The Friends of Abingdon Museum have organised a talk on the artist and printmaker John Piper. John Piper was also a master of modern stained glass, and a photographer. An example of his stained glass can be seen in St. Helen’s Church, as well as other churches in this area. Photographs he took of Abingdon can be seen in the Tate Collection.

The talk, by Revd Ian Browne, is to be held at the Amey Theatre at Abingdon School on 3rd March 2016 at 7:30pm. Tickets at £10 include a complimentary drink and are available from boxoffice@abingdon.org.uk, the Newbury Building Society, Mostly Books, and The Bookstore.

It was Valentine’s Day today, and in Abingdon Museum, as part of The Nature of Art Exhibition, there is an exhibit by Diccon Dadey called The ‘Guess How Much I Love You?’ Hare, inspired by the popular Children’s book of the same name.

On Saturday 20th both the artists will be there: Bill Pike, with his large canvasses showing rippling water, and Diccon Dadey, with animals wrought from metal. I had expected be there, but cannot make it now. If anybody can do a report I would be very pleased.

Next to the Local Excellence Market, this morning, campaigners, intent on saving the Oxfordshire Children;s Centres from closure, were asking people to pledge not to vote for ANY County Councillor who votes for the closure of the Childrens Centres in next week’s budget meeting.

At South Abingdon Children’s Centre this afternoon there was a Wassail. It was the second year this event has taken place.

The children;s centre was open for activities and free refreshments. It often acts as a Community Centre as well as a Children’s Centre.

Outside in the grounds of Caldecott School there was dancing by the Vale Islanders and Abingdon Traditional Morris Dancers.

Mulled apple juice was heating on an open fire in the forest school area.

and down in the orchard area a traditional wassail poem was recited to the apple trees.

Trees were festooned with ribbons and hung with toast for the birds to feed on. Then everybody made a loud noise to awaken new life in the trees.

The loudest noise came from the Vale Islanders who have obtained a couple of muskets.

The Town Crier was out and about in town today announcing that there will be a Local Excellence Market next Saturday.

Also I have been asked to mention that next Saturday there will also be the second running of the Abingdon Wassail at the South Abingdon Children’s Centre..

And a public meeting is to be held at St Ethelwold’s House (30 East St Helen Street) on Tuesday 26 January 2016 at 7 pm for those who would like to explore practical responses to the desperate plight of asylum seekers and refugees who arrive in the Abingdon area. Temporary accommodation is needed and they will hear about local charities that support families to make a room available. For those who can donate money, St Ethelwold’s has established a fund to make a room available on an ongoing basis. There are other practical needs such as language lessons and food donations. The meeting will include a speaker from Oxford City of Sanctuary. Please let the office at St Ethelwold’s House know if you are coming so that they can arrange a larger room if necessary on 01235 555486 or at ethelwoldhouse@btinternet.com.

Also I noticed today that Patisserie Pascal has re-opened after an extended New Year’s break.