Abingdon Michaelmas Fair 2023 – From the tea tray service to the Fair Service

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Members of Abingdon Baptist Church were out taking refreshments round as the Abingdon Michaelmas Fair was being set up in the morning. Their tea tray service has become quite a tradition.

In the evening, the Fair Service at 7 pm was well-attended. The Mayor of Abingdon-on-Thames, Councillor Gwyneth Lewis, thanked everyone who made the fair possible, especially the cleaners who work between Tuesday night and Wednesday morning to make it look as if the fair had never been there. She handed over to Deacon Selina Nisbett, who said, among other things, “As we watch the courageous people who are held upside down on rides, may we remember the inverting message of Jesus’s gospel that the first will be last and the last will be first.”

The Abbey Brass accompanied the singing of the hymns, and then people had a free ride on the carousel horses. Willie Wilson of Bob Wilson’s Funfairs was there behind the scenes to ensure the Fair Service ran smoothly, and made sure the band had light to read their music.

A Family-Owned Fabric and Wool Shop in Abingdon for Over 80 Years

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Masons, the fabric and wool shop in Stert Street, Abingdon, is the oldest of the three Masons shops and is a family business that has been in operation for over 80 years. It is managed by a lady who has been there for 40 years, starting as a Saturday girl.

The shop was originally owned by two elderly ladies, and when one of them passed away, the other decided to sell it but asked the new owners to keep the name, Masons. So, although it has been run by the North family, they have kept the name Masons (ref 1).

The shop is still known for its wide selection of knitting and crochet wool. There was a decline in knitting in the 1980s and 1990s, but during the 21st century, knitting and crocheting have become increasingly popular (ref 2).

Knitting and crochet are both relaxing and enjoyable activities. They are creative activities where people can use their imagination to create unique and beautiful items. They are also relatively inexpensive hobbies. A bonus for Abingdon people is that they have Masons in the town centre.

Source:
1) https://www.masonsfabric.com/about
2) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_knitting

Congratulations to the White Horse Phab Club on their 38th birthday!

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This evening, the White Horse Phab Club celebrated its 38th birthday, a week late due to the illness, last week, of two of the club’s most important members, Barbara and Nigel Carter.

Barbara and Nigel are the parents of David Carter, who founded the club 38 years ago to provide a place for people with disabilities to socialise and have fun. David is no longer with us, but Barbara and Nigel continue to run the club with the help of others, such as Colin, Sarah, Lorraine, and Sylvia.

The club is held every Thursday at Christ Church Hall, and on Saturday, the members will take their annual outing to the Isle of Wight.

Phab Clubs are a place where disabled and non-disabled people come together to socialise, have fun, and build lifelong friendships.

Abingdon-on-Thames Town Council meeting – October 4th 2023

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Abingdon-on-Thames Town Council met at the Magistrates Court this evening.

The meeting began with prayers by the Mayor’s chaplain, Deacon Selina Nisbett.

Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) Transparency

During public questions, Hester Hands asked the council about transparency in spending CIL money (a charge that local authorities can set on new development in order to raise funds to help fund the new services needed by the new homes). The council responded that they would be more transparent in the future and would publish a breakdown of CIL spending each year.

New Councillor Co-opted

The meeting began with the co-option of a new councillor for the Dunmore Ward vacancy. Three candidates stood for the position: Charlie Birks (independent), Mark Gibbons (Liberal Democrat), and Aiden Riley (Green). After two rounds of secret voting, Mark Gibbons was co-opted as the new councillor.

Abbey Cinema Lease Renewed

The council announced that a two-year lease has been signed with the Abbey Cinema. The cinema will continue to operate until the end of August 2025, at which point the building will be closed for a major refurbishment.

New Science Centre Proposed

James White of ATOM suggested the development of a new Science Centre in Abingdon. The council expressed its support for the project and will nominate a councillor to join the project team.

Grants Approved

The council approved larger grants to a number of local organizations, including the Abingdon Carousel, The Abingdon Bridge, Be Free Young Carers, Christ’s Hospital, Citizens’ Advice Oxfordshire South and Vale, and the Abingdon Damascus Youth Project. The grant to Christ’s Hospital is a long standing agreement to help fund a small percent of the cost of running the Albert Park.

Other Topics Discussed

Councillor Jim Halliday congratulated all those behind the Abingdon Active Travel Map https://www.abingdon.gov.uk/shop-eat-drink/active-travel-map-of-abingdon-on-thames.

The council is planning to install new play equipment at Caldecott Road recreation ground, in South Abingdon. This will be funded by CIL Money from the North Abingdon developments.

The council will point the town’s finger posts in the right direction and then refurbish them.

The council discussed the introduction of 20 MPH speed indicators in the town. They will probably put speed indicators near town entry points and other important locations, once they have been identified.

The council has decided to revert to having a full planning committee instead of a planning panel. This will involve more staff time and expertise so cannot be done immediatly.

The council will procure flags for the Holocaust Memorial, the LGBTQIA++ flag, and the Universal Suffrage Flag. The Mayor suggested that the reason why a particular flag is flying be put on a town noticeboard. There is a flag currently flying for the Mayor’s Birthday.

The council has appointed an interim town clerk for the next six months, after the previous interim town clerk stepped down. The intention is then to find a permanent town clerk.