Looking at one Abingdon shop window earlier today, I saw some talks on offer. The Abingdon Carbon Cutters have a talk, on Wed 20th Nov 2019 – by Chris Church of Friends of the Earth, on Local Climate Action Now!

The Cow has been blamed for damaging the planet by breaking wind, but Neil Rowe will be speaking on behalf of the Cow. You will have to go to the Atom Society talk to hear the Cow on Thu 21st Nov 2019. This follows a short AGM.

More than three men in a boat is another talk the same evening – charting The rise and fall of pleasure boating on the Thames.

If none of these events are of interest then look on the Town Portal at https://www.abingdon.gov.uk/events to see whether there is anything else in Abingdon of interest.

In St Helen’s Church centre the Friend’s of Abingdon Community Hospital held their AGM and raffle draw. The big prize was a Miele Vacuum cleaner. There were lots of other prizes. Wyn, seated nearest the camera, was delighted to be taking back a prize to a neighbour to whom she sold the ticket.

In St Ethelwold’s House the Abbey Artists have an exhibition this weekend. I got talking to Dougie Simpson who does those lovely pictures of Abingdon that are sketched painting with outlines in pen and ink.

On the Market Place the Kennington Memory Club had a stall. The Alzheimer’s Club in Abingdon closed down, and Kennington have taken over running a day centre with activities.

Ian, of the Oxford Waits, was busking in Bury Street. The Oxford Waits had a successful sell-out concert at the Unicorn Theatre last night. I am told there was a great atmosphere. I got there with ten minutes to spare. The man at the door said to the couple ahead of me ‘You are lucky. Two tickets left.‘ Then told me, ‘Sorry! Sold out.‘

During the last week the car park attendant at Coxeter House, Abingdon, has been raising funds for BBC Children in Need .

Christmas Lights were also being put up in Abingdon.

The lights will be turned on at the  Christmas Extravaganza on Saturday 30th November.

Joanna Page, who played Stacey in the TV Series Gavin & Stacey, will turn the lights on.

At the Roysse Room this evening there was a reception given by the Mayor of Abingdon-on-Thames for some of the people who have helped Abingdon on the way to becoming a Plastic Free town. This included businesses who can display the Plastic Free Champions Logo.

The council had also done their part as had the Abingdon Cuts Plastic group.

There were are also schools. Young people have taken a lead in trying to save the planet.

Displays at the reception included the winning entries in the Schools Anti-Litter Poster Competition.

Anne Smart did a presentation about what had been done so far and what still needs to happen, and The Mayor of Abingdon – Cllr Charlie Birks gave a speech thanking everybody who had made their own effort to cut down on single use plastic so we don’t produce the waste in the first place.