Mothering Sunday is a day that used to be more about religion. People would visit the church where they were baptised. Now it’s more about celebrating mums in general. At Trinity Church today, the junior church helped make and give out flowers to the women in the congregation, and to men to take home to wives or mothers.

They had extra flowers to share with people who can’t come to church.

As part of her efforts to help local people dealing with domestic abuse, Councillor Gwyneth Lewis OBE, the Mayor of Abingdon, organised a free film night, showing the 1944 film “Gaslight”. The film depicts an example of coercive control in marriage. The term ‘gaslighting’ became known as a form of psychological abuse.

This film was shown on International Women’s Day. According to The National Centre for Domestic Violence, 1 in 4 women are affected by domestic abuse in their lifetime.

Before the movie, there were presentations by people from local organisations that can help with domestic abuse, including police, lawyers, and charities, and talks by people who had experienced domestic abuse. Afterwards, people asked questions and suggested ways to improve the support and safe spaces available. The Mayor will continue with a working party taking these idea forward to make Abingdon a safer place. She previously worked for the World Health Organisation on Women’s Services and was National Clinical Director for Maternal Health at the Department of Health.

One organisation involved is the Mayor’s Charity, Reducing the Risk. They offer support to victims and survivors, and also train professionals and volunteers who help people in abusive situations, and have a network of friends.

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.’