I was looking back through the archives for a picture of the weir/lock keeper and found this one of him working hard at the weir in July 2007 in the aftermath of a huge deluge.

He is to retire this month. The name tag was still there last weekend but will soon be gone.

The refurbishment of Abingdon Lock is nearly complete for whoever takes over next, if there is to be a live in lock keeper.

The sun has been shining and river levels are back to normal.

I noticed for the first time today that fences have been erected near Abingdon Bridge with notices warning of unstable banks.

A hole has developed at one point, but the fence is quite extensive, and has reduced the amount of free mooring.

There was another hole in the tarmac path just the other side of the bridge last spring, which got repaired, and there is still the hole in St Helen’s Wharf awaiting repairs.

On this old postcard (I have a copy but not the copyright) the River Thames looks barely navigable near Abingdon Lock with all the small islands and the moldering banks. If there were nobody to maintain the river I guess it might revert to such a state within a couple of generations.

Last week the work to re-line Abingdon Lock appeared to be back on track, the floods having abated for three or four weeks.

This week the flood waters are back, not quite to the same extent as in previous floods, but enough to fill the lock chamber, make the boards float, and make work stop.

The flood water of the River Thames has receded, and one boat has been left high and dry near Abingdon Lock.

A tree has also become lodged on the top end of Nags Head island. Fields are still damp and muddy and the weekly Parkrun has been cancelled again this week. I will get a good picture when it resumes as there often lots of runners and it is an impressive sight.