MG100 Celebration in Abingdon

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Abingdon was the manufacturing home of MG for many years, from the 1920s until 1980. Today, the Oxfordshire MG Owners Club and the MG Car Club Abingdon Works Centre worked together to host a celebration of the marque’s 100th anniversary. The event, which took place at Abingdon Vale Cricket Ground, attracted around 250 MG cars from all over the UK.

The event was initiated by local MG enthusiast Tony Cotter, who felt that many large MG100 events were taking place elsewhere but not in Abingdon, the spiritual home of MG. Tony and wife, Richard Martin and his wife Gill worked very hard with many others to make the event possible.

The event was a great success, with a wide variety of MG cars on display, from classic models to modern classics. Special plaques were on display on many.

There were also stalls selling MG merchandise, as well as some very well-known Abingdon traders, such as Busby Bees and Devine Times Photography.

The rain did come at around 1 pm, but this didn’t dampen the spirits of the enthusiasts who remained. The Mayor of Abingdon was on hand to talk to owners and present cups to the winners of various competitions, including the car that most other car owners would have liked to own. That turned out to be the MGA above.

Money raised through entrance fees for cars etc. went to two charities, the Abingdon Foodbank and the Thames Valley Air Ambulance. (To find about more about the Foodbank visit https://abingdon.foodbank.org.uk.)

The announcer at the end of the event said, “We’ll see you all again in another 100 years.”

Ride and Stride

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In Oxfordshire, a fundraising event called Ride and Stride takes place each year.

This year’s Ride and Stride was a bit different from the others. It was the hottest day of the year, and automotive traffic was gridlocked in places, most notably a place called Abingdon because of road works on the Drayton Road, a notorious black spot for traffic. But that didn’t stop the intrepid cyclists, walkers, and mobility scooters from making their way to the different churches.

One typical church in Abingdon is Trinity Church. The church welcomed visitors from Abingdon, Drayton, Hagbourne, Harwell, Milton, Oxford, Peppard, Sutton Courtney, and West Hendred.

One family visiting Trinity included a young boy who was interested in exploring the flower beds. After a short time, he returned with a collection of artifacts, including part of a clay pipe dating from about 1700 AD, part of a bone, and part of a roof tile.

Abingdon experiences warm week in September

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Temperatures have been soaring in Abingdon since Monday, with today reaching a high of 30°C. Tomorrow is predicted to be even hotter, with a maximum temperature of 31°C.

The Vale of White Horse District Council has reopened the splash pad in the Abbey Meadow, and it is expected to be a popular destination for families over the weekend. The kiosk was also reopened today.

This evening has been balmy, with people enjoying the warm weather on the River Thames.

 

What’s on this weekend in Abingdon

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The Abingdon Horticultural Society is hosting their annual Autumn Show this Saturday, September 9th, from 2pm to 4pm at the Northcourt Centre in Abingdon. The show will feature a variety of exhibits, including flowers, vegetables, fruit, plants, and handicrafts.

The annual Church Bike Ride and Stride is returning to Abingdon on Saturday, September 9th. This sponsored event is a great way to explore the town’s churches and get some exercise at the same time.

There will be nine churches manned in Abingdon, and many more further afield. Some of the churches will also be open for people to look around. The Abingdon route could take in:
* St Helens
* St Michael and All Angels
* Trinity Methodist and URC
* Abingdon Baptist Church
* St Nicolas
* Christ Church
* All Saints Methodist
* Peachcroft Christian Centre
* Our Lady and St Edmund of Abingdon

MG enthusiasts are invited to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the marque at a special event at Abingdon Cricket Ground on Sunday, September 10th. The event is open to all models of MG, from the very historic to the newest, and costs just £5 per car.

My Extinction will be screened at the Abbey Cinema on Friday September 8th from 7:30pm to 10:00pm. This documentary explores the potential extinction of humanity and the challenges we face in the 21st century.

Christian Garrick and The Budapest Café Orchestra will perform at the Amey Theatre on Saturday September 9th from 7:30pm to 9:30pm. This world-renowned orchestra will play a mix of traditional and contemporary Hungarian folk music.