A Visit from an MG Original Ten Pound Pom

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Thanks to Pete for this piece:

A few weeks ago, I had a knock on my door from a neighbour whose uncle was visiting from Australia. He asked if I would let him look at my MGs.

His name is John Prime, and he had a fascinating story to tell.

I left Abingdon for Australia as a “Ten Pound Pom” with my family in 1975 aged 34 years.

I started at the MG factory when I was 16 years old as a storeman/tea boy.

When I was 18, I went onto the production line for the Austin Healey Bugeye Sprite & subsequently, due to the lack of orders moved onto the Morris Van. Due to a downturn in the market, I left & went to work at AERE Harwell for 3 years.

In 1964 I had a recall from the MG factory & went back to work on the Austin Healey Sprite & from there to the MGC production line & when that finished I went onto the MGB assembly.

My memories of working at the MG’s was one of being very family orientated with my brother, brother in law & uncles all worked there too.

I thoroughly enjoyed my time there & as an original “£10 Pom” anything to do with MG’s & Abingdon will always hold a special place in my heart.

As a complete surprise for John I took him out for a spin in my MG RV8 convertible (built at Cowley in the 1990’s) & I arranged to take him down to the MG Car Club in Cemetery Road to meet Colin Grant & archivist Pete Neal who showed him around Kimber House. My thanks to Colin & Pete.

The photo of John is with my modified MGB GT (known as an RV8 GT) I think the transformation surprised him when he recalled his days of working on the MGB, he could not believe it when he saw the car battery located under the bonnet.

The photo shows John Prime with Pete’s modified MGB GT (known as an RV8 GT).

Perfect Day for a Swim, but the Pool is Closed

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There was not a cloud to be seen over the Open Air Pool in Abingdon on the day when schools started back after the summer holidays.

The roads were busier than usual at rush hour as more people returned to work after their summer breaks.

June was sunny and warm, but July brought with it rain, and August was cooler than usual. The open-air pool was only open during the school holidays, which were disappointingly overcast. Now that the summer holidays are over and the pool has closed, the sun has come out. There have been some children tempted to swim in the river. That is part of the reason for the outdoor pool.

Music in the Park

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Abingdon Town Council’s Music in the Park event was on Saturday. 1500 tickets had been sold online before the event, and the sunny afternoon increased the crowd, with people paying at the gates and enjoying some music in the late summer sun.

The event had a wide selection of caterers and a bar. There were inflatables and other activities for children. The early bands were Kaptain Kuppa, Zaia, and Superloose.

At 3 p.m., Hope and Glory performed songs from groups like Madness and the Specials, which got people dancing.

The Zoots kicked off their set at 5:30 pm, performing a selection of fun and upbeat songs from the 1960s.

The crowd was up on their feet, dancing and singing along. The Zoots then went off and came back in 1970’s gear for music from the 1970s.

The headline band, The Wurzels, have been performing since 1966, with a changing cast of musicians. Two of the current members were part of the band when they had their two-week run at the top of the charts with “Combine Harvester” in 1974.

The crowd around the stage included Wurzels fans, some of whom knew the words to every song. Among others, they played their hits: “I Am a Cider Drinker,” “The Combine Harvester,” and “Blackbird.”

I recorded three short snatches for anybody who missed the event and is curious.

Healthy Abingdon

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The Mayor of Abingdon-on-Thames, Cllr Gwyneth Lewis, and Deputy Mayor, Cllr Gabby Barody, visited the annual Abingdon Healthfest today. The event, put on by Healthy Abingdon, featured over 20 stalls offering a range of health and wellbeing services and information.

Abingdon Liveable Streets, a group that campaigns for better walking and cycling infrastructure in Abingdon, had copies of the new Abingdon Active Travel Map.

The map shows all the walking, cycling, and wheeling routes in and around Abingdon. Online copies are at https://www.abingdon.gov.uk/shop-eat-drink/active-travel-map-of-abingdon-on-thames

Dance Creative, a registered charity based in Oxfordshire, gave a demo. The charity specialises in working with older communities and people affected by physical and mental health conditions.

One Planet Abingdon had a stall that featured games and recipes that promote healthy, low-impact, local, seasonal, and organic diets and reduce food waste.

Active Communities, a service run by Vale of White Horse District Council, can direct people at a variety of weekly activities for all ages and abilities to help people with their health.

Kennington Memory Club and Dementia-Friendly Abingdon are two organizations that offer support to people living with dementia. Kennington Memory Club is a group that provides a safe and supportive environment for people with dementia to socialise and participate in activities. Dementia-Friendly Abingdon is a community initiative that aims to make Abingdon a more dementia-friendly place. You can book a place on a session to help make Abingdon more dementia friendly at: https://www.dementiafriends.org.uk/websession.