. The original building (including a large main hall, kitchen and bar, storage rooms, lavatories, and an office) was completed in May 1975.

Since 1975, the entrance has changed, and moveable partitions have been added, allowing the large hall to be reconfigured into a medium hall, small hall, and lounge.

Many community groups have used the centre over the years, but bingo has been a constant – originally run by Abingdon Boys Football Club and now run by volunteers from the centre.  This evening, bingo players played an extra free game to celebrate the anniversary. It had a prize of £50.

Most of the players were still very young in 1975. Some were not even born.

Someone remembered when Doug Lee was the chairman at Preston Road Community Centre and how the Abingdon pub darts final was played there when there was a bar. The old bar space is used now for storage by the South Abingdon Food Bank.

1944 was a year of contrasts in Abingdon. While the town celebrated the birth of new cultural organisations like the Friends of Abingdon Civic Society and the Abingdon Drama Club, the armed forces were still fighting across Europe and Asia in the Second World War.

The summer of 1944 brought both hope and heartbreak. The successful D-Day landings in June offered a glimmer of hope for an Allied victory, but the ongoing conflict continued to cast a shadow. News of missing, killed, and decorated servicemen featured often in the local news.

At home, the war’s impact was also felt with armed force personnel being billeted in the area, but the privations at home were starting to be reduced. Some street lights had been turned on and the Abingdon Fireguards were disbanded in October. The Home Guard, a civilian defence force, was disbanded in December just as the Abingdon Drama Club was being formed. While the Home Guard’s final parade made headlines, the new drama club received only a brief mention in the North Berks Herald.

The formation of the Friends of Abingdon Civic Society made headlines news in May, as did their purchase of the three cottages in Thame Street in December. This achievement demonstrated a commitment to preserving the town’s heritage. Those cottages were to become the Unicorn Theatre, where the Abingdon Drama Club would perform.

Thank you to The North Berks Herald for the information.

Fabulous Flowers sold bouquets of flowers.

Lottie’s Bakeaway sold boxes of cupcakes tied with red bows.

The Shed sold wicker hearts.

It was Valentine’s Day today, and it fell on the same day as the start of Lent. Some of the Abingdon churches held Ash Wednesday services. The Caldecott Road roundabout had a banner: ‘You are Loved.’

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The Abingdon Blog, started in 2006 by local resident [your name], has reached a major milestone: over 5 million unique visitors.

The blog covers a wide range of topics related to Abingdon, including local news, events, history, and culture. It has become a valuable resource for residents and visitors alike.

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[Your name] has also been recognised for their work on the blog. In 2011, they received a Mayor’s Award from then-Mayor Mike Badcock.

The Abingdon Blog is a valuable asset to the Abingdon community. It is a place where people can come to learn about the town, connect with others, and share their stories.

Here are some additional ideas for making the article more engaging:

Add a personal anecdote or two about your experience running the blog.
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P.S. Not bad. I’m not sure about ‘connect with others’ and ‘share your stories’ since that is where Facebook and other social media are better. Natural Intelligence will be back in control on the next post.