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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.

In a recent interview, [your name] said that they are “amazed and humbled” by the blog’s success. “I started the blog as a way to share my love of Abingdon with others,” they said. “I never imagined that it would reach so many people.”

The blog has seen a number of traffic spikes over the years, most notably after a flood in 2007 and the publication of an article about the blog in the Abingdon Herald. However, [your name] says that the blog’s success is due to the consistent support of its readers.

“I am so grateful to everyone who reads the Abingdon Blog,” [your name] said. “It is your support that makes the blog possible.”

[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.
Share some of your favourite blog posts or comments.
Highlight some of the ways that the blog has impacted the Abingdon community.
Ask your readers for their thoughts on the blog and what they would like to see more of in the future.

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.

RAF Abingdon opened 90 years ago on 1st September 1932, and Elizabeth Drury has made a display in Abingdon Library to remember the date. The RAF base was initially home to bombers. From World War Two, bombers on active service were transferred to the east of the country, and training of bomber crews happened at RAF Abingdon. In 1948, RAF aircraft flew from Abingdon to West Berlin to drop food supplies around the clock to break the siege.

The Queen and Prince Philip visited RAF Abingdon in 1968 for the RAF’s Golden Jubilee.

The RAF Abingdon base closed as a result of Glasnost (Russian for openness), the peace dividend following the opening of the USSR to democracy, on 15th December 1992.

(Picture of the Queen’s visit from The Reading Evening Post – 4th July 1991 – thanks to www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk. The RAF badge is part of the display at Abingdon Museum.)

Joan Watt had her 100th birthday on Monday 4th October in Abingdon. Family travelled from Plymouth, Bristol, West Bromwich, Stafford and Lincolnshire to celebrate this special occasion.

This picture, taken in September 2018, shows Joan with Ena Mitchell. Ena is now 103.

Joan was born in Deal, Kent in 1921. The family moved to Lodge Hill which was a munitions depot, near Chatham. A Naval launch would cross the river Medway to pick up the school children and take them to the dockyard and the children could then walk to school in the town.

At the start of the Second World War Joan was an aircraft spotter.

She and her husband moved to Abingdon in April 1963. She has three daughters, five grandchildren and seven great grandchildren.

Joan and Ena are well known at Trinity church. Joan has been knitting clothing for the homeless for 25 or 30 years. In her early 90s she walked all around Abingdon, including the mile to Trinity and back again, but cannot walk so much anymore.

These pictures were taken on the day of family and Joan receiving her telegram from the Queen.

Thanks to Ben for sending this…

The Progress Pride Flag is fluttering proudly outside Abingdon School during LGBTQ+ month.

The Progress Pride flag was created in 2018, based on the mainstream Pride flag but with the addition of a chevron which is comprised of black, brown, blue, pink and white to emphasize the inclusion of Black, Brown, and trans people in the LGBTQ+ community.