Today’s Armistice Day ceremony at the war memorial reminded us of the sacrifices made by those who have served our country. The two-minute silence was preceded by a ring of the Town Crier’s bell and the Pipe Major’s call to Attention.

The St Michael’s Church Christmas Fair was in full flow.

As the clock struck 11:00 am, the chatter and laughter ceased, replaced by quiet. For two minutes, the community paused to remember those who had paid the ultimate price. Not just at the war memorial and St Michael’s but also a notice at Waitrose said the two minutes would be observed.

Afterwards, the fair gradually resumed its lively tempo. The Abingdon Handbell Ringers added a touch of festive spirit to the event.

Abingdon & District Musical Society (ADMS) will hold a choral & orchestral concert at 7:30pm on Saturday 18th November 2023 in St Helen’s Church, West St Helen St., Abingdon OX14 5BS.

The programme of the concert will be as follows:
Brahms – Song of Destiny
Bruckner – Te Deum
Dvorak – Symphony no. 8, in G major

The annual Christmas Fair at St Michael and All Angels’ Church, Park Road, Abingdon is on Saturday 11th November 2023 from 10am – 2pm. This is their biggest fundraising event of the year with proceeds to St Michael’s Church and the Archway Foundation.

Other events include:

Friday 17 & Saturday 18 November, Art & Crafts Exhibition & Sale, St Nicolas Church, 10am-5pm daily.

Saturday 18 November, Church Twinning Event: French Bourrée Dance Workshop & Bourrée Dancing with Argentan Ceilidh Band Natalan, followed by Barn Dance. From 5.30pm at Trinity Church Hall. Tickets £10, children free includes a Buffet Supper.

The 2nd Abingdon Scouts put on a spectacular fireworks display this evening behind Long Furlong Community Centre. It was a chance to enjoy some loud bangs, see some bright flashes and support a local Scout group. The 2nd Abingdon Scouts have over 100 young people in their activity programmes.

The ground was wet after the previous rain, but the weather was fine this evening. There was a good view of Orion overhead, with its nebula, before the fireworks created their own nebulas.

Most of the audience were young families, but there were a few of us trying to recapture the wonder of the fireworks of youth. The smell of gunpowder is even more evocative than the bangs and flashes.

The audience seemed to thoroughly enjoy the fireworks display. There were cheers and gasps during the display and, at the end of the show, an ovation.

The long-standing ‘material containing asbestos’ notices outside the former Chemist shop have been joined by jokey notices outside a lot of other shops in town. Caution tape says, “Enter If You Dare”, and cobwebby strands and orange pumpkins and spiders and skeletons and ghosts are there to give you a scare.

But beware, brave trick-or-treaters, for the greatest danger of all lurks near Abingdon Lock, among the leaves.