ATOM is a celebration of science and technology in Abingdon-on-Thames. The event was launched in March 2014 and many people attended the talks, demonstrations, and the Science fair on the Market place

James White, the originator of Atom, was on the market place last Saturday handing out leaflets for the 2015 ATOM, and showing off his T Shirt.

In its second year there is an exciting series of events including a Science Fair on the Market Place (21st march). They have even scheduled a partial Solar Eclipse around 9.32am on 20th March.

For all the information visit ATOM.

Walking up West St Helen Street I met a friend carrying two white packages tied with a pink ribbon.

Many people had the same idea, this Mothers Day, of visiting Patisserie Pascal. They sold over a thousand croissants, not to mention all the flans and gateaus and breads.

After a busy Saturday there were still a fabulous selection of flowers on sale at Fabulous Flowers on Sunday.

At Trinity Church we had a Blessing for the Flowers, followed by the distribution of flowers, where baskets of pink carnations were given out by the children to the ladies of the church. (The poster is from the Radley Village Notice board, near the station. The Radley Church probably has their own way of celebrating Mothering Sunday which as a church event has a long history.)

1. What is the date of St Valentine’s Day?

2. How many millions of pounds are spent on flowers for St Valentine’s Day in the UK each year?

3. Which English Monarch declared St Valentine’s Day to be a holiday?

4. Which Roman Emporer had the original St Valentine put to death for defying the rule forbidding young soldiers from marrying?

5. What is a Valentine Rant?

(questions 1-4 from “Perfect Pub Quiz” by David Pickering.)

Answers …
1. February 14th
2. £22m
3. King Henry VIII
4. Cladius II
5. Find out this evening at the Royal British Legion but possibly along the lines of “… And as for all those stupid “Roses are red, violets are blue” poems… Violets are purple you idiots!….”