Category Archives: Events

Re-opening at Kings Head and Bell

Re-opening at Kings Head and Bell
The Kings Head and Bell re-opened this evening after being closed during the summer months.

The pub had been refurbished and repainted and there was a new pub sign. The King’s head has been replaced with a Brewing Bell. According to The Town Council History Portal there was a pub here before 1554 called The Bell. In the eighteenth century the King’s Head was first added to its name.
Re-opening at Kings Head and Bell
The beer was good.

The Mayor was there with the head of the pub chain for the opening.

The major innovation from the refurbishment is enclosing a lot of the courtyard. The roof can be retracted – as happens at Wimbledon. One of the glass walls can also be opened. So on sunny days there is a courtyard, and in rain and winter there is a covered eating area near the revamped kitchen.

Downton Abbey competition, Rugby World Cup, Guide Dogs …

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In Abindon town centre, Cancer Research UK had a Downton Abbey competition.

The King and Queen are coming and some precious pearls and the cleaning equipment have gone missing. You have until October 26th to help avoid a Downton disaster. Find the missing items. Tickets cost £1. Prizes:
* String of pearls, donated by Frend and Co Jewellers;
* Vacuum cleaner, donated by Miele;
* tickets to Downton Abbey: The Movie, donated by Abbey Cinema.
Cancer Research UK
On the big screen at the Abbey Cinema there was a Rugby world cup match between England and Argentina. Breakfast was being served.

Meanwhile on the Market Place, Guide Dogs for the Blind had a fundraising stall and were selling small gifts, cuddly puppies, cards, and second hand books.
Cancer Research UK
Outside Station House there were a number of stalls, and an owl, as part of an autumn fete and fundraiser for Station House.

The Community Free Space was open again, and will be again next week with the Abingdon Carbon Cutters. You can bring your apples and clean screwtop bottles and take your turn using their apple press and pasteuriser to make apple juice. There is also a display by Extinction Rebellion Abingdon.

Family Fun Day at Abingdon Rugby Club

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Family Fun Day
At Abingdon Rugby Club yesterday the clubhouse was full of interesting stalls helping to raise money for Thames Valley Air Ambulance and the Alzheimer’s Society.
There were lots of prizes on the raffle, including a short holiday and a Miele Vacuum.

Over £800 will be split between the charities, and Tara won the guess the weight of cake.

Abingdon 1919 Homecoming film, 2019 re-enactment, and 2019 Heritage Open Properties

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Homecoming Parade
At 11 am today there was a showing of the 1919 Abingdon Homecoming film to a packed house at the Abbey Cinema.

The film was accompanied by a pianist and showed the huge reception local people gave to the troops returning from WWI. There followed a short documentary made by the Friends of Abingdon. The documentary will be added too and include scenes from today’s re-enactment events.
Homecoming Parade
There was a re-enactment parade at noon that included some young ladies in white dresses carrying flowers.

The 2019 Mayor of Ock Street was there, leading the Abingdon Traditional Morris Dancers.

The 2019 Mayor of Abingdon-on-Thames was in the parade. The 1919 Mayor and Council were shown in the film. In the documentary after the film, the 2019 Abingdon-on-Thames Town Council were compared with the older, all male, 1919 Abingdon Borough Council.
Homecoming Parade
Some musicians helped lead the parade.

The rest of the Abbey Brass Band followed and gave a real woomph to the sound, as did the Morris Dancers who sang along to a couple of WWI favourites.

The event was organised by Heather Brown, and the Friends of Abingdon,

and a team of volunteers.
Homecoming Parade
A short speech was made by the Mayor, and then the young ladies laid flowers at the makeshift memorial, followed by the older ladies.

A stall allowed people to sample food from the Great War Cook Book. Some of the carrot marmalade can be seen here.

As it was Heritage Open Day there were open properties to look round including Christ Hospital Hall where the archivist had put together an interesting exhibition.
Homecoming Parade
1-3 Ock Street has not changed a lot externally in one hundred years. This is now the premises of a Family Law firm called BH&O LLP and it was interesting to see the sympathetic restoration inside.

I spent the afternoon at Trinity giving tours. We had our own historic film playing – Songs of Praise recorded in Trinity in 1980 and shown in 1981. The Mayor of Ock Street from 1980 was interviewed and chose the hymn – Lord of the Dance.