Helen sent me a flyer for the next big litter pick on 26th June. Thankyou to Newcomer for the important comment on the topic yesterday.

26th June is the same day as The Big Splash Open Day at the Abbey Buildings ( 10:00 am until 12:30 pm), where there will be dancing, live music, theatre, historic tours, and free refreshments.

Diana sent me an invitation to the Abingdon Artists Summer Art Exhibition which starts on Monday at St Helens Church, with original paintings, artwork and cards for sale.

The Abbey Cinema is open and features: Nomadland, the winner of the Oscar for the best film; The Father, the film about dementia in which Antony Hopkins won an Oscar; Euro 2020 football, including England v Scotland on 18th June; and family shows.

In the Oxfam Shop there is a reminder that June is the month to celebrate the LGBT+ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, other) community and a chance get better at EDI (Equality, Diversity and Inclusion) of all people who get picked on for looking different.

A new coffee outlet has opened in what was the TSB Bank. Missing Bean have been in Oxford since 2009 and they have now opened in Abingdon and will also open in Banbury. They are an independent company who work directly with farmers and pay a fair price for the coffee they produce. They also roast their own coffee in East Oxford.

Nightlife has returned to Abingdon with pubs and restaurants open inside since May 21st.

The museum has also re-opened. Bookings can be made at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/visit-abingdon-museum-tickets-112962584130.

The Abingdon town flag is flying at half mast on the County Hall roof. The town council web site says that Mrs Rhoda (Sue) Crane has passed away at the age of 95. She served as the Mayor of Abingdon in 1993/94.

The Local Excellence Market was on yesterday (Saturday), with the zero-waste coffee event.

There were also some stalls on the Market Place today (unusual for Sunday).

The hoarding round Old Abbey House has been painted blue.

P.S. We were away for much of May and this is a quick catch up of things noticed today.

St George’s Day (April 23rd) is being observed by Abingdon-on-Thames Town Council with the flying of the St George’s flag.

The Sue Ryder shop are also observing the day with a display of red and white clothes, wool, handbags, and St George’s Flags.

The exact date of William Shakespeare’s birthday is not recorded, but it is most often observed on 23rd April. He did die on 23rd April 1616.

In Abingdon Virginia, the Barter Theatre has found a way round the restrictions of the Covid-19 pandemic. They have performances at an abandoned drive-in movie theater – the Moonlite Theater on the edge of Abingdon. Currently playing at the Barter Moonlite is The Tempest by William Shakespeare.

Hester has send me a picture of the new Willow that has been planted outside the Old Gaol to replace the one that was cut down.

On the County Hall the flag is flying at half-mast.

Dr Vernon Butt, Freeman of Abingdon and Past Mayor, died a year ago. At the time the Town Council were unable to mark his passing by flying the town flag at half-mast and so they are doing so to mark the anniversary of his passing.

Click here for a link to the Town Council’s news item.

The trees on the Market Place, in front of the County Hall, have been decorated with pom-poms and rainbows over Easter.

Today, a section of Bury Street was cordoned off while some workmen gave it a power clean. They were using a machine with a rotating wire buffer and water spray.