Annie’s at the Boathouse opened in September 2017 and closed at the end of last year. The cafe will reopen again under new management and under a new name.

There has been a lot of work going on inside and out as the new team refurbishes the cafe.

The Nag’s Head has installed a defibrillator outside the pub at a cost of more than £2,000, thanks to their fundraising efforts.

The Thames Valley Croquet Club continue to play during the winter months. They are there on Monday and Friday, weather permitting. Playing times are:
Winter – 11.00 am to 2.00 pm
Summer – 1.00 pm to 5.00 pm

New members are always welcome. See https://thamesvalleycroquetclub.co.uk/.

Michael was visiting the Vintners’ Company Hall in London. With its Royal Charter granted in 1363, the Vintners’ Company is one of the earliest London Livery Companies. What concerns Abingdon is that they co-organise the Swan Upping and will be one of the boat crews, along with the Royal boats and the Dyers’, that bring the swan upping to Abingdon this Friday.

Michael took pictures of their wall display showing the swan upping.

This one reads, ‘No, it’s not a footballer’s outing. That’s swan upping. They catches the birds and marks ’em to prevent the smart boys from doing a switch and serving ’em up as Duck a la Maitre d’Hotel in the joints in Soho.’

They also display a stuffed swan.

This blog could well report on the swan upping on Friday if I get there at the right time. There is no right time. But I will be there at around 5 pm at Abingdon Bridge and will wait if I haven’t already missed them.

Thanks to Tim for the report and pictures:

Several years ago a boat broke free from its mooring and sank in the middle of the Thames off the field near swift ditch.

Today it was being recovered using heavy equipment that had been brought in to carry out repairs to the rail bridge further upstream.

As the new owner of the field has banned any further mooring, loose boats will now come from the other bank.