The town flag is at half mast as a mark of respect. The Town Council website has announced that Councillor Ulrike Rowbottom has passed away. She was elected in 2019 as a councillor for Dunmore Ward and continued her work until her death. Sympathies to her friends and family.

Smoke was seen from a mobility scooter in Poundland, and the fire alarm was raised. Fire engines, police cars, and ambulances arrived, and the area was cordoned off over lunchtime while the situation was assessed and made safe.

The traffic lights over Abingdon Bridge have been removed so that part of the work has been completed ahead of schedule. The car park is closed, and the pontoon remains for bridge maintenance.

Nicola tells me there is a piano recital fundraising event at St Michael and All Angels’ Church, Abingdon, on Saturday, 25th March 2023, at 7 pm. Locally brought up professional conductor Guy-Bernard Davis will be at the church to play beautiful music by Beethoven, Brahms and Rachmaninov.

Here is a second reminder of the Abingdon Clubs and Societies Day. This event is usually held every two years, but this will be the first since 2019 (if my memory serves me right). There will be stalls for many of Abingdon’s clubs and societies.

The community board in Abingdon Library has a display for Dear Brutus by the Studio Theatre Club. The play was written by J.M Barrie ten years after he wrote Peter Pan.

The day was chilly. No stalls on the Market Place. But later, a couple of boats from AV Boats on the River Thames took out some hardy people.

We caught the bus to Oxford to buy art materials that used to be so much better at Prices – a much-missed shop. Bus tickets are currently £2 as part of a government-financed scheme to get people onto buses.

Then for a walk as the setting sun shone through the clouds behind St Helen Church.

Thanks to Rob for this picture of Abingdon Silver club enjoying a demonstration of silver casting from John Huddleston.

They will be present at the Abingdon Clubs & Societies’ Day on March 18th to display the items that they have made and invite interest in the group. The closing date for other clubs to book a place is February 28th 2023. See https://www.abingdon.gov.uk/news/come-along-to-our-clubs-and-societies-day-on-18-march-2023

The ATOM Society (Abingdon science and technology), has its annual festival from March 11th to March 16th. Details are at https://www.atomfestival.org.uk/2023-programme/.