The local swan family had 9 cygnets a month ago.
There were still 9 cygnets yesterday when we walked down the same waterway in Abingdon.
Downstream from Abingdon Lock, a new sand bank has been created from silt. The Canada Geese go there to stand and preen and that shows how shallow the water is over that area. There are buoys to warn boats but the area does not get dredged.
The One Planet Living Festival 2024 was on the Market Place today. There is also an election and the Reform UK local candidate was there. He had a discussion about The Climate Emergency with Tim, the alternative town crier.
The Abingdon Traditional Morris Dancers performed. Roger Cox the current Mayor of Ock Street will be standing down this year, and the vote for the new Mayor will be next Saturday, the 22nd of June. There will be a lot more Morris Dancing then as well as the Abingdon Passion Play and the Abingdon River Litter Pick.
The day’s events were enlivened by music, poetry, and a fashion show organised by Dr Diane Regisford: Racial Equity Social Sculptress , Politician , ARTiviste , Healer , Poet , Author and Evocative Enquirer. She is seen here with Councillor Alison Rooke the new chairman of Oxfordshire County Council. Alison has been Mayor, Chair of the District Council, and now Chair of the County Council.
There was also a lot of dancing to music which had an Afro Caribbean sound.
Every now and then some mysterious women in red would smoke in, waving their arms.
Down in the museum basement (the Climate Emergency Centre), Abingdon Muslims were serving Asian Street food for a donation for charity. I think they are raising funds for a base of their own in Abingdon.
There was a presentation by Philippa Hoy from the charity Bioregional, the organisation behind One Planet Living. One Planet Living is where we can live happily within the Earth’s resources.
A lot was happening. It was lively fun and crazy at times. There were also businesses with sustainable products such as Tribe (Zero-Waste) from Faringdon, who deliver to Abingdon.
Make Music Day is on Friday June 21st in Abingdon, and two of the performers also performed at the One Planet Living Festival 2024.
A new business selling desserts opened today on the High Street.
Located in the former Andrews Estate Agency premises:
* The large wall map of Abingdon has been replaced with waffle and sundae signs.
* Property brochures have given way to dessert menus.
* Office desks and computer screens have been replaced by a see-through counter with cakes and an ice cream parlour with many flavours. There are also tables and chairs for customers.
For the full range of what the new business has on offer don’t go to Right Move but go to lovedesserts.net/.
There are estate agents further along the High Street if you need property brochures and moving advice.
There are also roadworks to stem what looks like a water leak.
Driving down the M74 motorway, I was intrigued by the sign for “Abington Services,” I took the turn-off, but instead of the services, I was attracted by a sign to “Abington – 1.5 miles.”
Abington has a population of around 200 (2011 Census). Though the railway station succumbed to the “Beeching cuts” of the 1960s, the name “Station Road” remains. Despite its small size, Abington has amenities: including the Upper Clyde Parish Church, and the Abington General Store. For the locals, there’s the Abington Community Fire Station for emergencies, the Abington Hall for gatherings, and for the next generation there is the Abington Primary School with 39 pupils.
The Abington Hotel would make a good stop next time we’re headed that way. Abington’s appeal for visitors lies in its picturesque setting, close to the River Clyde with a walk and hills forming a dramatic backdrop.
The road itself after passing through the village runs parallel to the M74 for a while before rejoining it, and so makes a pleasant detour as I speed back to Abingdon (population 37,931 2021 census) to see what has changed for the blog.