Peter Green

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Peter Green, the former Mayor of Abingdon from May 2006 to May 2007, passed away recently. He was born during World War II and served in the RAF. After retirement, he devoted his time to the community, serving as a Scout Leader for 22 years, a councillor on the Vale of White Horse District Council and Abingdon Town Council, and a Town Crier.

As Mayor, Green oversaw the celebrations for the 450th anniversary of the Abingdon Charter, which included two bun throws, the second of which was attended by Princess Anne. He was also passionate about the environment and oversaw the creation of the Ock Valley Walk and organised volunteer teams to eradicate the invasive Himalayan Balsam.

Peter was a well-respected and loved member of the Abingdon community, as is his wife Hilary, who was Mayor before Peter in 2003/04. Our sympathy to Hilary and family and friends. The town flag has been flying at half mast since his passing and his passing is a great loss.

H is for Heritage, Hiking, Heavy Rain, and Hankies

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The Abingdon Heritage Open Day stall had a floral H created by the Abingdon Flower Club. People were drawn to it like bees, eager to sign up for the walks and hikes in the morning.

The weather worsened in the afternoon, and the afternoon walks started with heavy rain.

That couldn’t put off the Abingdon Traditional Morris Dancers, who performed with their hankies under the County Hall Museum, where the flower club had put sunflowers.

Abingdon’s Heritage Open Weekend is a free event, organised by volunteers to celebrate the town’s rich heritage.

Abingdon Heritage Open Saturday: A Celebration of the Town’s Creative Spirit

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The Abingdon Missal exhibition in the Abbey Buildings is a unique opportunity to see high-quality reproductions of some of the most exquisite artwork from the Abingdon Missal, a 15th-century manuscript from Abingdon Abbey held by the Bodleian Library.

Modern-day Abingdon creative people gave talks at the Guildhall, including science fiction writer Ben Jeapes, who spoke about how he plotted his book H.M.S. Barabbas.

Members of Abingdon Artists held an exhibition of pictures of Abingdon in St Ethelwold’s Garden Room. Some of the pictures were created during the group’s Friday quick draw sessions, where they find a location in the centre of Abingdon and all draw quickly.

Meanwhile, sketchbooks open and paint brushes in hand, artists captured the beauty of the garden.

Visitors were struck by the number of windows in East St Helen Street displaying the work of Abingdon’s creative people. The displays ranged from historic to contemporary, and offered a glimpse into the rich and diverse artistic heritage of the town.

Oswald Couldrey was a talented artist and writer who lived in Abingdon in the early 1900s. At the Abingdon County Hall Museum, visitors can view a display of Couldrey’s artwork in the museum attic. In the Guildhall, there is an exhibition of research from Lauren Gale’s upcoming book about Couldrey. Finally, the house where Couldrey lived, has a display of his artwork.
At St Helen’s Church, a guide led visitors around the building, explaining its history and significance. Here, the guide is talking about the monument to John Roysse, who refounded Abingdon School in 1563.

There was also a talk about the history of the St Helen’s organ with examples of music.

Lots more was happening, and there are walks tomorrow (Sunday) and some exhibitions continue. Check the website https://abingdonheritage.org.uk/ for details.

It has been another excellent Abingdon Heritage Open Saturday, thanks to Hester and her team.

Two Abingdon Artists Posters – work of creative art in themselves

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I have received two beautiful posters from the Abingdon Artists. They are works of art in themselves. The first poster advertises the Fab Abingdon community shop Heritage weekend exhibition. The exhibition features cutouts and painted representations of famous Abingdon buildings by Abingdon Artists.

The shop also has displays about JMW Turner in Abingdon; Alexander of Abingdon (the medieval sculptor); Three men and a boat (the book) and its view of Abingdon; and a vast array of famous men Educated at Abingdon (the school).

Old aerial photographs of Abingdon are also on display, including one that shows the Abingdon workhouse as it looked in 1920.

The Abingdon Flower Club have added some fab to the exhibition with their display of flowers. Instead of having one exhibition, the flower club are putting flowers displays in many of the venues.

The second poster is for an art display at St Ethelwold’s House by Abingdon Artists, where there are children’s workshops run by Abingdon Artists as well as art exhibits.

All part of the Creative Heritage Weekend. Leaflets available on the Market Place.