Abingdon Events: From Morris Dancing to Puppet Shows

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I sometimes get asked the best place to find out what is happening in Abingdon. While the official council website (https://www.abingdon.gov.uk/events ) has a listing, it can sometimes miss some gems or repeat regulars. There are also posters around town. Here are some of this week’s posters.

Mr Hemmings Traditional Abingdon Dancers have their annual day of dance on Saturday 6th July 2024 and will be dancing with guest teams in various places around the town from 11am.

On the same day is the annual South Abingdon Play and Activity Day organised by the Oxfordshire Play Association.

Wantage Academy Brass will be playing at St Michael’s Church on Saturday. Proceeds of the event are to be shared with The Abingdon Bridge (TAB), TARIRO (Hope for Youth in Zimbabwe) and St Michael’s Church.

The Oxford Waits perform at the Unicorn Theatre on Thursday 4th July. They take their name from a band of Oxford musicians, known as ‘waits,’ who played in Oxford during the 17th century.

Abingdon Drama Club presents Calendar Girls from 10th – 13th July (Evenings) as part of their 80th year.

The puppet barge is back in Abingdon, by the open air pool, with a new show called The Insect Circus. Forget reality and become immersed in the strange and beautiful world of insects!

Campaign Trail in Abingdon: Leaflets, Street Posters, Candidate sightings

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Up until Monday, we had only received election leaflets from three of the candidates. On Monday, however, we received leaflets from all the remaining candidates along with a copy of “Round and About.” Here’s the breakdown of the leaflets received so far:

Liberal Democrats: 6 leaflets (possibly more)
Conservatives: 2 leaflets
Labour: 2 leaflets
CPA: 1 leaflet
Green: 1 leaflet
Independent: 1 leaflet
Reform: 1 leaflet
SDP: 1 leaflet

In terms of street posters, I’ve observed:
Liberal Democrats: Most prominent
Labour: Second most prominent
Reform: Third most prominent

I haven’t been active on social media, so I can’t comment much on that aspect.

The only candidate I have seen in person is the Reform candidate, who was in Bury Street on a Saturday, and I saw him again the next Saturday. I’ve heard that the SDP candidate was seen by others, but missed them.

No party has knocked on the door or phoned us, which is unusual for this area. Overall, it feels like a low-key election campaign in Abingdon. It may all be happening on Instagram, TicToc and X. Or is this the calm before the storm?

Supporting Sobell House: The OxTrail Charity Art Event

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The OxTrail can be followed this summer in Oxfordshire. Large and miniature ox sculptures, painted by artists, schools, and community groups, are scattered around the county. See oxtrail2024

Abingdon Library has two miniature oxen.

Abi, a talented Year 8 student from Our Lady’s Abingdon School, designed an ox in her school house colours, featuring the Oxford skyline.

Radley College was inspired by the Matthew Arnold’s poem that included the phrase, “That Sweet City with her dreaming spires”.

The OxTrail is a fundraiser for Sobell House Hospice, which provides end-of-life care and support to patients and their families.

St Ethelwolds Garden – June 2024

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Yesterday morning, the bells of St Helen’s church were ringing for a continuous period of about three hours – a full peal. People were about to prepare for the Kennington Memory Club event with cream teas and stalls in St Ethelwold’s Garden. A blackbird was singing.

This was the blackbird.

The view of St Helen’s church tower from where the bells rang out.

The Kennington Memory Club event through the wildflower bed.

The garden has been used several times in June for community events.

Even when there is no event there will be people sitting, reading, or chatting in the garden among all the flowers.