Because of floods, the Abingdon Parkrun, a weekly free 5km timed run, starting at Rye Farm Meadow, has been cancelled for a few weeks.
Conditions, although far from ideal, were better this week. The fastest runner today, pictured above, completed the course in 17 mins 37 secs.
The video shows the runners near the start as they approached Abingdon Lock.
The free NHS dental checkup van has been on Abingdon Market Place over the last three days, and is there again today. It is available to people who have not been to an NHS dentist in the last two years. If dental problems are found then they aim to refer people to an NHS dentist.
The van started a tour round Oxfordshire in November, and is trying to address a perceived lack of access to NHS dentists in Oxfordshire.
The Vale of White Horse has refused planning permission for 160 dwellings on a field South of Abingdon.
Grounds for refusal included:
1. It is outside the provisions of the approved local plan.
2. It would generate additional traffic in an area already at capacity.
3. It would lead to loss of the rural aspect of the area.
4. It would generate more sewage in an area already at capacity.
5. The developers have not even entered into discussions about social housing and help towards highway measures etc. .
Around 200 people have written in response to the planning application, the vast majority are against.
The developers, Hallam Land Management Ltd, may still appeal.
Blogging from the Battlefield is in one case.
Nearby are big photographs of soldiers and civilians in Helmand Province. This is the exhibition “Shooting on the Front Line: One soldier’s war in Afghanistan” at Abingdon Museum which ends this week.
Meanwhile on the top floor there is the “Abingdon salutes its service personnel” special exhibition. 20 years have gone by since RAF Abingdon became Dalton Barracks.
RAF Abingdon opened on 1st September 1932 and closed on 31st July 1992. Many people will remember it’s Battle of Britain at Home Days that attracted big crowds.
Since when it has been an army base, with lots of army children coming to Abingdon Schools, and community organisations like Abingdon Town Amateur Boxing Club using army facilities.
As well as special exhibitions the museum has talks. This evening Don Hayter, chief designer of the MGB, was talking about the MGB at Fifty. This coming Saturday there is an Abingdon ARP Warden telling us what life was like in Word War II “Put that Light Out!”. Call 01235 523703 to book a place.