Spike emailed me last Thursday. He said “Took a few shots at dawn today. Even Didcot power station can look pretty sometimes”
Thanks Spike.
Didcot power station may start to look pretty, but Abingdon looks like paradise at that hour
from Wilsham Road.
Just over a week ago a young cat from a nearby village jumped into a neighbour’s car. The car stopped at the Crown and Thistle in Abingdon and the frightened cat took its chance, when the door was open, to leap out and escape over the wall.
Posters, with a picture like the one above, were to be seen round the area, between Abbey Close and Thames Street. The owners came back day after day to look, helped by people in the area.
On Wednesday came the first sighting of the cat near Coseners House. The cat was finally found and brought to the Old Abbey Buildings where the curator cared for it until the owners could come.
They were overjoyed to get their beloved and quite valuable cat back, and very generous in their thanks.
Today we saw the election of the Mayor of Ock Street – the Squire of the Abingdon Traditional Morris Dancers. The day began with Morris Dancing round about Abingdon.
Late morning, some of the Abingdon Traditional Morris Dancers performed inside Old Station House for the 102nd birthday party of Mrs Hyde, the widow of Jack Hyde, a one time Morris Dancer and Bagman. A bagman is the keeper of the bag – that is to say, the side’s funds and equipment.
They also picked up an old boy Leslie Argyle, Mayor of Ock Street for many years
As well as dancing outside many pubs, and at the Market Place, and under the County Hall, the Morris dancers danced for the annual party of the Abingdon Almshouses.
where they also danced round a tree planted in memory of another former bagman, Tony Russell.
Tony’s wife Isabel was there to watch and hold the Morris Dog.
As to the election itself, Roger Cox, was re-elected as Mayor of Ock Street with an increased majority.
The Mayor of Abingdon, Monica Lovatt, took part in the count, and presented the honours.
Roger was then carried in state up and down Ock Street and just for a few minutes the traffic had to wait for tradition.
Also taking part in the festivities, from the Vale of White Horse, were the Vale Islanders who dress and dance in a style that predates road traffic.
Also visiting from Derbyshire were the very colourful Winster Morrismen with their equivalent to the Mayor of Ock Street – a mock Queen and King, who inspected the troups and who were in turn treated with great honour during the dances.
Thanks to Tim who got up at 03:00 am to get a picture of his milkman who retires today. He says that Graham (Williams) always came at this time, rain or shine. Graham has been doing milk rounds in North Abingdon man and boy for over 38 years.
Tim has not found anyone who can remember the milkman before Graham, and he wanted to do a report to thank Graham for his many years of service and to wish him a happy retirement and a nice lie-in in future – if that is possible.
I learned from the web site of Milk and More that the great British milkman first appeared in the 1860s when the new railway network began to bring fresh milk cheaply and quickly to the towns. Loaded into churns, the milk was carted around and measured out into the customer’s own jug.
In the 1890s pasteurisation was introduced and allowed milk to be kept longer. This took off with the arrival of mass-produced bottles. The mechanisation of the milk cart followed.
In recent years milk deliveries have gone digital and you can order milk and many other products up to 9 PM the night before at milk and more. So there could still be a future for Graham’s successor – the great British milkman & more.