The two Abingdon quilt making groups: The Abbey Quilters and The Fitzharrys Quilters have a joint Quilt Exhibition at the Manor School,

It is open today and tomorrow (9-10 April 2016) from 10am – 4pm. When I went there were lots of people looking round the many quilts on display, and other stalls.

The exhibition has been going for about 16 years, I believe. It used to be held at Radley College but has moved to the Manor School in recent years. Quilting seems very popular in these parts, and Masons in Abingdon is a popular place for quilters to go for material.

In the lead up to the exhibition Mostly Books dedicated most of their shop window to displaying quilts and books about quilting, and they have a stall at the exhibition.

There has also been a competition of Fidget quilts – small quilts (A3 or slightly bigger) that soothe and entertain people suffering from various forms of dementia. About a dozen entries were on display and the winning entry is shown above.

Thanks to Ian for this report ….

Abingdon Horticultural Society held it’s  Spring Show on 2 April at the Northcourt centre.

The number of entries this year were very encouraging, bearing  in mind the strange growing season we have had so far. A warm, damp December and January produced breaking buds and flowers very early, then the cold, frosty and windy periods of February and March almost halted the growing of many plants. Then, suddenly, the few days of warmer temperatures tempted enough flowers to open and give us a nice selection for the show.  On the day lovely sunshine persuaded many visitors to enjoy tea and cake outside.

In addition to the excellent display of plants and flowers, there were numerous entries in the domestic skills categories. Numerous exhibits of lemon curd, marmalade, buns and cakes were admired by the many visitors. The childrens’ categories were impressive, including beautifully decorated eggs, cakes and flowers.

A ‘Spring Theme’ photographic competition, held for the first time this year, attracted several high quality prints to complement the pictures of the Spring gardens competition.   Sales of cheap plants, cake and honey proved hugely successful, attracting many enthusiastic buyers.

We hope the interest will be retained by our many visitors for the Autumn Show on 3rd September.

On a brilliantly sunny Saturday morning, Paolo from Brazil, wearing a Chile T shirt, kindly stood next to the Oxford United scarfs and memorabilia that are on sale in Abingdon. Oxford United Play Barnsley in the final of the Football League Trophy, at Wembley, tomorrow.

Also in town this morning were campaigners wanting to leave the European Union. There is a referendum on 23 June 2016 when UK citizens will vote on the question ‘Should the United Kingdom remain a member of the European Union or leave the European Union?’

Then in the afternoon, when the sun had gone in, there was a crowd waiting for cyclists who had cycled from the Brecon Beacons in Wales back to Abingdon, over 120 miles, including one on a Pashley bicycle.

The event was sponsored by Breckon and Breckon Estate Agents, and Outdoor Traders, to raise money for local charity Blue Skye Thinking.

Four tennis coaches are raising money for Sports Relief 2016 by attempting to break the World Record by playing tennis doubles for 60 hours.

They were still going strong at the White Horse Leisure and Tennis Centre early this afternoon. You can sponsor them at The Long Dubs.

Coupled with that, also at the Leisure Centre, the annual Abingdon model railway exhibition, ABRAIL 2016, was full steam ahead.

There were 25 railway layouts. Millanford, made by Abingdon model railway club members, can be seen above.

The largest layout, Leicester Belgrave Road in the 1950s, was also made by members of Abingdon Model railway club.

There were not just the railway layouts. These two gentlemen have created a very detailed street scene with moving buses and trams. It depicts life in the 1940s. An unexploded bomb is being dealt with in one back garden while people are shopping nearby.

There were also stalls selling modelling kits and equipment, such as these Humbrol enamel tinlets. They range from Aircraft blue to Tank Grey.

After the exhibition visitors returned to the overflow car park in Abingdon Science Park to catch their transport back, including some on the Morris Motors Band Bus.