From Peachcroft Roundabout to Dyson Mews

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The work on cutting the corner at the Peachcroft Roundabout is planned to run from 31 Jul 2023 – 17 Aug 2024 and so is probably half way there. It should allow traffic from the Dunmore Road to cut the corner going up Lodge Hill. So far the work has affected footpaths more than carriageways. This corner is the boundary of the Abbey Fields development.

Despite interest rate rises, there has not been much slowdown in the house building on the Abbey Fields development. This is the view from the footpath from Sunningwell, where it crosses the Abbey Fields development. Abingdon must be a very popular place to live.

In the news today was the story that Barratt are to buy rival Redrow for £2.5bn.

A lot of the new homes in Abbey Fields have a notice from Barratt Homes saying ‘Please be courteous. This house is occupied.’

A cycle way runs from the Abbey Fields development through Tilsley Park (sports ground run by Abingdon School) and then comes to a stop just before the Kings Gate development.

Resourceful walkers have made their own short cut a short way from the main route.

A new road name that has appeared on the Kings Gate estate is Dyson Mews. It is not named after Sir James Dyson, knighted for his vacuum cleaner and hand drier innovations, and not even named after Star Wars R2D2 creator Tony Dyson who did live in Abingdon. It is named after Tony’s mum Ada Dyson who was Mayor of Abingdon. According to the obituary of Ada on the Abingdon and District Twin Towns Society website (July 2008), Ada had bright red hair and a determined northern character and was a formidable fighter.

Abingdon Tesco’s Higher Canopy (Not For Giraffes)

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The Abingdon Tesco Extra petrol station is getting a revamp and will be reopening on March 1st, 2024. They’re making the pumps and forecourt area more spacious by raising the roof to a minimum of 5 meters, according to planning application P23/V1925/FUL (Replace canopy and increase height to Min 5M.)

The Abingdon Tesco petrol station has been around since 1981, and the canopy was just 4.15 meters high.

So, whether you’re filling up your car or your average double-decker bus (4.5 to 4.7 meters), you can do so easily from March 1st! What won’t fit is a giraffe trailer (6 meters).

A regular Monday Market

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It was a regular Abingdon Monday Market. The Market Place cobbles were filled with stalls and vans and the crosspaths with people. There was a breeze but no storms or floods. It was cloudy but the fruit and veg stall knew rain wasn’t expected, as they hadn’t put up a cover!

Everyone’s first stop seemed to be fish van, judging by the queue waiting for their catch fresh from the quay. There was also the butcher’s van, but not the butcher who always keeps up a dialogue through a squeaky PA system. Isla Bakery had piles of loaves, buns, and a table of cakes. The stationary stall had greeting cards and a table of crossword and puzzle books. Over at the photography stall, Martin greeted every enquiry with his usual friendliness. He had a sale – as new stock arrives soon.

You could get a bunch of daffodils for £1, or 3 for £2.50. The pet food stall had bags of pet and wild bird food. You couldn’t miss the outdoor gear stall with its dazzling display of Hi-Viz jackets. Opposite that was the egg stall with the stacked trays of eggs.

Who have I forgotten?

Abingdon Passion Play Preview evening

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An Abingdon Passion Play information meeting took place, with around 70 people attending, at Trinity Conduit Centre last night. The committee members, easily spotted in their red sweatshirts, explained that the play will be performed outdoors in the Abbey Gardens on June 22nd, with two separate shows. They said that it will be free as a big community participation event for the people of Abingdon and the area. It will be the fourth Abingdon Passion Play, part of a tradition of passion plays that started with the play in Oberammergau in 1634.

The director talked about the stage and promenade areas for different parts of the play, plus the different scenes, and musical backing. Actors for roles like Jesus have already been chosen, and others are still open. If you’re interested in acting, you can go to a rehearsal evening, and the director will give you a chance to showcase your skills. There are 12 main parts and 28 backing parts. (Acting rehearsals – Fridays from 9th Feb 7:30 to 9:30 pm at All Saints Church or Mondays from 12th Feb 7 pm to 9 pm at Our Lady and St Edmund Church Parish Centre. Singing Rehearsals – Every 2 weeks on Thursday (next one 22nd Feb) 7:30 – 9:15 pm, at St Nicolas Church).

But acting isn’t the only way to get involved! They need volunteers for everything from helping out with security to sewing costumes. I’m helping in my small way to publicise things but https://www.abingdonpassionplay.co.uk/ and social media will have much more.

It takes place on the same day as the Mayor of Ock Street ceremony. So that is going to make it a busy day in Abingdon. And you can catch both.

The pictures show the Abingdon Passion Play in 2013, 2016 and 2019.