Election Activities at Abingdon
Around 2 p.m. on Saturday, an aeroplane landed in the Abingdon Corporation Farm field near Abingdon, opposite Caldecott House, Caldecott Road. The machine’s pilot was Mr. J. Sperry, who recently arrived from America to tour in his aeroplane and currently serves as a messenger for the Liberals. He left a package for the Liberal candidate for the North Berkshire Division (Mr. E. A. Lessing) in his room. On Tuesday, a final rally was held in the Corn Exchange, Abingdon, with Mr E. A. Lessing, Chief Liberal and Free Trade candidate, as the main speaker. A concluding rally for the Conservatives took place in the Corn Exchange on Wednesday, led by Major R. C. Glyn, the candidate.

Football
Abingdon Pavlova lost to Slough by 6-2 in the Final Qualifying Round of the Amateur Cup.

Election Results
The polling in the Abingdon Division resulted in a Liberal triumph, with Mr. E. A. Lessing, who was defeated by 540 votes a year ago, securing the seat with a margin over Major Glyn, the Conservative nominee. (Major Glyn succeeded as the candidate after the retirement of Mr. A. T. Loyd, for health reasons.)

The figures were as follows:—
1923 election:
E. A. Lessing (L.) 10,932
Major GLYN (C.) 10,678
Majority 254
1922 election:
A. T. Loyd (C.), 10,501;
E. A. Lessing (L.), 9,967.
Conservative majority: 534.

Mr. LESSING, M.P., speaking after the declaration of the poll, emphasised that they had achieved victory in the cause of protecting the food of the people.

Major GLYN, addressing a crowd of supporters from the balcony of the Queen’s Hotel, expressed his appreciation for the work his friends had done.

Fatal Motor Accident
A tragic incident occurred on the Drayton Road near Abingdon late on Tuesday night. Mr. W. Shepherd, son of Mr. George W. Shepherd of Park Crescent, Abingdon, was fatally injured while going to fetch the police to a rick fire. The accident took place when a party from the Abingdon Fire Brigade was being driven in a private motor car to the same rick fire at Sutton Wick. Deceased, riding a motorcycle from the opposite direction, collided with the car, resulting in fatal injuries.

Confirmation
A Confirmation service was held in St. Helen’s Church, Abingdon, on Sunday afternoon by the Bishop of Oxford in the presence of a large congregation. The candidates numbered 80 and included several from the Girls’ High School and Abingdon Grammar School, and also from Marcham and Shippon.

Y.M.C.A. reopens
The Y.M.C.A. club rooms in West St Helen Street have been redecorated and reopened last week by the President (Mr. H. T. Clarke, J.P.). The proceedings included a musical program and addresses by the Chairman and others. Towards the cost of the renovation, subscriptions amounting to £20 7s. 8d. have been raised, but there is still a deficit on the current account of about £60.

Funeral
The funeral of the late Mr. A. H. Shaw, eldest son of Mr. A. T. Shaw, Stert Street, took place at the cemetery on Thursday afternoon in the presence of a large number of relatives and friends. The late Mr. Shaw was the senior partner in the firm of Shaw and Sons, outfitters, Abingdon, and was 52 years of age. Deceased was a member of the Fire Brigade, the Liberal Club, East End Slate Club, the R.A.O.B., and the Bowyer Lodge of Oddfellows; representatives of each society attended the funeral. The floral tributes were numerous.

Football
In the Reading Town Cup competition, Abingdon Pavlova won 4-1 against Caversham Rovers.
Abingdon Town won 4-1 against Wallingford in the North Berks Charity Shield.

Borough Bench
* Two men were fined £1 each for violating the Animal Removal Restriction Order. The order prohibits removing animals from the Abingdon Cattle Market without a license.
* One man was fined for riding a bicycle without a light.
* One man was fined for being drunk and disorderly in Stert Street.
* The renewal of a cinema licence was granted to Mr. Walter Thatcher for Stert Street, and a licence for stage plays at the Corn Exchange was granted to Mr. J. H. Viner on behalf of the Corporation.

Other News
* The Town Council has approved the acquisition of the remaining 11 acres of the Box Hill building site from the ministry of health.
* Members of the Congregational Church have raised £4 11s 10p for St Dunstan’s who help blinded ex servicemen.
* Christmas festivities at the Girls’ Council School were a resounding success with a party for the juniors and a dance and supper for the seniors.
* The isolation hospital and sanatorium were adorned with festive decorations, and Santa Claus delivered presents to young patients.
* The Mayor of Abingdon is recovering well from a recent operation.

Thank you for the news extracts and adverts from the Reading Standard and Oxford Chronicle and Reading Gazette and Westminster Gazette in the British Newspaper Archive. The picture of the aeroplane came from the Westminster Gazette. Also, thanks to the North Berks Herald microfilm in Abingdon Library for some adverts and the picture of E. A. Lessing.