Fun in The Park 2014

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Fun in The Park 2014
The weather forecast had predicted thunder and heavy rain during Fun in the Park – organised by Abingdon-on-Thames Town Council (Councillor Alice Badcock centre took on a lot of the organisation this year.) There was a downpour at the outset but very soon it cleared and there was sunshine in the afternoon. Many community groups took part in this annual event with stalls, sports demos, and performances on the stage.

Here are just a few …
Fun in The Park 2014
One of the first acts on were Mr Hemmings Traditional Abingdon Morris. The bagman thanked me for the interesting piece I’d done on Old Abbey House possibly being sold to a Pub Chain. As often happens I get the credit for a story that was in the Herald.
Fun in The Park 2014
Yeah Baby were promoting their Market Place event on July 5th. There was a chance to make bunting on their stall, and they will be visiting 4 schools to make more bunting to decorate the big day.
Fun in The Park 2014
Lesley Legge had a go on the Newbury Building Society Buzzer game. The building society are encouraging children to start saving, and have an outreach team that teach school children all about saving.
Fun in The Park 2014
Abingdon County hall Museum were getting children to design and make badges.
Fun in The Park 2014
The Mayor, Angela Lawrence, had a go on the Green Gym Treasure Map and stuck her pin in Radley Lakes.
Fun in The Park 2014
The Church in Abingdon provided the Ingredients and the Carbon Cutters provided the pedal power as these two stalls collaborated on making smoothies.
Fun in The Park 2014
Finally, I was very interested when I was told that there was a Water into Wine stall but discovered a Water or Wine stall. Every fifth bottle had wine.

D Day

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Steve tells me his dad was a dispatch rider delivering final orders for the D-day invasion. Meanwhile, his Uncle’s ship, HMS Norfolk, was moving through the Channel onto station to begin at first light the bombardment of Nazi gun batteries. Another Uncle was preparing his tank in Hampshire. Four days later he too made the crossing in a landing craft …
D Day
Back in Abingdon ‘Salute the Soldier Week’ was being organised when the eagerly anticipated D Day Landings became known.

The Abingdon Mayor J L Etty called for a service of prayer for the men serving in the field of battle. Several hundred joined the prayers in front of the Roysse Room.
D Day
A week or so later, at the Regal in Abingdon, Mrs Aitken recognised her husband as the Pathe News showed scenes from Normandy.
D Day
70 years later, and 100 years since the start of WW1, a wreath, paid for by people in Abingdon, will be laid at the Royal Berks Cemetery this weekend – at Ploegsteert, just south of Ypres in Belgium. Many young men from Abingdon joined the Royal Berks Regiment in both wars.

Vodafone “Hello Abingdon”

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Vodafone Hello Abingdon
Sujit: at 22:34:39
Welcome to Vodafone, what brings you to our web site today?

Backstreeter: at 22:35:10
I want to find out more about the new Vodafone shop that is opening in Abingdon.

Sujit: at 22:35:23
http://www.vodafone.co.uk/find-a-store/index.htm
Vodafone Hello Abingdon
Backstreeter: at 22:37:10
Thanks but that did not help much. It took me to Oxford Clarendon Centre. I wanted to find out about the Abingdon store…

One Act Plays

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One Act Plays
The 29th annual Festival of One Act Plays is taking place in the Unicorn Theatre this week. Each evening from Monday to Thursday two different groups perform. Three are then asked back by the adjudicator to perform at the gala evening on Friday.
One Act Plays
The gala evening is usually on a Saturday but this year the festival has been cut short because of a clash with Music in the Park – organised by Abingdon-on-Thames Town Council. The resulting road closure means that the acting groups are not being allowed to drive their vehicles and props to the theatre.
One Act Plays
At the end of each play the adjudicator goes on stage to give constructive criticism to the amateur dramatic groups Then directs a short scene showing how the play could be made even better. This year’s adjudicator gave a good assessment of both plays and his suggested improvements worked.

Next year the festival organisers will run the festival a week later to avoid the clash with Music in The Park.