Ten years ago, Mike Badcock gave me a Mayor’s award for writing the Abingdon Blog. Alice Badcock gave an award to Abingdon Monday Club, represented by Helen Ronaldson and Peter Knight, mentioned on the blog a couple of days ago. One person who has not got an award yet is Ray, who puts in so much work, unpaid, keeping Preston Road Community Centre going as well as the food bank. He asked whether I could publicise the Vineyard Church Christmas Cafe, and I am very happy to help – if it does help.

Ray also helps out with other volunteers, unpaid, at Preston Road bingo every Tuesday. It opens at 7 pm, eyes down at 8 pm and ends after the jackpot game at about 10 pm. For over twenty years, bingo profits have helped subsidise other community activities at the centre. Numbers have not returned to pre covid levels. And now it is an evening out for people but hardly makes a profit. So more people would be made very welcome.

There was a craft market on Abingdon Market Place this Saturday morning.

A group of young people from the Yo Co Youth Challenge Oxfordshire ran a food hub and raffle in the old police station. They will be running Bingo from St  Helens Church on 13th December. Yo Co organises programmes for young people that culminate in a time of volunteering in Kenya.

In Rye Farm meadow, there was a Saturday tree planting session.

The Oxford Caledonian Pipes & Drums led the Christmas parade around Abingdon from 12:00 and performed in Abingdon Market Place afterwards.

The Abingdon Traditional Morris Dancers were also in the parade at 12, then danced on the Market Place at 2.15 and Bath Street at 3.30. In between whiles some of them were in the Punch Bowl playing tunes.

The  Abingdon Mace Bearer, the Mayor, Town Clerk and Town Council were in the parade. The  Town  Clerk,  Mr Nigel Warner, will soon be stepping down after over twenty years in the post. Interviews happened a couple of months ago for a replacement, but I know no more than that.

The Abingdon Lions helped by giving transport to Santa Claus. Before Christmas, they also run the Santa Sleigh around the streets of Abingdon and surrounding villages. For  a  full  schedule see https://www.abingdonlions.org.uk/santa2022.html.

An afternoon of festivities culminated in the lights being turned on and fireworks.

Thank you to Ryan for standing in and taking some pictures.

We booked a family event away for the same weekend.

The Abbott of Abingdon fell over a few weeks ago and is still down. The Abbott was once sponsored by the Abbey Press and has had no sponsor in recent years.

Abingdon Drama Club is producing a play, Abandonment, by Kate Atkinson, up to the weekend.

Smarts the Peachcroft fish and chip shop has closed.