The Abingdon ATOM Science Festival will be from March 16th to 23rd, 2024. There is Science Market Day on March 16th and ATOM’s Science Activity Day on March 23rd, and lots of talks at other times. The programme is at https://www.atomfestival.org.uk/programme/.

There’s a free showing of the old movie “Gaslight” this Friday, March 8th, at the Abbey Cinema in Abingdon. Before the movie, there will be talks about how to improve help for people dealing with domestic abuse. There are still a few tickets left.

The Studio Theatre Company is putting on a funny play called “The Magistrate” by Arthur Wing Pinero from March 20th to 23rd at the Unicorn Theatre.

The 30th Abingdon Scout Group is holding a jumble sale and cake stall to raise funds on 16th March.

It was St. David’s Day! The daffodils above are near the bowling club in Albert Park. The picture was taken during a hail shower.

These daffodils are on Nags Head Island. There was rain, and later some sunshine.

Today was the funeral service for Paul Devine, the husband of Alex. Together they led the Salvation Army in Abingdon. The service was streamed online because some people could not get there. People wore orange. The wreath was orange as Paul was from Dundee and was a Dundee United supporter.

Both the main hall and front hall were packed, and over 70 watched the streamed service.

Instead of flowers, donations were to ADAPT, a charity close to Paul’s heart. They help people rebuild their lives after addiction. You can learn more about ADAPT at: https://adaptoxford.org.uk/.

Alex said, during the service, that Paul searched in his life and only is his relationship with Jesus did he feel whole. Paul loved the scripture, ‘You are the light of the world, a town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither will people light a lamp and cover it. Instead they put it on a stand and it gives light.‘ Alex had received lots of messages about how Paul had helped people not just working at ADAPT but all different people. She mentioned how important it was people  supported Paul in his life, but what was important for Paul was that God got the glory for what he did through Paul’s life.’

The next speaker said at the committal, ‘Paul was not perfect. He was not a saint, but he was forgiven, and a child of God.’

Saturday, March 2nd:

The local NSPCC group will have their usual tombola, bric-a-brac, books, and plants for sale on the Market Place.

Thursday, March 14th:

An Evening with Poet Andrew Jamison (6:00 PM, Abingdon Library): Award-winning poet Andrew Jamison will be reading from his latest collection, Swans We Cannot See. Tickets are £2 (including a welcome drink) and can be purchased at the library counter, or by emailing abingdon.library@oxfordshire.gov.uk. Andrew also helped select the ten poems and wrote the forward for the book Ten Poems about Abingdon.

March 11th – 16th:

View a variety of artwork by local artists at The Abingdon Artists’ Spring Exhibition (St Helen’s Church).

Tuesday, March 5th
The February meeting of Agnostics Anonymous had around 60 attendees. The March meeting has the topic “Is there a God?”

AbiBinit! 2024 (Upcoming Litter Picks)
Sat 24th Feb – 10am to 12 noon Reynolds Way / Gainsborough Green
Sat 23rd March – 10 am to 1pm Town Centre

Plastic Pollution and what we can do about it
24th February – 11:00 am – 12:00 pm
One Planet Abingdon, Climate Emergency Centre under the County Hall, Market Place, Abingdon.
A presentation about plastic pollution and the damage it causes to the environment. Talk followed by discussion and sharing of ideas.

World Day of Prayer Service: Friday 1 March, 4pm at All Saints, Abingdon (and many other churches around the world). This year’s service has been written by the women of Palestine and was decided on at least three years ago.

The next annual Abingdon Model Railway Show will be on the 2nd and 3rd of March at Abingdon and Witney College. It’s their 50th Anniversary. The show will run for two days and there will be over 40 layouts. Book at https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/abingdon-district-model-railway-club.