Heavy Rain throughout Monday

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Abingdon faced persistent rainfall throughout Monday. Runoff from the rainfall or blocked drains caused some roads to flood.

The Monday Market was reduced in size, with only four stalls open, and a lot of customers only going into town if they had to. The run off from the Market Street carpark caused some minor flooding to the back of some shops.

Roads throughout the town experienced surface flooding. In particular, the Northcourt Road junction with Oxford Road which often floods.

New developments, such as Radley Reach, saw their flood pools filling up as the rain continued throughout the day.

Abingdon Air Show Takes Off despite early showers

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Despite morning showers, the Air and Country Show was sunny from around 2:30 PM. The event was less crowded than usual.
From RAF Brize Norton the Boeing C17 A Globemaster flew over the show and then came into land. There was a long queue all day of people waiting to board the plane.

The sight of a Hawker Hurricane Mk1 flying above was made more striking by a replica on the ground.

The Redline Home Guard, representing the BRX1 (Abingdon) Battalion, had an area showing weapons and a field office, and they gave a display of marching.

Chewbacca and Stormtroopers were posing for photos with countless stallholders and attendees alike.

Attendees could sit in the restored cockpit of a Buccaneer.

Mr. Punch’s insulting names for Judy, Rudy Doodie, and the Policeman, copper, always backfired. The audience enjoyed watching him get caught and scolded. Mr Punch also tried his hand at parenting, but his unawareness of a lurking green crocodile, he’s behind you, caused consternation and laughter.

This is just a brief sample of what was on offer. Congratulations to the team for putting the event together at shortish notice after the May event was cancelled.

WWI Barracks Turned Dance Studio awaiting Demolition

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A former World War I barracks, has survived until the present.

It is unused and delipidated and there are plans to demolish it and replace it with two houses.

After World War I, the barrack hut was moved to its present location in Swinburne Road, Abingdon, as a Boys Club. It then served as a day hospital and a Home Guard base (evenings and weekends) during World War II.

In the postwar years, the building became a dance studio. It operated under the names ‘Bretts of Abingdon’ and later ‘Selleck School of Dancing’ and the ‘Abingdon Dance Studio.’ The Abingdon Dance Studio has since moved to Larkmead Secondary School and West Wing Studio.

The barrack room hut is still standing with a concrete extension, and a car park, but not for much longer. The latest planning application for its demolition is under review by the Vale of White Horse District Council. Nobody dances there anymore. Nobody says, ‘Don’t Panic!’