I went for a walk this May Morning in Abingdon after watching the Virtual May Day Morning from Oxford. It contained a fascinating history of May Day celebrations put together by one of the Oxford Waites.

Fabulous Flowers’ flower containers shone in the early morning sun. For any in the florist trade it must be a nightmare trying to guess what will happen in the weeks and months ahead.

On the far side of The River Thames some adult geese were shepherding their young.

They were a little wary but not aggressive. The fabulous views of Abingdon can be seen beyond them.

There are many good viewing points for seeing St Helen’s Church around Abingdon and beyond.

The main parish church seems to have been placed to help direct people from afar.

Volunteers manned an ATOM Science and Technology Festival stall on the Market Place for people who had not heard by other means that the festival was cancelled. Most people had heard and were very sympathetic to the volunteers who had worked so hard to organise the event.

One of the helpers from Abingdon School told me that he had given a presentation just last week on the need for good hygiene for disease prevention. Normally this talk would be directed at disease in less developed countries but this week the message was of far more local relevance.

There is a lot of Science related to the virus and its spread that is of interest. For example: The science of soap – here’s how it kills the coronavirus. And here is a Youtube Video to explain the mathematics of how a virus spreads ….

Three new planters have been placed along Broad Street as part of Abingdon in Bloom.

They all say Abingdon-on-Thames Town Council 2020. The Town Council has ordered twelve new planters and basket trees.

The last day for H Samuel in Abingdon will be 14th March.

In Abingdon Library a new keyboard has appeared with earphones. People will be able to play music from the music books before taking them out, and and only they will hear.

It is world book day on 5th March. This is a chance to encourage children to read for pleasure with lots of schools taking part. OECD Research in 2002 showed that reading enjoyment is more important for children’s educational success than their family’s socio-economic status.

The Church-in-Abingdon’s Lent Lectures 2020 will be held each Monday in March at 8.00pm at St Helen’s Church.

The five public lectures by The Revd Dr Charles Miller look at the Chapel of the Rosary, designed and decorated by Henri Matisse. The lectures will be art appreciation, and spiritual lessons drawn from the chapel

In 2015, Revd Dr Charles Miller led a similar art-inspired series of lent lectures on the frescoes of Fra Angelico in the San Marco Dominican Convent in Florence.

Lent is a period of reflection and preparation in the run up to Easter. Easter Sunday is 12th April this year.

Lent begins today on Ash Wednesday. St Helen’s join for an Ash Wednesday service at St Michael & All Angels Church at 7.30 pm. There is a Mass at Our Lady and St Edmund Church at 7 pm. Christchurch has a 8 pm service.