Things have come full circle and bikes are on sale again at number 2 High Street after a gap of ten years.
Braggs closed their Bike Shop at 2 High Street in 2002 having sold cycles for 90 years. Outdoor Traders have moved the outdoor clothing department back to East St Helen Street and are now selling and Bikes and Skis from 2 High Street.
Congratulations to Monica Lovatt the new Mayor of Abingdon-on-Thames. It was a tight contest. Ten councillors voted for Monica, and ten voted for the other candidate, Sam Bowring. But the outgoing Mayor used his casting vote for Monica.
Congratulations also to Andrew Todd, the new Deputy Mayor.
Angela Lawrence who had been nominated as a candidate for Deputy Mayor, and who then left her party to become an independent, said she would bow out of the contest in favour of Sam Bowring who was next in line.
The vote was then ten for Andrew Todd, and ten for Sam Bowring. The new Mayor used her casting vote for Andrew.
We all got to shake hands with the new Mayor and Deputy. The occasion was not as exciting as last year, where the room was packed, and where a couple of people shouted “Shame!”.
But one lady I canvassed afterwards said that it was wonderful, seeing democracy at work, not just the boring old way where everything was settled beforehand.
Outgoing Mayor Mike Badcock was the last Mayor of Abingdon, and the first ever Mayor of Abingdon-on-Thames. He also inaugurated the World Bun Throwing Championships.
What was the New Cemetery, and still is on direction signs, has been renamed to Spring Gardens Cemetery.
As far as I know The Spring Gardens Cemetery has the first official sign to say ABINGDON – ON – THAMES.
Peter sent me a picture a few days back of “a fallen tree in the public park in Lambrick Way. Incidently the sky over the Marina was thick with swifts. They must have got a free trip up here on the strong winds. Also the Thames path is flooded at the little bridge over the mill stream near the lock.”
Spike sent me a picture at water level of the high water on the River Thames – from his canoe.
I also got a message that the Fair had made a bit of a mess trying to leave the land by the River Ock. It looks like the Circus did not even try to compound the problem, and have bypassed Abingdon.
Water levels are now going down. Winds have dropped. We just need some warm weather in order to reinforce the government message that we are in a drought.