As many of you will have read in the Abingdon Herald, the Kingfisher Canoe Club has been granted permission to put up a canoe storage hut on the land near Abingdon Lock – owned by the Environment Agency (it is the grassy area surrounded by trees indicated).

The Canoe Club had to leave their previous base on land owned by the army at Wilsham Road. The army will be demolishing and rebuilding their buildings on the site. Then a year or so ago the Vale of White Horse District Council backed out of a plan to allow the storage hut on meadow land near the lock.

So this plan is the last chance for the canoe club to carry on. They have a strong record of helping local residents get active on the river for over 40 years. They also do a lot to inspire and train young people.

There is still paperwork needs doing by the Vale to ensure the lease with the EA goes through. So that could still potentially hold up the project.

In the meantime , the canoe club are looking for grants and company sponsorship to help them with funding. They are a registered charity and are run entirely by volunteers with members. Please contact David Surman via davidsurman@hotmail.com or www.kingfishercanoeclub.co.uk.

The second annual Prosecco in the Park event at Rye Farm Meadow was postponed last week because of the threat of storms.

The postponed event is on this weekend and the organisers were making final preparations this afternoon. Prosecco in the Park involves watching films and listening to DJ music and enjoying drinks from the cocktail / Prosecco bars.

Across the river a fence has now been installed to keep geese away from the Abbey Meadows water feature / picnic area.

No attempt has been made to clear away all the goose droppings yet, and the fence is not completely successful.

Nearby the Open Air swimming pool is doing very well, as is the play park, and the Abbey Gardens.

The traditional Swan Upping will arrive this Friday in Abingdon. It is the annual census and inspection and ringing of the swans led my the master of the Queen’s swans.

There are a family of  six cygnets, mum and dad, who can be seen on the River Thames in Abingdon.

They could escape being upped if they stay near Abingdon Lock as the swan upping normally ends at Abingdon Bridge.

The swan upping is partly ceremonial but does include a number of scientists who want to study what is happening to the swan population year by year.

Here is the riverside view towards St Helen’s Church taken from Wilsham Road.

Here is a similar view from an Andrew Warland postcard.

The factory chimney has gone, and there are more trees now, but there are the same historic buildings: church, almshouses, bridge, Anchor Inn, malthouse.

The riverside view of Abingdon coming upstream shows one of the most ancient, picturesque, and interesting towns on the River Thames – then and now.